The Desert Rats

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The Desert Rats ★★★ 1953

A crusty British captain (Burton) takes charge of an Australian division during WWII. Thinking they are inferior to his own British troops, he is stiff and uncaring to the Aussies until a kind-hearted drunk and the courage of the division win him over. Crack direction from Wise and Newton's performance (as the wag) simply steal the movie. Mason reprises his role as Germa- ny Army Field Marshal Rommel from “The Desert Fox.” 88m/B VHS, DVD . Richard Burton, Robert Newton, Robert Douglas, Torin Thatcher, Chips Rafferty, Charles “Bud” Tingwell, James Mason; D: Robert Wise.

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