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Amazon.co.uk Review
In The Desert Ratshis second Hollywood role--between Oscar-nominated turns in My Cousin Rachel and The Robe--Richard Burton stars as a Scottish commando put in charge of a battalion of the Ninth Australian Division defending Tobruk. The Aussies don't like him, and with a year of grim North African duty already under his belt, he's not too crazy about his new responsibilities either. The outfit is charged with staving off the battering assaults of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel for two months to give the British Army time to regroup in Cairo and prepare for a counterattack. In the end, the "Desert Rats" play hell with the Desert Fox for 242 days, during which they and their commander develop some mutual respect.
This is a solid, workmanlike World War Two picture that, having been made in 1953 rather than 1943, can acknowledge a degree of eccentric humanity and soldierly professionalism in the enemy. Featured guest star James Mason reprises his Rommel from The Desert Fox (1951)--playing all his scenes in German except for a scene of ironical repartee with Burton. Another distinguished Brit, Robert Newton, gets co-star billing as a boozy, self-confessed coward who used to be Burton's schoolmaster once upon a time. However, a goodly number of Australians--including Chips Rafferty and Charles "Bud" Tingwell (still going strong nearly 50 years later in Paul Cox's wonderful Innocence)--rate as much screentime. Robert Wise directed, with a trimness that reminds us he started out as an editor, and Lucien Ballard provides the pungent black-and-white cinematography. --Richard T Jameson, Amazon.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Well what can you say? two superb actors of their times in a pair of gritty war films(at least for their time!).James Mason as the soldiers soldier General Rommel(DERERT FOX)seems to suit the part perfectly.Whilst action is fairly thin on the ground the political backstabbing and clambouring for favour of their all powerfull Fuhrer is neatly handled.The state hero soldier who realises too late he has been fighting for a madman.Ultimately destined to fall foul of the very war machine he fought so well for Rommel struggles to justify his actions as he learns more of the truth.Only Mason could pull off the stereo typical German-English accent we all love to use when telling jokes and make it watchable. Great stuff.
Rommels thorn in the side and opposing army the 'DESERT RATS' (8th army) is represented in the second film by another legend of the big screen Richard Burton.Burton is a Captain of a band of determined Australian soldiers who by day defend against Rommels tanks and troops and by night raid into the enemies rear lines and cause havok.Great British stiff upper lip stuff all around. Mason co-stars as Rommel in this film and brings us the best moment of the film when he and Burton by a wierd coincidence meet and exchange words.Great actors in a great scene.Well worth a watch.
The quality of the film is good and clear so the transfer to DVD was done well.The theatrical trailers for both films are included and thats about it, but what do you want for less than twenty quid? buy it!
Rommels thorn in the side and opposing army the 'DESERT RATS' (8th army) is represented in the second film by another legend of the big screen Richard Burton.Burton is a Captain of a band of determined Australian soldiers who by day defend against Rommels tanks and troops and by night raid into the enemies rear lines and cause havok.Great British stiff upper lip stuff all around. Mason co-stars as Rommel in this film and brings us the best moment of the film when he and Burton by a wierd coincidence meet and exchange words.Great actors in a great scene.Well worth a watch.
The quality of the film is good and clear so the transfer to DVD was done well.The theatrical trailers for both films are included and thats about it, but what do you want for less than twenty quid? buy it!
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I can remember "Montie" being interviewed just before one of the 8th Army's (The Desert Rats) Albert Hall reunion's in the 1950's and being asked of all the people who had died in the war, who he would like to be with him at the reunion.
His answer was "Erwin Rommel, an officer and a gentleman!"
Two great movies. Both well worth watching.
It's interesting to note that James Mason played many military roles during his long career, but during World War II he was a conscientious objector which caused many actors who had served their country (David Niven, Peter Ustinov, John Mills etc., etc.,) to refuse to act with him.
Despite all that, two great movies, buy and enjoy.
His answer was "Erwin Rommel, an officer and a gentleman!"
Two great movies. Both well worth watching.
It's interesting to note that James Mason played many military roles during his long career, but during World War II he was a conscientious objector which caused many actors who had served their country (David Niven, Peter Ustinov, John Mills etc., etc.,) to refuse to act with him.
Despite all that, two great movies, buy and enjoy.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This has to be one of Richard Burton's very best films. A black and white epic, made in 1953 when memories of the real events were still vivid; Burton portrays the tough 23year old Captain McRoberts, a classic product of the old British public school system; ordered to take command of an Australian battalion defending the besieged port city of Tobruk.
Far more than just another war film however, the Desert Rats is also a psychological drama, with Robert Newton giving a masterful preformance as McRobert's ex-school teacher; an intelligent sensitive man, but also a drunken, cowardly failure, swept along by circumstances beyond his control or understanding; though still deeply respected by his estwhile pupil.
The scenes of the British Garrison Commanders as surrounded, outnumbered, and short on supplies; they shrewdly out think and then out-general Field Marshall Rommel are absolutely classic. In reality British cypher experts had broken the German Enigma codes by then; enabling British Military Intelligence to read Rommel's orders even before they reached his unit commanders, but that's another story.
To conclude this review, I cannot recommend this film highly enough; it's an absolute classic! An entertaining, semi-documentary view into the now vanished world our fathers fought so hard for; in the battles of yester-year.
Far more than just another war film however, the Desert Rats is also a psychological drama, with Robert Newton giving a masterful preformance as McRobert's ex-school teacher; an intelligent sensitive man, but also a drunken, cowardly failure, swept along by circumstances beyond his control or understanding; though still deeply respected by his estwhile pupil.
The scenes of the British Garrison Commanders as surrounded, outnumbered, and short on supplies; they shrewdly out think and then out-general Field Marshall Rommel are absolutely classic. In reality British cypher experts had broken the German Enigma codes by then; enabling British Military Intelligence to read Rommel's orders even before they reached his unit commanders, but that's another story.
To conclude this review, I cannot recommend this film highly enough; it's an absolute classic! An entertaining, semi-documentary view into the now vanished world our fathers fought so hard for; in the battles of yester-year.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
James Mason returns as Rommel
The Desert Rats can be watched before or after the Desert Fox and works as a companion film in much the same way as the recent films Flags of our Fathers and Letters from Iwa Jima... Read more
Published 12 months ago by j.r
A Very Good War Film
"Desert Rats" is a great underrated war film, which deserves to be better known and it has a great British cast including Richard Burton, Robert Newton and James Mason. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mrs. Marilyn A. Rice
The Desert Rats.
Excellent film starring Richard Burton,he is an English officer in charge of a group of Australian soldiers,who fought like mad to keep the German's out of Toubruck. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Pollyju
British Quality
You have to be a certain age to appreciate 2 for the price of 1, good old brit war films.
Excellent value & entertainment.
Excellent value & entertainment.
Published 18 months ago by Bombalone
War without glamour
A young English officer (played by the young Welshman, Richard Burton), is summoned from his bed to take over a new detachment of raw Australian infantrymen, as they wait... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Ian Hunter
The Desert Fox/The Desert Rat.
If you like films set within this era, then this will be a Real Feast of history, set within WW2. Excellant, and rivoting.
Published 21 months ago by A. Cooke
Two Rommel, an officer and a gentleman!
Two great movies that are worth being seen. It's interesting to note that James Mason has dressed many parts as a soldier in his long career, but during the Second World War was a... Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2010 by Massimo Santilli
DVD
I bought this DVD for my other half, and he is over the moon with it so I guess I cant fault it. Not my cup of tea though.
Published on 8 Mar 2009 by Wendy Hall
Rommel's gone for a burton
The beleaguered outpost at Tobruk, manned by a small commonwealth battalion comprising mainly australian troops, is all thats holding up the german advance on Suez. Read more
Published on 11 Nov 2008 by Mark Kibble
Two Rommels for the price of one
James Mason gives two very different impersonations of Rommel, every Brit's favorite Nazi general, in The Desert Fox and The Desert Rats. Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2007 by Trevor Willsmer
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