Posey, played by Clint Walker, is one of the twelve convicts recruited for a suicide mission in the film “The Dirty Dozen.” He survives the mission but is killed in the climactic battle at the chateau.
In the 1967 war film “The Dirty Dozen,” directed by Robert Aldrich, Samson Posey is a gentle giant with a troubled past. His character is introduced as a convict serving a death sentence for killing a man in self-defense. Despite his imposing size and strength, Posey is depicted as a quiet and somewhat reluctant soldier, who is not naturally inclined towards violence.
The film’s plot revolves around Major Reisman, played by Lee Marvin, who is assigned to train and lead a group of twelve convicted murderers and criminals on a near-suicidal mission to assassinate German officers at a chateau in Brittany before the D-Day invasion. The convicts are promised commuted sentences if they survive.
Throughout their training and the mission itself, Posey is shown to struggle with the violence required of him, but he also demonstrates loyalty and bravery. In the film’s climax, the team infiltrates the chateau during a gathering of German officers. A fierce battle ensues, and the team manages to kill many of the German officers, significantly disrupting the enemy’s chain of command.
Unfortunately, Posey is killed during the battle. His death, along with the deaths of most of the other members of the team, underscores the film’s themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the brutal realities of war. Despite the high cost, the mission is ultimately successful, with the surviving members of the team, including Major Reisman, returning to Allied lines. Posey’s character arc, from a condemned man to a war hero, reflects the complex moral landscape of the film, where traditional notions of heroism and villainy are blurred.
