The Desert Rats
“They crawled their way across the blazing sands of Africa... to turn disaster into victory!”
Synopsis
In North Africa, German Field Marshal Rommel and his troops have successfully fended off British forces, and now intend to take Tobruk, an important port city. A ramshackle group of Australian reinforcements sent to combat the Germans is put under the command of British Captain MacRoberts. The unruly Aussies immediately clash with MacRoberts, a gruff, strict disciplinarian, however this unorthodox team must band together to protect Tobruk from the German forces.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
THE DESERT RATS(1953) Original Theatrical Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2008-03-28
Top Cast
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Richard Burton
Captain "Tammy" MacRoberts
James Mason
Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel
Robert Newton
Tom Bartlett
Robert Douglas
General
Torin Thatcher
Col. Barney White
Chips Rafferty
Sgt. "Blue" Smith
Charles Tingwell
Lt. Harry Carstairs
Charles Davis
Pete
Ben Wright
Mick
Patrick Aherne
English Officer (uncredited)
John Alderson
Corporal (uncredited)
Frank Baker
British Officer (uncredited)
John Blackburn
Sergeant (uncredited)
Robert Boon
German Lieutenant (uncredited)
Frederic Brunn
German Gunner (uncredited)
Arthur Brunner
German Radio Man (uncredited)
Paul Busch
German Orderly (uncredited)
Paul Cavanagh
Colonel (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 20, 1953
Wide Cinema Exhibition
January 1, 2000
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Robert Wise
- Screenplay & Story
- Richard Murphy
- Original Score
- Leigh Harline
- Original Title
- The Desert Rats
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- German, English
- Runtime
- 1h 28m
- Production Studios
- 20th Century Fox
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Robert Wise
Richard Murphy
Leigh Harline
Lucien Ballard
Barbara McLean
Robert L. Jacks
Department Leadership Roster
Robert Wise
Director
Richard Murphy
Writer
Leigh Harline
Original Music Composer
Robert L. Jacks
Producer
Lucien Ballard
Director of Photography
Barbara McLean
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Desert Rats.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Desert Rats
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Desert Rats about?
In North Africa, German Field Marshal Rommel and his troops have successfully fended off British forces, and now intend to take Tobruk, an important port city. A ramshackle group of Australian reinforcements sent to combat the Germans is put under the command of British Captain MacRoberts. The unruly Aussies immediately clash with MacRoberts, a gruff, strict disciplinarian, however this unorthodox team must band together to protect Tobruk from the German forces.
Who directed The Desert Rats?
The Desert Rats was directed by Robert Wise.
Who stars in The Desert Rats?
The principal cast of The Desert Rats includes Richard Burton, James Mason, Robert Newton, Robert Douglas, Torin Thatcher.
When was The Desert Rats released and how long is it?
The Desert Rats was released in 1953 with a total runtime of 1h 28m.
Who composed the musical score for The Desert Rats?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Desert Rats was composed by Leigh Harline.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Desert Rats?
The Desert Rats holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).