Sydney Pollack directs an all-star cast (Burt Lancaster, Peter Falk, Bruce Dern, Jean-Pierre Aumont and Patrick O'Neal) in an allegorical tale about an American military squad that, during the Battle of the Bulge, defends to the death a castle in the Ardennes Forest that brims with priceless master paintings. But another big point of contention is the castle owner's beautiful young wife (Astrid Heeren).