Come out of your holes you desert rats! The Desert Rats is directed by Robert Wise and written by Richard Murphy. It stars Richard Burton, Robert Newton, Robert Douglas, Torin Thatcher, Chips Rafferty and James Mason. Music is by Leigh Harline and cinematography by Lucien Ballard. The follow up to The Desert Fox (it's not a sequel) from two years earlier, was in essence an attempt to readdress the balance…
They crawled their way across the blazing sands of Africa... to turn disaster into victory!
In North Africa, German Field Marshal Rommel and his troops have successfully fended off British forces, and now intend to take Tobruk, an important port city. A ramshackle group of Australian reinforcements sent to combat the Germans is put under the command of British Captain MacRoberts. The unruly Aussies immediately clash with MacRoberts, a gruff, strict disciplinarian, however this unorthodox team must band together to protect Tobruk from the German forces.
Top Cast
Richard Burton
Captain "Tammy" MacRoberts
James Mason
Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel
Robert Newton
Tom Bartlett
Robert Douglas
General
Torin Thatcher
Col. Barney White
Chips Rafferty
Sgt. "Blue" Smith
Charles Tingwell
Lt. Harry Carstairs
Charles Davis
Pete
Ben Wright
Mick
Patrick Aherne
English Officer (uncredited)
John Alderson
Corporal (uncredited)
Frank Baker
British Officer (uncredited)
John Blackburn
Sergeant (uncredited)
Robert Boon
German Lieutenant (uncredited)
Frederic Brunn
German Gunner (uncredited)
Arthur Brunner
German Radio Man (uncredited)
Reviews
With Rommel (James Mason) bearing down heavily on the beleaguered allied garrison of Tobruk, it falls to "Capt. MacRoberts" (Richard Burton) to try and galvanise some war weary ANZAC troops for one last defence against the wily Desert Fox. He's not exactly puritanical, but he doesn's suffer disobedience and that sets him, initially, against his new troop when he over-reacts to behaviour from their "Lt. Carstairs"…
Movie Review: The Desert Rats (1953) The Desert Rats (1953), directed by Robert Wise, is a war film that brings to life the courage and perseverance of soldiers during the defense of Tobruk in World War II. While the film offers a Hollywood take on this significant chapter of history, it balances its historical inaccuracies with strong performances, especially from Richard Burton and James Mason, making it an…
FAQ about The Desert Rats
What is The Desert Rats about?
In North Africa, German Field Marshal Rommel and his troops have successfully fended off British forces, and now intend to take Tobruk, an important port city. A ramshackle group of Australian reinforcements sent to combat the Germans is put under the command of British Captain…
When was The Desert Rats released?
The Desert Rats was released in 1953.
What genres does The Desert Rats belong to?
The Desert Rats is categorised as War, Action.
Who stars in The Desert Rats?
The cast of The Desert Rats includes Richard Burton, James Mason, Robert Newton, Robert Douglas, Torin Thatcher.