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The Desert Fox
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Synopsis
The Desert Fox is a superb filmed biography of German general Erwin Rommel, concentrating on the period between his retreat from North Africa and his government-decreed death. A brilliant tactician, Rommel earns the respect not only of his own men but of the enemy. Unfortunately, Adolph Hitler (Luther Adler), laboring under the delusion that he too is a military genius, demands more of Rommel than he's able to provide. Ordered to stand his ground in Africa to the last man, Rommel realizes that it's more intelligent in the long run to retreat; this incurs Hitler's wrath, but Rommel is a war hero, and as such is virtually "untouchable". Increasingly disgusted by Hitler's behavior, Rommel joins in a plot to assassinate the Fuhrer. The attempt fails, and Rommel's complicity is discovered. He is given a choice: either face a horrible death by torture, or commit suicide, thereby saving his family and his reputation. Rommel opts for the latter; the official story given to the press is that Rommel died heroically of his war wounds. Also appearing in The Desert Fox are Jessica Tandy as Rommel's wife and Leo G. Carroll as an insufferably aristocratic Von Ruhnstedt. The film caused a critical stir in 1951 by providing a tense ten-minute dramatic sequence before the opening credits--a technique that is all but de rigueur today. The Desert Fox was based on the book by Brigadier Desmond Young, who narrates the film and appears as himself in the early scenes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast

Luther Adler Adolf Hitler
Jack Baston Gen. Alfred Jodl
Richard Boone Capt. Hermann Aldinger
Leo G. Carroll Field Marshal Von Rundstedt
Mary Carroll Maid
Paul Cavanagh Col. Caesar von Hofacker
Don de Leo Gen. Ernst Maisel
Scott Forbes Commando Colonel
Eduard Franz Col. Klaus Von Stauffenberg
John Hoyt Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel
Walter Kingsford Admiral Friedrich Ruge
Freeman Lusk German surgeon
George Macready Gen. Fritz Bayerlein
Lester Matthews British officer
Dan O'Herlihy Commando Captain
Everett Sloane Gen. Wilhelm Burgdorf
Jessica Tandy Frau Rommel
John Vosper Maj. Walker
Victor Wood British medic
Carleton Young German Major
Desmond Young Himself
Cedric Hardwicke Dr. Karl Strolin
James Mason Erwin Rommel
Richard Elmore Rommel's Driver in Africa
Charles Evans Gen. Schultz

Production Crew

Lyle Wheeler Art Director
Maurice Ransford Art Director
Desmond Young Book Author
Norbert F. Brodin Cinematographer
Daniele Amfitheatrof Composer (Music Score)
Edward Stevenson Costume Designer
Henry Hathaway Director
James B. Clark Editor
Ben Nye, Sr. Makeup
Nunnally Johnson Producer
Nunnally Johnson Screenwriter
Stuart A. Reiss Set Designer
Thomas K. Little Set Designer
Eugene Grossman Sound/Sound Designer
Roger Heman Sound/Sound Designer
Fred Sersen Special Effects
Ray Kellogg Special Effects
Year: 1951
Runtime: 87
Country: USA
MPAA Rating:
Category: Feature

Genre
War

Produced by
20th Century Fox