In 1941, Erwin Rommel's (James Mason) German Afrika Corps besieges the 9th Australian Division at Tobruk in Libya. As Rommel prepares his final attack, hardass English Captain Roberts (Richard Burton) takes command of an Aussie company and whips them into shape. Roberts slowly bonds with his men, including Tommy Bartlett (Robert Newton), his former schoolmaster-turned-rake. He leads them on a series of daring raids against Rommel's troops - but German numbers gradually wear them down. Will the Aussies hold long enough for relief to arrive?
Where The Desert Fox was a talky biopic, The Desert Rats is a schematic combat picture. The film has a big budget but the phony sets and lack of historical details (German soldiers clearly tote Tommy guns at several points!) undercut it. Richard Murphy's script sticks to basics, with the stuffy commander learning to love his rough-and-tumble men, etc. Wise's no-nonsense direction proves the saving grace, with a large-scale tank battle (concededly augmented with stock footage) and exciting commando raids moving things at a brisk clip.
Richard Burton plays an archetypical "stiff upper lip" Captain without much panache. Robert Newton (Oliver Twist) serves as the film's emotional anchor, making his silly archetype into an effective personage. James Mason briefly reprises his role as Rommel, with regrettable German accent. Australian actors Chips Rafferty (Mutiny on the Bounty), Charles Tingwell (Breaker Morant) and Michael Pate (Major Dundee) feature in supporting roles.
The Desert Rats won't be on many lists of all-time classics. Aussies told their own war stories much better in Gallipoli and The Lighthorsemen, but this is a respectable old-fashioned war movie.
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