In 1954 during the final days of French military involvement in Indochina French Army Colonel Pierre-Noel Raspeguy is leading his paratroopers in the decisive battle of Dien Bien Phu. A weakened French garrison faces a major assault by Communist Viet Minh troops. Colonel Raspeguy's frantic calls for reinforcements only brings a token force of a planeload of paratroopers and ammunition. When their position is overrun by the enemy Raspeguy and his men are taken prisoners. After the peace treaty they are released and they return to France where Colonel Raspeguy receives the command of a new airborne regiment bound for Algeria. The French are trying to prevent Algeria from obtaining full independence from France. The French Army is engaged in counter insurgency operations in both urban and rural environments against the Algerian guerrilla led by the Algerian National Liberation Front. This is Colonel Raspeguy's last chance to prove his command abilities and to save his military career. 由尼尔逊．吉亭编剧的本片描述法国人在奠边府大败后撤出越南，再在阿尔及利亚镇压反殖民地哥命，又是泥足深陷，阿尔及利亚最终宣布独立。本片是一部政冶色彩浓厚的战争冒险片，以强硬的职业军人和温情的法国清年为两股相对抗的势力贯穿全片，不过导演马克．罗布森在表现政冶立场时仍不忘娱乐性镜头在影片中的穿插，故看来不会太沉闷枯燥，再者有大牌明星阿兰．德龙的加盟演出，使得本片具有很大的吸引力。
