The Desert Rats

Name: The Desert Rats
Director: Robert Wise
Released: 1953
Duration: 88 min
Rating: 6.7
Cast: Richard Burton, James Mason, Robert Newton, Robert Douglas, Torin Thatcher

1953 · 88 MIN · IMDB 6.7 · 5,424 VOTES · DIR. Robert Wise

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.

Dialogue Timeline — 1,097 lines

A SAMPLE ACROSS THE RUNTIME — EVERY LINE IS SEARCHABLE

00:00:24 (in German) Good. Huh? Huh? What does he say?

00:05:01 a highly limited tactical maneuver.

00:07:54 Form up here! Fall in!

00:11:06 You'll have five more if you bunch up.

00:14:39 When sober. Uh, good night, Tammy.

00:18:03 It may even work for us. Tank men can't hear anything.

00:22:32 Orders.

00:28:32 On target.

00:31:15 It was a perfectly natural and courageous thing to do.

00:34:00 You don't know much about real fear, Tammy.

00:37:04 Yes, yes.

00:39:26 Don't thank me. Thank the General. I had nothing to do with it.

00:43:25 No other reason for moving up heavy artillery.

00:46:02 It's just seeing the men go each time

00:49:02 Get that back up, too.

00:57:01 Shut up and push the ruddy plunger!

01:00:15 (glasses clink)

01:02:36 Colonel, I fully understand your natural pride in holding a position

01:07:02 What do you think, sir?

01:11:31 Consequently, I'll have to move troops to hold it.

01:14:55 Give me another tin of grub.

01:18:13 The old army game. My estimate of the situation.

01:20:46 Then I'll be no good to myself.

05:00:00 - Think they'll attack under cover of it?

Cast & Characters

Richard Burton Capt. 'Tammy' MacRoberts James Mason Field Marshal Erwin Rommel Robert Newton Tom Bartlett Robert Douglas General Torin Thatcher Col. Barney White Chips Rafferty Sgt. 'Blue' Smith Charles 'Bud' Tingwell Lt. Harry Carstairs Charles Davis Pete Ben Wright Mick Patrick Aherne English Officer

Dialogue Record

Lines indexed1,097

Dialogue density12.5 lines / min

First line00:00:24

Final line05:00:00

Production Record

DirectorRobert Wise

LanguageEnglish

IMDb votes5,424