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on August 3, 2014
When judging movies of this period and the time they were produced, I essentially look for three things:
A, Did it keep my attention? Answer: Yes
B, Did I like the actors/acting, lines/dialogue, action scenes? Answer: For the most part, yes
C, Is it just another "Rah, rah!" film of the period? Meaning, is it mostly how we 'supposedly' won the war? Propaganda BS movie? Answer, not really and it told the story, at least for the most part in a short way, about Rommel. It wasn't really in depth and it didn't really tell about his thinking and actual trials of being a general in Hitler's war machine. It touched on some of the issues but not like a book on the subject would.
Overall, I like the film and love James Mason, so it rates a four star rank as far as old war films go.
A, Did it keep my attention? Answer: Yes
B, Did I like the actors/acting, lines/dialogue, action scenes? Answer: For the most part, yes
C, Is it just another "Rah, rah!" film of the period? Meaning, is it mostly how we 'supposedly' won the war? Propaganda BS movie? Answer, not really and it told the story, at least for the most part in a short way, about Rommel. It wasn't really in depth and it didn't really tell about his thinking and actual trials of being a general in Hitler's war machine. It touched on some of the issues but not like a book on the subject would.
Overall, I like the film and love James Mason, so it rates a four star rank as far as old war films go.
on July 20, 2017
A little light on his military career and a little too heavy on his personal life.
But James Mason makes this a great movie.
But James Mason makes this a great movie.
on April 25, 2014
James Mason is Field Marshall Erwin Rommel. The movie is too short and jumps around a bit. The film is narrated by Michael Rennie, who some might remember from the movie "The day the Earth Stood Still". For it's day the movie included many of the great English actors of the 50's. Watch for actor Richard Boon is a German officer who is Rommel's personal assistant, he has a few lines but does a get some screen time. Luther Adler, a Jewish American actor does a passable job as Hitler. It is sort of a dramatic documentary and the Author of the Book, Lt. Col. Desmond Young, plays himself, but is voiced by Michael Rennie. If you like WWII movies and want to see the German side of things, own this movie.
on August 28, 2017
Nice to go back and watch old movies
on July 31, 2017
Saw the movie years ago. My husband liked it -- ergo.
on February 10, 2014
Movie was good telling the story about Rommel. I gave it four stars as I expected more action packed scenes. I got it confused with another movie about Rommel,...I was thinking this was "Raid on Rommel". Anyway,still a good movie!
TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE VOICEon May 28, 2003
This is a superb movie dealing with the great German general, Erwin Rommel, dubbed "The Desert Fox." Surprisingly, the movie deals rather tersely with the famed North African campaign, and instead focuses largely on the period after this time, when Rommel becomes disaffected with Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich, and conspires against Hitler. While basically true, this causes the movie to be an incomplete and imperfect portrayal of Rommel.
Despite its flaws, this movie is well worth watching and owning. James Mason is very authentic as Rommel. The movie is narrated by Michael Rennie, and this narration significantly adds to the quality of the film. Overall, a fine war film about a great subject which is made even better by the fact that it is true to history, albeit incomplete.
Despite its flaws, this movie is well worth watching and owning. James Mason is very authentic as Rommel. The movie is narrated by Michael Rennie, and this narration significantly adds to the quality of the film. Overall, a fine war film about a great subject which is made even better by the fact that it is true to history, albeit incomplete.
on June 3, 2017
Good biography of a brilliant tactician
on October 12, 2008
The Desert Fox is a tight little film about Rommel that's directed by Henry Hathaway. I'm sure it's not 100% accurate but what film can be in only 88 minutes? Hathaway certainly glorifies Rommel as an honorable man that was only being a good soldier. Once again, not being a historian, I'm not sure of its accuracy but I don't think I've ever heard the person of Rommel being disparaged. There have been many facts about different German officers of that period that are common knowledge, many of them are never shown in a good light. The exception seems to be Rommel.
The movie is based upon the biography written by Brigadier Desmond Young who had been captured in Africa. He only saw Rommel from a distance one time in the desert & from this, after the war, he researched the background of the Desert Fox. The movie doesn't focus on Rommel's (James Mason) role in the Africa Corps. It focuses more so on the later period when he was a part of the Normandy defenses & his involvement in the assassination attempt on the leader of his nation. None of this is presented in much depth & in the end Ididn't feel any sorrow in the demise of Rommel.
Frau Rommel (Jessica Tandy) is presented as the dutiful wife though there is a hint that she was the catalyst in getting Rommel involved in the plot. Dr. Karl Strolin (Cedric Hardwicke) approaches Rommel about the plot. At this point we are told that Rommel has harbored secret feelings about the situation that he had revealed to his wife. Rommel sees it as an act of treason even though it's the right thing to do. This inner conflict causes Rommel to be hesitant about the consequences.
There's not a lot of action in the movie, it's more of a character study about a man who must make an extraordinary decision. The movie has authentic film footage interspersed throughout. The film even has the part where the satchel bomb was placed in the bunker by Col. Von Stauffenberg (Eduard Franz) to kill the infamous leader (Luther Adler). There are a couple of scenes with Field Marshall Von Runstedt (Leo G. Carroll), one of which reveals where Von Runstedt's sympathies might lay.
The official version of Rommel's death was that he died from his war wounds. The film makes it plain that Rommel was about to be put on trial for treason & it was obvious he was guilty. The messenger (Everett Sloane) makes it plain that Rommel only has one choice. Rommel wants to go to trial but his wife & son would suffer the consequences of this. Rommel is a hero & they would prefer he would go away quietly without making the noises that the German people would hear & respect. Rommel agrees to take the offer in order to protect his family.
The Desert Fox is a good film that gives James Mason a chance to show some of his acting skills. The real life Desmond Young portrays himself in the movie & is the narrator. The film is in very good condition & there aren't any significant bonus features though it does have a Spanish audio track & subtitles in English & Spanish.
The movie is based upon the biography written by Brigadier Desmond Young who had been captured in Africa. He only saw Rommel from a distance one time in the desert & from this, after the war, he researched the background of the Desert Fox. The movie doesn't focus on Rommel's (James Mason) role in the Africa Corps. It focuses more so on the later period when he was a part of the Normandy defenses & his involvement in the assassination attempt on the leader of his nation. None of this is presented in much depth & in the end Ididn't feel any sorrow in the demise of Rommel.
Frau Rommel (Jessica Tandy) is presented as the dutiful wife though there is a hint that she was the catalyst in getting Rommel involved in the plot. Dr. Karl Strolin (Cedric Hardwicke) approaches Rommel about the plot. At this point we are told that Rommel has harbored secret feelings about the situation that he had revealed to his wife. Rommel sees it as an act of treason even though it's the right thing to do. This inner conflict causes Rommel to be hesitant about the consequences.
There's not a lot of action in the movie, it's more of a character study about a man who must make an extraordinary decision. The movie has authentic film footage interspersed throughout. The film even has the part where the satchel bomb was placed in the bunker by Col. Von Stauffenberg (Eduard Franz) to kill the infamous leader (Luther Adler). There are a couple of scenes with Field Marshall Von Runstedt (Leo G. Carroll), one of which reveals where Von Runstedt's sympathies might lay.
The official version of Rommel's death was that he died from his war wounds. The film makes it plain that Rommel was about to be put on trial for treason & it was obvious he was guilty. The messenger (Everett Sloane) makes it plain that Rommel only has one choice. Rommel wants to go to trial but his wife & son would suffer the consequences of this. Rommel is a hero & they would prefer he would go away quietly without making the noises that the German people would hear & respect. Rommel agrees to take the offer in order to protect his family.
The Desert Fox is a good film that gives James Mason a chance to show some of his acting skills. The real life Desmond Young portrays himself in the movie & is the narrator. The film is in very good condition & there aren't any significant bonus features though it does have a Spanish audio track & subtitles in English & Spanish.
