The Desert Fox (1951)

71% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(1,794 ratings)

The Desert Fox is a superb filmed biography of German general Erwin Rommel, concentrating on the period between his retreat from North Africa and his government-decreed death. A brilliant tactician, Rommel earns the respect not only of his own men but of the enemy. Unfortunately, Adolph Hitler… More The Desert Fox is a superb filmed biography of German general Erwin Rommel, concentrating on the period between his retreat from North Africa and his government-decreed death. A brilliant tactician, Rommel earns the respect not only of his own men but of the enemy. Unfortunately, Adolph Hitler (Luther Adler), laboring under the delusion that he too is a military genius, demands more of Rommel than he's able to provide. Ordered to stand his ground in Africa to the last man, Rommel realizes that it's more intelligent in the long run to retreat; this incurs Hitler's wrath, but Rommel is a war hero, and as such is virtually "untouchable". Increasingly disgusted by Hitler's behavior, Rommel joins in a plot to assassinate the Fuhrer. The attempt fails, and Rommel's complicity is discovered. He is given a choice: either face a horrible death by torture, or commit suicide, thereby saving his family and his reputation. Rommel opts for the latter; the official story given to the press is that Rommel died heroically of his war wounds. Also appearing in The Desert Fox are Jessica Tandy as Rommel's wife and Leo G. Carroll as an insufferably aristocratic Von Ruhnstedt. The film caused a critical stir in 1951 by providing a tense ten-minute dramatic sequence before the opening credits--a technique that is all but de rigueur today. The Desert Fox was based on the book by Brigadier Desmond Young, who narrates the film and appears as himself in the early scenes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Henry Hathaway
Written By: Nunnally Johnson
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Oct 17, 1951 Wide
On DVD: May 20, 2003

Critic Reviews

Christopher Lloyd, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
The purpose of the book and movie is not to tell the complete story of Rommel's life, but to set the historical record straight about his death.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's sympathetic of the legendary Nazi general to the point it makes him an heroic figure.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Mason is great as the Nazi tank commander.

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Featured Audience Ratings

xGary X

The first of two appearances by James Mason in one of his defining roles as Erwin Rommel, telling the story of his life from hero of the third reich through to his eventual disillusionment with Hitler and involvement in the plot on his life. No doubt inspired by Churchill's… More
The first of two appearances by James Mason in one of his defining roles as Erwin Rommel, telling the story of his life from hero of the third reich through to his eventual disillusionment with Hitler and involvement in the plot on his life. No doubt inspired by Churchill's wartime tribute to the man, The Desert Fox is an acknowledgement of the skill and integrity of one of the world's greatest military tacticians which takes great pains to distance him from Hitler and the Nazi party. It is a typically romantic British attempt to be graceful in victory and is clearly meant as an attempt at reconciliation with Germany and its people; the story vehemently shows that Rommel and many of his colleagues were merely professional soldiers doing their duty to their country, unwillingly following the orders of a maniacal tyrant whom they had to obey under pain of death. It is basically de-dehumanizing an enemy that wartime propaganda had spent the previous years rallying the British public against. Mason is superb in the leading role, and every scene that features the exchanges between he and an excellent supporting cast paint a believable and respectful portrait of the man. Unfortunately the pacing stutters as it constantly feels the need to show the gallant allied forces through actual documentary footage and Michael Rennie's voice over makes this biopic feel like a dry inventory of the events of his life, but it's a fascinating story and worth it for Mason's performance alone.
jay n

James Mason is fine as always and Jessica Tandy is stalwart as his wife but the picture itself is rather uninvolving.

Cast

            James Mason as Erwin Rommel

            Cedric Hardwicke as Dr. Karl Strolin

            Jessica Tandy as Frau Rommel

            Luther Adler as Adolf Hitler

            Everett Sloane as Gen. Wilhelm Burgdorf

            Leo G Carroll as Field Marshal Von Rundstedt

            George Macready as Gen. Fritz Bayerlein

            Richard Boone as Capt. Hermann Aldinger

            Eduard Franz as Col. Klaus Von Stauffenberg

            Desmond Young as Himself

            Charles Evans as Gen. Schultz

            Walter Kingsford as Admiral Friedrich Ruge

            John Hoyt as Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel

            Don de Leo as Gen. Ernst Maisel

            Richard Elmore as Rommel's Driver in Africa

            John Vosper as Maj. Walker

            Dan O'Herlihy as Commando Captain

            Scott Forbes as Commando Colonel

            Victor Wood as British medic

            Lester Matthews as British officer

            Mary Carroll as Maid

            Paul Cavanagh as Col. Caesar von Hofacker

            Jack Baston as Gen. Alfred Jodl

            Carleton Young as German Major

            Freeman Lusk as German surgeon

            Robert Coote as British Medical Officer

            Lumsden Hare as Doctor

            Sean McClory as Jock

            Michael Rennie as Desmond Young

            Ivan Triesault as German Major

            Peter van Eyck as German officer

            Philip Van Zandt
            
            Trevor Ward
            
            William Reynolds as Manfred Rommel

            John W. Goldsworthy as Gen. Heinrich von Stulpnagel
See full cast