The Desert Rats (film)
The Desert Rats | |
---|---|
20th Century Fox | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 88 min. |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $1,320,000[1] |
Box office | $1.1 million (US rentals)[2] |
The Desert Rats is a 1953 American
Plot
German field marshal
It is later decided to send out small commando raids every night, exacting a toll on German positions. But during a successful raid on a German ammunition dump, MacRoberts is wounded and captured. While being treated by a German doctor, he encounters Rommel, who has been shot by a strafing Spitfire. Although he is respectful, MacRoberts points out to the field marshal that Tobruk is a thorn in his side. Rommel, amused by his brashness, orders he be treated well. Later, MacRoberts escapes and makes his way back to Allied lines. The siege of Tobruk carries on for months. As a result, MacRoberts fears his men are becoming weary and will need to be relieved. After constant attacks and shelling by the Germans, MacRoberts believes they can take no more. Surprisingly, the self-admitted coward, Bartlett, begs him to hang on. To MacRoberts' surprise, the rest of his men refuse to abandon their positions. Eventually, the Australians hear bagpipes announcing the arrival of a relief column. After a hard-fought 242 days, the Allies have retained Tobruk.
Cast
- Richard Burton as Captain "Tammy" MacRoberts
- James Mason as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
- Robert Newton as Tom Bartlett
- Robert Douglas as the General
- Torin Thatcher as Colonel Barney White
- Chips Rafferty as Sergeant "Blue" Smith
- Charles "Bud" Tingwell as Lieutenant Harry Carstairs (as Charles Tingwell)
- Charles Davis as Pete
- Ben Wrightas Mick
- Michael Pate as Captain Currie (uncredited)
- John Alderson as Australian Corporal (uncredited)
History
The film is based on the
Production
Development
The film was a quasi-sequel to The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (1951), which had been successful critically and commercially, particularly in England. It was, reportedly, partly made to portray a less likeable General Rommel, after criticism that film had been too friendly to the Germans. Rommel is again played by James Mason, but this time he usually speaks in German and is not sympathetic. The title The Desert Rats was selected to refer to the earlier title The Desert Fox.[3] Mason wore Rommel's real scarf in the film, which had been given to him by the general's widow.[4]
In October 1951 Fox announced that
Filming was delayed and Fuller dropped out to work on other films. In July 1952 Fox announced that filming would take place in September and the three leads would be played by Michael Rennie, Robert Newton and James Robertson Justice. (Rennie and Newton had just made Les Misérables together).[8][9]
The script was written by an American, Richard Murphy, who was familiar with Australian servicemen from his time being a liaison officer with the Ninth Division in New Guinea, after its withdrawal from the Middle East in 1942.[10]
Filming was pushed back further. In October Fox replaced Rennie with Richard Burton, who had just appeared in
Several genuine Australian actors were cast, including
Richard Boone, who had just made Kangaroo with Rafferty and Tingwell, was announced for an important role.[13] He ended up not appearing in the film. In November, Robert Newton's casting was confirmed, as was that of James Mason, who would reprise his role as Rommel.[14]
Filming started December 1952. Australian journalist Alan Moorehead was used as a consultant and the technical adviser was an Englishman now in the Canadian Army, Lieutenant Adrian (George) Acland, who took part in the defence of Tobruk.[15]
The battle sequences were shot near Borrego Springs, a Californian desert town. Some background scenes were taken from the documentary Desert Victory (1943).
Inaccuracies
The title of the film is a misnomer: The "Desert Rats" were actually the British 7th Armoured Division, the name coming from their jerboa shoulder flash. The Australian 9th Division besieged at Tobruk were denigrated as being "caught like rats in a trap" by German propaganda, the Australians calling themselves "the Rats of Tobruk" with pride as a result.
Also, Erwin Rommel is described as a field marshal at the time of the siege when he was actually a lieutenant-general; he would become a field marshal in June 1942, after the fall of Tobruk.
Chips Rafferty and Charles Tingwell had both served in the army, and said they tried to correct inaccuracies in the script, but were only partly successful. "The script was full of Cockney idiom", said Rafferty. "I was invited to look over it a week before shooting began, and managed to get some of it changed into Australian slang."[15] "There's one scene in which the sergeant – myself – refuses to obey the colonel's order, while two lieutenants stand idly by", added Rafferty. "That will raise some Ninth Division eyebrows."[15]
A key plot point involved the Australian general deliberately letting German tanks through the defences. "To my knowledge there was no such plan to let the Germans in through the outer defences", said Tingwell. "But whenever difficulties of that sort were mentioned the Hollywood experts claimed to be working on a script based on the actual battle plans of the campaign."[15]
Other criticisms made of the film include the fact no British officer was ever placed in command of an Australian battalion in Tobruk, and there was no raid on the ammunition dump as depicted, although there was one on the Twin Pimples, held by Italy, and there is no depiction of the British, Polish or Indian troops who were there.
Prior to the film being screened, Chips Rafferty admitted it was likely the film would be criticised by ex-servicemen. "To tell the truth, I think there's going to be a bit of a howl", he said.[15] This prediction proved to be correct. Lieutenant-General Sir Leslie Morshead said that, "The story is wholly foreign to the Tobruk I knew, and to its force which comprised almost as many gallant, purposeful British troops as those of the Ninth Division, all of whom I had the honour to command."[15]
Reception
The film received generally good reviews from British critics, although they complained the British contribution to the campaign had been minimised.[16] Australian critics were also positive despite the historical inaccuracies.[17][18]
The film was banned in Egypt.[19]
During production, 20th Century Fox offered
See also
- The Rats of Tobruk(1944 film)
- Western Desert Campaign
- North African Campaign
References
- ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1. p. 248
- ^ "The Top Box Office Hits of 1953". Variety. January 13, 1954.
- ^ "'Rats' – by Hollywood". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. July 15, 1952. p. 4. Retrieved March 25, 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "'Brigadoon' as a 3-D film?". The Argus. Melbourne. May 22, 1953. p. 16. Retrieved March 25, 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (October 23, 1951). "Drama: 'Desert Rats' Follows 'Desert Fox;' Unusual 'Napoleon' Film Slated". Los Angeles Times. p. B7.
- ^ "KRAMER, FOREMAN: Producer and Script Writer Part Company After Dispute on Congressional Inquiry". New York Times. October 23, 1951. p. 35.
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (November 3, 1951). "Drama: 'Madam' With Merman Due for Summer Start; Lindfors Role Sighted". Los Angeles Times. p. 11.
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (July 7, 1952). "Drama: Crosby-Astaire Film to Gladden Winter; Trio Named for 'Desert Rats'". Los Angeles Times. p. B9.
- ^ "Fox Plans Tobruk Film". The Sydney Morning Herald. July 15, 1952. p. 3. Retrieved March 25, 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Tobruk Rats in big battle film". The Australian Women's Weekly. February 18, 1953. p. 24. Retrieved March 25, 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ THOMAS M. PRYOR (October 7, 1952). "FOUR FILM ACTORS FIND LIFE IS ROSY: Contracts With Major Studios Signed by Burton, Bancroft, Corey and Robertson". New York Times. p. 26.
- ^ "STUDIO BRIEFS". Los Angeles Times. October 16, 1952. p. B10.
- ^ THOMAS M. PRYOR (October 4, 1952). "JOHN FORD TO HELP IRISH MOVIE GROUP: Director to Spend 3 Months in Ireland Next Summer on Plans for Native Firm". New York Times. p. 14.
- ^ THOMAS M. PRYOR (November 8, 1952). "BETTE DAVIS IS SET FOR FRIEDLOB FILM: Actress Will Make 2d Picture for Producer Next Summer -- Eunson, Albert Authors". New York Times. p. 9.
- ^ The Sunday Herald. Sydney. March 1, 1953. p. 16. Retrieved March 25, 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "London Critics Praise 'The Desert Rats'". The Sydney Morning Herald. April 27, 1953. p. 3. Retrieved March 25, 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "TOBRUK RATS". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. April 10, 1954. p. 18. Retrieved March 25, 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "NEW FILMS". The Advertiser. Adelaide. May 22, 1954. p. 7. Retrieved March 25, 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "PASSED 'THE DESERT FOX,' BUT". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. January 15, 1954. p. 4. Retrieved March 25, 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Charles Tingwell interview at Australian Biography, National Film and Sound Archive
External links
- The Desert Rats at the American Film Institute Catalog
- The Desert Rats at IMDb
- The Desert Rats at AllMovie
- The Desert Rats at the TCM Movie Database
- Review of film at Variety