(Flash Review)I popped this film on as Rommel is one of the few names I actually know from WWII and a non-American at that. It is the war from Rommel's perspective and talks about how great a tactician he was and how he'd follow the rules of war to the letter. I never really knew he had a part in the assassination attempt on Hitler. A scene more famously known from the movie Vallkarie with Tom Cruise. The film made you feel for him and how his end….was forced. Heavy. Moderately interesting if the topic peeks your interest. It also conveniently tap dances around the Holocaust. Too soon maybe in the early 50's….?

Lieutenant-Colonel Desmond Young was captured by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (James Mason). After the war, it's assumed that Rommel was killed during action but his investigation proves otherwise. In flashback, Rommel is shocked by Hitler's orders at El Alamein. He continues to disagree with the orders. When his close friend is dismissed, he is placed in charge of the Atlantic wall. He faces off with Hitler himself. While returning to the front, he is injured. He is in the hospital when an assassination attempt occurs on Hitler's life. He is then forced to commit suicide.It's a biopic of Rommel. The portrayal is rather sympathetic which is probably due to the involvement of Rommel's wife. I don't really buy his confrontation with Hitler but I'm not a historian. The use of real footage is good for certain times but at other times, I want a big action scene. James Mason is effective. For all of my reservations, this is more truthful than I expected.

For years, I avoided watching "The Desert Fox" because I assumed, like most Hollywood produced films of the era that the movie would play fast and loose with the facts. This is just too often the case with bio- pics of the era. So, I am usually much more likely to watch a documentary and get the facts instead of seeing a film which is intended much more as entertainment than a history lesson. And, given that I was a history teacher, of course I'd prefer documentaries. But in this case, I was surprised. While the film was far from perfect, what you saw was true and the filmmakers did a good job of establishing at the beginning that they conducted a lot of interviews in order to tell the story right--including consulting with Rommel's widow. I really appreciate this--and that is why I rate the film an 8. Plus the acting and most of the production were very, very nice.So, is it perfect? Nope. I had a few problems. I usually hate the overuse of stock footage and this film is no exception. In one case, I was really mad because its use was so sloppy. You see an American torpedo plane (an Avenger) become a British fighter plane in mid-air because of sloppy editing! Also, the film is NOT a comprehensive story about Rommel's life or even his life during WWII. It's much more spotty and emphasizes his progression from a loyal officer to a guy who had some knowledge of the plot to kill Hitler and kept his silence because he saw that this mad man was destroying his country. It's not a bad choice to do this sort of study but I would love to have seen more--more about him as a man.By the way, I did laugh at a scene between Rommel and von Rundstedt that would have occurred in June 1944. You see von Rundstedt putting on his scarf and picking up a heavy winter coat at the end of their talk. Where was von Rundstedt stationed...Antarctica?!

THE DESERT FOX – 1951 James Mason is really top flight in this film about the WW Two German commander, Erwin Rommel. A very watchable film considering how little actual combat scenes are in the production.Most of the film deals with his growing dislike of Hitler and his mob. It suggests that Rommel was involved in the plot to kill Hitler. From what I've read on the subject, there seems to be little solid proof either way. The failure of the assassination, lead to the death of several thousand of those involved. Rommel was forced to commit suicide in order to save his family.Mason keeps this one rolling with help from Cedric Hardwicke and a great bit by Luther Adler as Adolf Hitler. Veteran director Henry (True Grit) Hathaway handles the story with a nice even pace.It is really about time that someone made a film about his World War one battles that won him the Blue Max. Or something on his dash to the coast in the Battle of France as well as his early battles with the Afrika Korps.Having said that, don't let that stop you from watching this one. It is a film well worth the time investment.