The Desert Rats

"The Desert Rats" is a World War II movie that reflects the era it was made in. It features a few engaging moments, but by and large, it lacks elements that would make it stand out in the annals of war films.

This film was made by Fox as a kind of informal sequel to "The Desert Fox", which was a fairly big hit in Britain. James Mason returns here as Erwin Rommel, this time playing him as decidedly more German and decidedly less sympathetic. The fairly episodic plot makes for a pretty average, but entertaining war film about men making extreme sacrifices. Burton, very early in his career and 2 films into his multi-year contract with Fox, is riveting.

Entertaining. Love seeing all the old Second World War kit still in action.

A very good war/action film. Richard Burton is rather wooden, but so is his character so that's not so bad. There is some fine haunting imagery here, especially a moment where infantrymen charge directly towards German artillery fire that looks like a thunderstorm on the horizon. While the plentiful explosions make for half of the enjoyment, there's a decent human condition quality to it as well that keeps it from being insultingly simple.

James Mason reprises his role from "Rommel, the Desert Fox", this time with a phony German accent. Not a bad movie, but cheesy in places and with a few overdone facial contortions by Richard Burton.

Not bad.