Die Kanonen von Tobruk

That subgenre being the war movie about a small group of specialist soldiers - "commandos" - who pull off a daring raid, with lots of drama and personality conflicts - these days they're called "special operators." And it's the sort of war picture they sure don't make any more. Pity, in a way. In this screenplay it's the Long Range Desert Group, based on a legendary North Africa force, plus a bunch of German Jews out to confound the Nazis and use their contribution as leverage to achieve nationhood in Palestine -no, Israel!, as George Peppard brusquely corrects Rock Hudson. Which is what gives this movie a very interesting historical dimensions, bringing in as it does, along with Rommel and the Desert War, or course, the meddling of the Grand Mufti, Arab affinities for Nazism, and the struggle for Israel as the Holocaust goes on in Europe. Note the movie was made in '67 - Six-Day War anyone? The premise of the commandos masquerading as Afrika Korps I found a bit much, though. Also much mirth garnered by the use of all-American trucks and tanks (a lot of them post- WWII) for German, Italian, British - I noticed the California National Guard got a big credit at the end. The Grumman Goose was a cute touch, too. At least they got most of the guns right - but the P-40 was good, the right type for the time and place. Also a nice touch to have Rock Hudson play as a Canadian, not an American. And get a load of Dean Stockwell. And there was some pretty good camera work and some clever crane and dolly shots, too. For all its flaws and preposterous elements, and for being a bit of a period piece, it is a most entertaining picture, and lots of stuff blows up.

RELEASED IN 1967 and directed Arthur Hiller, "Tobruk" chronicles events during WWII in Northern Africa when a Canadian major (Rock Hudson) teams-up with British commandos & German Jews to hinder Rommel's Afrika Korps by destroying his major fuel depot in Tobruk, Libya. Nigel Green plays the British colonel while George Peppard appears as the Jewish captain with Guy Stockwell as his subordinate. Jack Watson and Percy Herbert are also on hand.

The movie scores high marks with the notable cast, grave ambiance and brutal action, but it's also hindered by hackneyed contrivances, like the eye-rolling trap door and traitor element. But any flaws are redeemed by a literally explosive climax. There's also some commendable human interest and tension in the ethnic prejudice department.

THE FILM RUNS 107 minutes and was shot in Arizona (Yuma, Tucson & Mojave Desert) and Imperial County, California. WRITER: Leo Gordon.

GRADE: B-

The year is 1942 and Germany's famed 'Desert Fox' is winning the war in North Africa. His vaunted 'Afrika Korps' is nearly unstoppable and is only a short distance from all out victory. In this movie "Tobruk" comes the story of a last desperate attempt to stop Rommel at the port city of the same name. A small detachment of specialist troops called the SIG, join British commandos who will attempt to travel 800 miles through the vast, rugged and hostile Sahara desert and attack Rommel's secret oil reserves. In order to accomplish this nearly impossible mission, the British kidnapped a highly experienced but reluctant Canadian officer, Maj. Donald Craig (Rock Hudson) so that Nigel Green as Col. Harker and George Peppard as Capt. Kurt Bergman, can convince him it must be done. Other Hollywood greats like Guy Stockwell, Jack Watson as Sgt. Maj. Jack Tyne and Leo Gordon as Sgt. Krug are what make's this film completely memorable. Interestingly enough, the story itself was written by Leo Gordon and was so well conceived, it was used to enhance a nearly duplicate film called "Raid on Rommel" four years later. As for this movie, it is so packed with inner conflicts between characters that often, it's hard to tell who they are at war with. Nevertheless, the background world conflict is sufficient to view with admiration the soldiers who willingly gave so much for what they believed. A superior action-oriented film and one which has become a Classic in its own right. Highly recommended. ****

... and always has been. But still, this World War II action-adventure does have plenty of excitement, a cross and doublecross plot, and a great mixture of different nationalities, one of the best things about it I thought when I first saw it on television 20 or 25 years ago.

The actual battle of Tobruk plays no part in this story. It's about a complicated commando mission by the famous Long Range Desert Group. The LRDG, while being distinct from the even better known SAS, sometimes joined in combined operations with them at times during the desert campaign against the Afrika Korps. The LRDG mainly engaged in hit-and-run raids against German supply, dangerous enough even without the Hollywood plot elements which make this movie so entertaining.

The film's comic relief is provided by Norman Rossington who did the same job for the Beatles in "A Hard Day's Night".

You know, I miss Rock Hudson. I miss the fake guy I guess, the guy who had to hide his sexual orientation because of the way the world is about 'manliness.' Anyway, Tobruk is a gritty little war thriller escapade that causes the viewer to sweat and recall a far away war in the desert, a war that had justification. Political diatribe aside, Tobruk reminds us about treachery, duplicity and the ever toxic fifth column that insinuated itself into WW11. Hudson is magnificent, Peppard is intense and aware and Nigel Green, a particular favourite, has that snooty, over-bearing right at all costs attitude down to a Tee. The Portman father and daughter fifth column team seem especially right.

The screenplay was written by the much under-rated Leo Gordon. And okay, I acknowledge that he must have watched Guns Of Navarone a few times. Still, its a fun war film (if that's possible.) His ferocious, simmering presence has a small but useful role in the film

The world I belong to has vagueness as an ethical base. Tobruk and films like it remind me of a more pure, righteous and simpler time. Sorry, I know that's a bit sentimental but age does that.