Robert Wise's 1953 film, The Desert Rats, recounts the bravery and resilience of troops defending Tobruk during World War II. Though it presents a Hollywood version of this important historical event, the movie manages to combine its departures from reality with notable performances, particularly those of Richard Burton and James Mason, resulting in an absorbing experience. The story centers on British and Australian…

The pressure mounts on the Allied forces trapped in Tobruk as Rommel (James Mason) advances, placing the responsibility on "Capt. MacRoberts" (Richard Burton) to inspire a tired group of ANZAC soldiers for a final stand against the cunning Desert Fox. He’s not overly strict, but he won't tolerate insubordination, which immediately creates friction with his unit when he responds harshly to actions from their "Lt. Cars…

Get yourselves out there! Robert Wise directed The Desert Rats, with a script by Richard Murphy. It features Richard Burton, Robert Newton, Robert Douglas, Torin Thatcher, Chips Rafferty and James Mason, accompanied by music from Leigh Harline and cinematography by Lucien Ballard. Coming after The Desert Fox—though it isn’t really a sequel—this film seems to have been made partly as a response to criticisms lev…