Desert Rats 1940-1942

This is a Postwar Classic. I last saw this on TV back in 1981. I enjoyed it than and I do so now. Of course is isn't as realistic as contemporary War movies but the acting is very good. Read more

Interesting story I never heard about before. Balanced audio and video quality. Highly recommend it if you enjoy WWII films. Read more

I knew what I was getting when I ordered it. It is from a diffirent era of movie making. Many of the British actors fought in WWII, and knew they were telling and important story that needed to be told right.They were great actors and they did exactly that.The story was one of the valor of all comprising that battle group, which eventually made its way down to the most frightened coward of the entire brave force; who, in the end gave his life to save his brothers in arms so they could live a little while longer. The story is one of Strategy and Heroism, as great as that of the Spartans at Thermopillae. The Allied General was as smart as his German Counter Part, rightly figuring out Rommel's plans and tactics to effectively thwart or reduce the affects of Rommels attacks. The movie titles should be reversed. The Desert Fox should have been the Desert Rat, because this group of Aussies, Brits, etc. lived and fought out of foxholes holding off Rommel and his Afrika Corps for the better part of a year until reinforcements finally came. A great story, well told. The acting compensates for all of the deficiencies for the lack of modern cinematography and effects. Read more

As Burton goes he's full of himself he must spend hours looking on and patting himself on the back, he was good made the one's now days sould and look retarted. The movie is good buy it you will ware it out and it you you have to understand war and hollywood and how much they didn't know about WWII or the people that fought in it 10% true ha but intertaining if you can by the bull shit the actors stick in. All Of that and I still love the war movies, me and my Pop watched them alot he cussing the actors for there John-Wayne crap running into a tank with a 45acp and stopping it hahaha but we loved it on our saturday night movie night. Like I said buy it cuss it and get another one beats the hell out of Friday night smack down... Wayne Hutchens IN. Read more

I had been looking for this old movie for a while. It was inexpensive and plays great. Read more

Desert Rats This is a fictionalized story of the defense of Torbruk by a green band of Aussies under the command of a British commander, Tommy (played by Richard Burton). The Aussies are green alright, and they're grousing about their Brit commander and though they try to do the right thing, they're often chastised by Tom. Tom is of the mind that disobedience to orders or to follow your heart, rather than being cold and calculating can mean death to the battalion. Regardless, he softens a bit, especially with one of the men who used to be his school teacher back in the day, a man who admittedly is a coward, and who tries to guide Tom through this rough time. James Mason reprises his role as Rommel, the supreme German commander. Mason does not get a lot of "air time" in this film, but when he does he does it so well. Unlike "Desert Fox", his commanding presence, and near perfect German is admiring. The realistic war scenes, the bombs exploding, the death and sacrifice are as realistic as Robert Wise can make it. This film reminds me of the old TV series, Rat Patrol. Will an out-gunned and out-numbered force of green soldiers be able to out-match the superior German forces? If they don't, the Germans will capture the Suez and thus take control of a major shipping and supply line to the Allies, and control the oil coming out of the Arabian Peninsula. Not a good thing. In watching these war pictures, one gets the feeling that we got lucky winning World War II. If it were not for Hitler's bungling, men like Rommel would have had the skill to take control of wide territories. But we had Richard Burton! Recommended!! Other James Mason films: The Desert Fox Cross of Iron (Full Screen) Other Richard Burton films: Bitter Victory Where Eagles Dare Read more

It is of course an older genre, and holds up pretty well considering its age. However, what makes it great is to watch Richard Burton. I do believe the story lines were so much better back then. But back then racism and extreme nationalism was all the rage. Despite that, I love this movie and have watched it every few years, and still enjoyed it. Read more

If you have the movie "Tobruk" then you have basically seem this movie but "Tobruk" was a better version. As a matter of fact it uses some of the same scenes as the original so in some places you feel like you are watching a 70s-80s TV series using "stock" footage. Obviously a cost cutting measure on the studio's part. If you can find a cheap used copy then it would be worth adding to your library. Read more