The Desert Rats (DVD, 2002, Fox War Classics)

In this sequel to one of the all time favorite war movies, The Desert Fox,
World War II British commando Richard Burton takes charge of a defiant,
but vastly outnumbered Australian division in their heroic stand against
the German troops of the Africka Corp led by legendary German Field
Marshal Erwin Rommel (James Mason)- in North Africa. The movie is based
on a true story of an includes one of the commando raids that damaged the
german supply lines that consistantly harassed Rommel, keeping him off
balance, thus preventing him from achieving his final goal of capturing
the Suez Canel. Great movie for war movie lovers.

For those of you who have a thing for great acting as well as great adventure, get a bowl of popcorn and pull up a chair !!!

"THE DESERT RATS", which pays homage to the heroic stand made by the British (actually the AUSTRAILIANS) at TOBRUK, a key Libyan port, against the German Afrika Corps during WWII.

Leading the defenders is noneotherthan RICHARD BURTON, who plays a British Captain, placed in charge of a company of the headstrong Austrailians holding Toburk; facing another heavyweight British talent (JAMES MASON) in the role of Field-Marshall ERWIN ROMMELL, Nazi Germany's most honored, and most DANGEROUS commander in the field.

Highly unpopular at first Burton's character, named MAC ROBERTS, must win the respect of his new command while he must quickly whipped them into shape.

A rather sentimental subplot involves the captain finding his old teacher amongst the troops, in a rather sorry state being drunk as well as being a coward; in turn becomming friends and culminating in a climatic event that helps humanize Burton's charatcter with his command as well as the audience.

Too bad this movie is only 90 minutes long, but believe you get more than enough for your money's worth.

Among the DVD features includes subtitles that translates the German lines betweeen Rommell and his troops at key points, which may or may not be welcome by the fans of this film; and also includes some previews from the FOX WAR CLASSICS collection.

This is the story about the courage of the men of WW2 who faced inpossible odds and came out victorious. This is a timeless film about the battles, but it also shows a great view of the battles within the battles.