Sahara (1943)

This film takes re-writing history to new levels.This film is set after the Fall of Tobruk, June 1942. However, there were no American forces in Africa AT ALL until the Operation Torch landings in Morocco / Algeria in November 1942.I can only imagine it was designed as a feel-good film for American home consumption, since I can't believe British or Commonwealth audiences at the time (i.e. around about the time the confident yet green American forces were routed by the Germans at Sidi Bou Zid and Kasserine Pass) would have been pleased to hear about how an American sergeant usurped the authority of a British captain & led his tiny band to a glorious victory against superior German forces.But then, when did Hollywood ever let the truth get in the way of a 'good' story?

This a wonderful film with a stellar cast headed by Humphrey Bogart. Seldom did a war film reflect so well the combined effort of the countries involved. There seemed to be a greater understanding of the wider struggle, and genuine understanding and mutual respect between the nations. Great to see Dan Duryea in a heroic role, with marvellous support from Rex Ingram, J. Carrol Naish, Bruce Bennett and the lesser known actors such as Carl Harbord and Louis Mercier. The movie has a lot of humanity, reflected especially when they don't let the Italian prisoner onto the overcrowded truck, but then change their mind. It brings to mind Ice Cold in Alex in which the greater enemy for both sides is the desert.. Not seen the remake, but I think I will pass on it.

In June 1942, American Sgt. Joe Gunn (Humphrey Bogart) leads his tank crew in a battle alongside the British 8th Army. They're ordered to retreat with the Germans closing in on three sides. They fix up their M3 Lee tank and head south. Along the way, they pick up some stragglers, fend off the Germans, and even get POWs. The biggest threat however is the lack of water. The German forces are also in dire need for water.This is a fine propaganda war movie made at the height of WWII. Most of the Allie countries are well represented. They even have a colonial Sudanese to show the Nazi's racism. The Italian prisoner gives voice to the hope that the Italians are a reluctant axis power. The German prisoner is the typical evil Nazi. Their tank is contemporary for the actual battle. Of course, they don't have German equipment but the movie doesn't suffer for it. Bogie is a great Hollywood star and he's the perfect lead for this. The battle is a little bit static but they do have lots of action.

... but it's still well worth a look. This is one of the Bogie titles that tends to slip under the wire when they're issuing boxed sets or holding retrospectives. He made it after Casablanca and in some ways - it lacks completely the gloss and sub-plot content of the former - it could qualify as a throw-back to Bogie's thirties fodder but it is craftsman like - Zoltan Korda was never anything more than a journeyman and a real-life embodiment of the famous Hollywood gag the son-in-law also rises - and had for the time a viable message albeit sophomoric seen today, namely that in times of strife nations should put aside petty squabbles and unite against a common enemy. Bogie turns in a first class performance albeit having to compete with J. Carroll Nash; Bruce Bennet is low-key which is just as well given his limited talent, Lloyd Bridges barely makes it to the third reel and Dan Duryea is all at sea attempting to do 'nice'. Nevertheless it remains highly watchable.