Tobruk (1967)

Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

not horrible nor great

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Never having seen this before, I recorded it on a recent Film4 broadcast, eliminating the adverts before watching. A good widescreen presentation, and not a bad movie. I had always thought that this was a low budget movie as it was filmed in cheap and cheerful Techniscope (not usually used by the major studios, but with which Universal flirted in the late sixties). On a big cinema screen Techniscope could look pretty awful, but even on a big TV the image quality is not bad. Although not in the same league as the "big" war films, Tobruk is not at all bad, with decent performances from most and good location shooting by Russell Harlan. Easily the worst aspect is Norman Rossington's overplayed comic relief, which seems to have wandered in from a different movie.

Whilst there's always the obligatory talky parts in 'sixties films this still holds its own, especially with a latter movie-status Rock Hudson at the helm. Morose, enigmatic Canadian officer Craig, at odds with the CO on the mission, Harker (Nigel Green in yet another military role) stubbornly goes along with a plan to destroy the dumps at Tobruk to enable our boys to end the desert war asap.A good role is played by George Peppard as Bergman, German-Jewish leader of the Jewish Brigade, assisting the British-led attack ironically but essentially dressed as German Afrika Corps soldiers, with a plot to infiltrate the Germans by escorting 'British POWs' into the area they need to sabotage.Bergman's just as at odds with both Harker and Craig, as there's banter to the up-and-coming state of Israel, which of course Harker has had his 'bar-mitzvah' in Palestine (sorry about that!) Bergman and his chaps have almost the same mistrust of the allies as they have of the Nazis.Of course, there's a traitor in the midst among the rabble. There are fine moments of action. An attack on 'the convoy' of prisoners, albeit by a British P-40, unknowing of course of their mission is well-handled. A number of the soldiers are killed by their 'own 'plane' before they down it with obvious mixed feelings but it was necessary for the mission.Of course, they come across an Arab and his pals in the desert who happen to be a bit nasty too. Craig being fluent in German and Arabic poses as the Afrika Corps CO. (Suppose it's possible to find someone who speaks both - or is he a linguist/translator in peacetime Canada, who knows!), and negotiates with the Arabs (Who refuse his offer of a few rifles for two prisoners the Arabs say they have). Craig informs Sergeant Krug to open up with the MG42 and let the Arabs know they're not powerless with a good few rounds as they're demanding too much. They take the prisoners, Craig hands Harker the two 'British Passports', stating they're British (A father and daughter) - "They wanted to be taken to the Germans".Between these traitors and the traitor among the camp is the intrigue. The traitor's among the Jewish Brigade/Afrika Corps and this leads to tension when Bergman's men are singled out by Harker, as one of the two captured traitors is murdered by the 'brigade's traitor'. Then Mohnfeld (Guy Stockwell) finds one of Bergman's men down a tunnel leading from where the 'daughter' - traitor was killed (Stay with it!) but Mohnfeld kills him in a fight it seems - is this the brigade's traitor? Bergman says not, but because it's happened his men are let off the hook for the moment. The 'father'- traitor is wasted trying to radio Berlin or whatever, unwittingly by an Italian-Axis soldier who didn't know what he was doing out there in the desert, dot-dot-dot-dotting.As Bergman and his chaps have a reprieve, all goes more or less swimmingly along as we British would say to the dump, leaving Bergman to attack it with some flame-thrower action and Craig to take a tank into the area letting rip in good style. Bergman becomes a victim of his own flames after wasting quite a few Nazis though. Even though he's the hero, he gets done just like in 'The Blue Max' and 'Operation Crossbow' (Though he somewhat deserved it in The Blue Max!) but of course there IS another hero, and like it or not whether you're a Peppard or Hudson fan, it's the latter who's the real hero who's got to live (I mean, he hates authority, is always smarter than Harker and it's nice to show a Commonwealth soldier making it for once, right?).The boys manage to blow up the dump, Harker and his men are surrounded though and taken prisoner, and the 'traitor' unmasks himself for the info he wants thinking Harker's only going to be chivalrous. But he pumps this traitor with his pistol only to be mown down by the Nazis after a nice speech about 'being a soldier to the max' or words to that effect. (who was the traitor - watch the film, I'm not a total 'spoiler'!)This had a fair plot, some good angst between the authoritative Harker, Hudson and Bergman, good action, intrigue and a fine cameo of what an NCO is, namely the great Jack Watson playing one again, plus the two little British dregs, played by the fine character actors, Percy Herbert and Norman Rossington. Leo Gordon who plays the gruff Sergeant Krug actually wrote the screenplay. Check it out.

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 filmThe 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.

This thrilling wartime picture contains high-powered action-packed, shootouts , grand-scale blow-up , intrigue and lots of fun . The film belongs the sub-genre of warfare commandos , being highlighted by a stirring and thrilling climax with overwhelming action scenes . This WWII actioner talks upon a motley group formed by British soldiers (Nigel Green ,Percy Herbert , Jack Watson, Leo Gordon -who also wrote the script-) led by a Major (Rock Hudson replaced Laurence Harvey , though role was formerly offered to Dirk Bogarde who turned down) and rebel Jews (George Peppard) craving the dreamed country against the Nazi and Italian armies in the North African desert -Libya- during WWII with the aim to knock out the guns of Tobruk . They ought to sneak to clear the path for bombing strike at oil supply depots before Erwin Rommel (The Fox of the desert) arrives in Egypt (he'll be stopped in the Alamein by Montgomery who defeated the German army in the 1942-43 years). They must pass through Alix line disguised as German soldiers escorting allied privates . There actually was a raid on Tobruk, 13-14 September 1942, including the German-Jewish SIG and fake British POWs. Unlike the outcome in the movie, "Operation Agreement" was a complete failure. Decent wartime movie full of battles , explosions , thrills and extraordinary feats . From the beginning until ending the exciting warlike action is continued and the film runtime is adjusted . In the movie there is tension , suspense , emotion and for that reason results to be amusing ; besides , fast movement , and various happenings as well as spectacular scenes makes it entertaining and no boring . The picture has a certain remembrance with ¨Dirty dozen¨ , ¨Kelly's heroes¨ and ¨When the eagles dare¨ and the group of films were made about warlike adventures during the 60s and early 1970s . Portions of the film were edited into the 1971 Richard Burton film ¨Raid on Rommel¨ (1971) by Henry Hathaway and nearly all the action scenes was footage taken from Tobruk . The final confrontation between the protagonists and the enemies on the Nazi desert fortress is stimulating , it's the highlight of the movie . Russell Harlan's cinematography is good , like is well reflected on the splendid desert's photography . Rousing and breathtaking musical score by the great Bronislau Kaper . Well produced by Gene Corman , brother of legendary producer/director Roger Corman , as Gene financed several successful War films such as ¨The secret invasion¨, ¨Von Richthofen and Brown¨ ,¨You can win'em all¨ and the best of all them : ¨The Big Red One¨ . The motion picture was professionally directed by Arthur Hiller . Rating : Acceptable and passable warfare flick . The yarn will appeal to WW2 enthusiasts and Rock Hudson fans.