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The Desert Fox / The Desert Rats (2 Disc Box Set) [1951]


RRP: £14.99
Our Price: £4.36 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

James Mason plays Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in both The Desert Fox (1951) and The Desert Rats (1953), a WWII double-bill on DVD.

The Desert Fox, released six years after the end of the War, is a solemnly respectful tribute to Erwin Rommel, Germany's most celebrated military genius. James Mason's portrayal of this gallant warrior became a highlight of his career iconography. The film itself is oddly disjointed, though: a pre-credit commando raid to liquidate Rommel is followed by a flashback to the field-marshal's lightning successes commanding the Afrika Korps--a compressed account via documentary footage and copious narration (spoken by Michael Rennie, who also dubs Desmond Young, the Rommel biographer and one-time British POW appearing briefly as himself). The dramatic core is Rommel's growing disenchantment with Hitler (Luther Adler), his involvement in the plot to assassinate the Fuhrer, and his subsequent martyrdom.

The Desert Rats stars Richard Burton in only his second Hollywood role (between Oscar-nominated turns in My Cousin Rachel and The Robe), as a Scottish commando put in charge of a battalion of the 9th Australian Division defending Tobruk. The Aussies don't like him, and with a year of grim North African duty already under his belt, he's not too crazy about his new responsibilities either. The outfit is charged with staving off the battering assaults of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel for two months, to give the British Army time to regroup in Cairo and prepare for a counterattack. In the end, the "desert rats" play hell with the Desert Fox for 242 days, during which time they and their commander develop some mutual respect.

This is a solid, workmanlike World War II picture that, having been made in 1953 rather than 1943, can acknowledge a degree of eccentric humanity and soldierly professionalism in the enemy. Featured guest star James Mason reprises his Rommel from The Desert Fox, playing all his scenes in German except for a scene of ironical repartee with Burton. Another distinguished Brit, Robert Newton, gets costar billing as a boozy, self-confessed coward who used to be Burton's schoolmaster. However, a goodly number of Australians--including Chips Rafferty and Charles "Bud" Tingwell rate at least as much screen time. Robert Wise directed, with a trimness that reminds us he started out as an editor, and the pungent black-and-white cinematography is by Lucien Ballard. --Richard T. Jameson


Two Rommels for the price of one
Review date: 2007-12-13 Rating: 6 out of 10

James Mason gives two very different impersonations of Rommel, every Brit's favorite Nazi general, in The Desert Fox and The Desert Rats. The former is a solid biopic more concerned with his involvement in the plot to assassinate Hitler than his exploits in Africa, painting him as an honorable man unable to believe just how insane Hitler is until it is too late, while the latter is a standard war movie set against the siege of Tobruk slightly elevated by Robert Wise's direction but which still manages to feel overlong at an hour and a half. Richard Burton and Robert Newton are the top-liners, but Mason turns up for an extended cameo as a dastardly Nazi swine of the "Die, Englander pigdog" comic strip variety.

The only extras are the original trailers for each film.

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Reviews


Two Great Movies
Review date: 2007-08-06 Rating: 10 out of 10

I can remember "Montie" being interviewed just before one of the 8th Army's (The Desert Rats) Albert Hall reunion's in the 1950's and being asked of all the people who had died in the war, who he would like to be with him at the reunion.
His answer was "Erwin Rommel, an officer and a gentleman!"
Two great movies. Both well worth watching.
It's interesting to note that James Mason played many military roles during his long career, but during World War II he was a conscientious objector which caused many actors who had served their country (David Niven, Peter Ustinov, John Mills etc., etc.,) to refuse to act with him.
Despite all that, two great movies, buy and enjoy.

2 tea brewing blockbusters for the price of one!
Review date: 2003-11-16 Rating: 10 out of 10

Well what can you say? two superb actors of their times in a pair of gritty war films(at least for their time!).James Mason as the soldiers soldier General Rommel(DERERT FOX)seems to suit the part perfectly.Whilst action is fairly thin on the ground the political backstabbing and clambouring for favour of their all powerfull Fuhrer is neatly handled.The state hero soldier who realises too late he has been fighting for a madman.Ultimately destined to fall foul of the very war machine he fought so well for Rommel struggles to justify his actions as he learns more of the truth.Only Mason could pull off the stereo typical German-English accent we all love to use when telling jokes and make it watchable. Great stuff.
Rommels thorn in the side and opposing army the 'DESERT RATS' (8th army) is represented in the second film by another legend of the big screen Richard Burton.Burton is a Captain of a band of determined Australian soldiers who by day defend against Rommels tanks and troops and by night raid into the enemies rear lines and cause havok.Great British stiff upper lip stuff all around. Mason co-stars as Rommel in this film and brings us the best moment of the film when he and Burton by a wierd coincidence meet and exchange words.Great actors in a great scene.Well worth a watch.
The quality of the film is good and clear so the transfer to DVD was done well.The theatrical trailers for both films are included and thats about it, but what do you want for less than twenty quid? buy it!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Robert Newton
Richard Burton
Robert Douglas
Cedric Hardwicke
James Mason

Creators:
James Mason (Primary Contributor)
Cedric Hardwicke (Primary Contributor)
Lucien Ballard (Cinematographer)
Nunnally Johnson (Producer)
Nunnally Johnson (Writer)
Robert L. Jacks (Producer)
Desmond Young (Writer)
Richard Murphy (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
EAN: 5039036012096
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Box set, Black & White, Dubbed, Full Screen, PAL,
Release date: 2003-06-02
Number of discs: 2
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 174 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1953-05-20
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: German (Original Language)

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