From Robert Wise, whose credits include The Day the Earth Stood Still and The Sound of Music, comes this fine 1953 World War II film that recounts the valiant stand by beleaguered Australian troops at Tobruk against Rommel (with James Mason reprising his role as The Desert Fox). Richard Burton stars as the war-weary British officer assigned to lead the initially skeptical Aussies and scene-stealing Robert Newton, who was once Burton's schoolmaster but is now a cowardly alcoholic. The DVD transfer, presented full-frame in its original aspect ratio, is passable, and while the disc features no real extras, the film is thrill enough for war movie buffs. Recommended. Four other titles are newly available in the Fox War Classics series as well: Between Heaven and Hell, D-Day: The Sixth of June, To the Shores of Tripoli, and A Yank in the R.A.F. (K. Lee Benson)
The Desert Rats
Fox, 88 min., not rated, DVD: $14.98 Volume 17, Issue 4
The Desert Rats
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