Diagonaldi Very well executed

Titreenp SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Ogosmith Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Frances Chung Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

jc-osms What an interesting film to watch and consider. I must I find it hard to credit Hollywood producing a film celebrating Hitler's greatest general a mere 6 years after the end of the war, even if the Hitler assassination plot had become widely known about in the interim. It was down to Rommell after all that a lot of Allied soldiers lost their lives but then I guess that is the controversial "Rommell Effect" in action, where a halo of greatness and decency appears to have been attached to Germany's top general. Interesting too to read that Warner Brothers, of Jewish heritage of course, refused to show the film in any of their theatres at the time. Perhaps it was made as a sop to foster good relations with post war West Germany especially as the Iron Curtain was descending over Europe and Berlin in particular at that time.Putting all that aside it's certainly a well made film and boasts a superb performance by James Mason in the title role. He plays the part of Rommell with great confidence and pretty much carries the film on his own shoulders. Elsewhere the editing of the film is both good and bad. There's a tense and exciting pre-title sequence as a group of British commandos attempt to assassinate Rommell, this many years before the James Bond franchise, to name but one, took it up as a trademark introduction to most of their films. However, the editing in of stock Second World War footage doesn't work very well and there are also some very obvious process shots of characters standing in front of painted backdrops.The film certainly does its job of humanising the great general, crediting him with being one of the anti-Hitler sympathisers, although it's at least at pains to suggest he was far from being the most outspoken or active of the conspirators. Elsewhere he's shown to be an honourable soldier, loving family man and ultimately a brave man accepting suicide when forced to do so by Hitler's underlings. Although it's held back, we do also get to see Rommell meeting Hitler and even a dramatisation of the failed attempt on the Fuhrer's life.Like I said at the start, I watched this film with mixed feelings, perhaps thinking it wasn't Hollywood's place to make such a film. What I'll remember most is Mason's excellent acting above all else, which I believe, is probably for the best.

gavin6942 The story of the final years of the respected World War II German general, Erwin Rommel (James Mason).I really didn't know much about Rommel going in to this film, and I don't know if I know all that much more coming out of it. Apparently he was British? And he answered to a silly Hitler that seemed liked a caricature of the real thing? I joke, but it is amusing how movies used to make no attempt whatsoever to get people's nationality correct.Beyond that, the film is actually fairly decent because it operates more or less as a one man show for James Mason. And Mason is a joy to watch (and an even bigger joy to listen to). Not a bad story, either, although I am not sure how openly people were calling Hitler "evil" and trying to overthrow him.

gordonl56 THE DESERT FOX – 1951 James Mason is really top flight in this film about the WW Two German commander, Erwin Rommel. A very watchable film considering how little actual combat scenes are in the production.Most of the film deals with his growing dislike of Hitler and his mob. It suggests that Rommel was involved in the plot to kill Hitler. From what I've read on the subject, there seems to be little solid proof either way. The failure of the assassination, lead to the death of several thousand of those involved. Rommel was forced to commit suicide in order to save his family.Mason keeps this one rolling with help from Cedric Hardwicke and a great bit by Luther Adler as Adolf Hitler. Veteran director Henry (True Grit) Hathaway handles the story with a nice even pace.It is really about time that someone made a film about his World War one battles that won him the Blue Max. Or something on his dash to the coast in the Battle of France as well as his early battles with the Afrika Korps.Having said that, don't let that stop you from watching this one. It is a film well worth the time investment.

Armand for mistakes and atmosphere. for acting and special James Manson in Rommel skin. for images of battle, nuances of facts, naivety, desire to create a perfect picture, mixture of documentary and artistic movie, air of time and courage to create a homage - portrait. a not inspired beginning and pathetic end. but essence is adorable and the Hollywood ambitions has decent measure in this case. a memorable film about war and its personal price. shadow of monster, silhouette of chevalier, the good wife and wise friend, web of conspiracy and a man as axis of events, prey of his superior in Greek tragedy style. first virtue - courage to make a picture of a German officer after small period after war. second virtue - inspired option for Manson. last virtue - its existence. like testimony of a time sensitivity.