The Desert Rats poster

The Desert Rats(1953)

1h 28mWar, ActionGerman
6.3/10
97 user ratings

They crawled their way across the blazing sands of Africa... to turn disaster into victory!

Overview

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.

Director

Robert Wise

Studio

20th Century Fox

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Cast

Richard Burton

Richard Burton

as Captain "Tammy" MacRoberts

James Mason

James Mason

as Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel

Robert Newton

Robert Newton

as Tom Bartlett

Robert Douglas

Robert Douglas

as General

Torin Thatcher

Torin Thatcher

as Col. Barney White

Chips Rafferty

Chips Rafferty

as Sgt. "Blue" Smith

Charles Tingwell

Charles Tingwell

as Lt. Harry Carstairs

Charles Davis

Charles Davis

as Pete

Ben Wright

Ben Wright

as Mick

Patrick Aherne

Patrick Aherne

as English Officer (uncredited)

John Alderson

John Alderson

as Corporal (uncredited)

Frank Baker

Frank Baker

as British Officer (uncredited)

Where to Watch

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Movie Facts

Release Year

1953

Runtime

1h 28m

Language

German

Rating

6.3 / 10

Production Companies

20th Century Fox

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I watch The Desert Rats?

Check the "Where to Watch" section above for current streaming platforms, rental options, and purchase links for The Desert Rats (1953).

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 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.

Who directed The Desert Rats?

The Desert Rats was directed by Robert Wise and released in 1953. It is a war, action film.

How long is The Desert Rats?

The Desert Rats has a runtime of 1 hours and 28 minutes (88 minutes total).

Who stars in The Desert Rats?

The cast of The Desert Rats includes Richard Burton as Captain "Tammy" MacRoberts, James Mason as Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel, Robert Newton as Tom Bartlett, Robert Douglas as General, Torin Thatcher as Col. Barney White and more.

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