Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Saturday 22 May 1954, page 7


NEW FILMS

Reviewed By HAROLD TIDEMANN

'Desert Rats' Grippina

*OKK. — Apart from its special inte«ast for those South Australians who were actuallv in t.he^ sittrp nf Tn

bruk, 'The Desert Rats' is a gripping reproduction of a stirring event. A genuine Australian touch is given this 20th Century-Fox film, ably directed by Robert Wise, by Chips Rafferty as a 'din-k u m footslogger' and Charles Tingwell as a young officer. The rugged nature of the desert campaign of 1941 and the ? terrible conditions under which Australian troops fought are remarkably well captured. The spectacle of tank and gun warfare in the desert, commando raids and the spirit among the 'mates' are first class. Richard Burton as the disciplinarian English officer, Robert Newton, his former schoolmaster, and Robert Douglas as the general, head a distinguished .cast, and James Mason appears again as Rommel The scene between Mason

and Burton after the lat-i ter's mission to blow up the Nazi munitions dump is one of the highlights. Burton's escape and final defence of El Duda outpost with the rats in and out of their holes make thrilling entertainment. It is a cheering moment when the bagpipes herald the relief of Tobruk after 242 days. Richard Murphy made a good job of the screen play. Support is 'Every Minute Counts,' with McDonald Carey and Teresa Wright. Icebergs And Ships REX. — Republic's 'Sea of Lost Ships' opens with a reminder of the Titanic disaster of 1912 which led to the formation of an international ice patrol. It then traces the training of two cadets (John Derek and Richard Jaeckel) at the famous US Coast Guard Academy and their split over a girl (Wanda Hendrix). Glimpses of coast guard work include a fire in a munitions ship in which a captain (Barton McLane) is killed, the rescue of a plane crew after a crash-landing

a mid-ocean and the adventurous exploit of releasing an ice-locked ship. Walter Brennan gives a moving performance as the father and foster father respectively of the boys, and the sea sequences are realistic throughout. Producer-director Joseph Kane has obtained his best results in the wind-swept action shots. Support is 'Miss Robin Cruso,' with Amanda Blake and George Nader.