The Desert Rats (film)

The Desert Rats is a 1953 American war film about the Second World War Siege of Tobruk. It stars Richard Burton, James Mason and Robert Newton and was directed by Robert Wise.

The defending Allied general Robert Douglas chooses English Captain Tammy MacRoberts Richard Burton, an experienced field officer, to take command of a company of newly arrived, untried Australian troops. The nononsense MacRoberts is disliked by the undisciplined Australians. He is surprised to see in their ranks his former schoolmaster, Tom Bartlett Robert Newton. Bartlett, an alcoholic, later explains that after being dismissed from his job in Britain due to his drinking, he went to Australia and joined the army while intoxicated. MacRoberts offers to transfer him to a safer billet, but Bartlett turns him down.Because of the desperate situation, the inexperienced troops are sent directly into the front line. The men dig foxholes and prepare for Rommels certain attack. The Allied general masses his artillery where he guesses the Germans will strike. His gamble pays off. Under cover of a sandstorm, they attack exactly where the general predicted and head directly at MacRoberts men. In the fierce battle, Captain Currie is wounded. Lieutenant Harry Carstairs Charles Tingwell abandons his vital post to go to his aid, in vain. After the Germans are beaten back, an infuriated MacRoberts vows to have Carstairs courtmartialed for disobeying orders and leaving a dangerous hole in the line, but Bartlett persuades MacRoberts to retract his request. ........

Source: Wikipedia