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The Lost Patrol

Play trailer Poster for The Lost Patrol Released Feb 16, 1934 1h 14m War Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
A British patrol is crossing the deserts of Mesopotamia during World War I when the commanding officer is suddenly struck down by an unseen sniper. Their sergeant (Victor McLaglen) suddenly finds himself in charge of the surviving members of his regiment, with no idea where they are or what their mission is. Barricaded at a desert oasis and surrounded by enemy snipers, with no way of summoning reinforcements, the sergeant is forced to call for volunteers for a suicide mission.
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The Lost Patrol

Critics Reviews

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Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Visionary look at a group of doomed soldiers, grippingly told and styled, with an experimental feel. Aug 22, 2014 Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid Ford and his longtime screenwriter Dudley Nichols center on character interaction and keep the action mainly off-camera for a startlingly tense film. Mar 28, 2013 Full Review Michael W. Phillips, Jr. Goatdog's Movies A mostly successful experiment in minimalism that allows Ford to work with his traditional themes. Rated: 4/5 May 4, 2011 Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion John Ford's horror hallucination, which begins with Kipling but is positioned towards Borges (and the search for Weapons of Mass Destruction) Sep 25, 2009 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Seems archaic, as it has not dated that well. Rated: B Jan 7, 2007 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 4/5 Jul 2, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jithin K A bit of a dated experimental film that seems to have inspired a lot of better films. While it tries to show the psychological toll on soldiers, it can't help but be silly and not very three-dimensional. Was glad at the end because I didn't have to spend more time with these obnoxious characters which might not be what you want when you make a movie that wants to be sympathetic to the soldiers. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/20/25 Full Review Audience Member The best thrilling movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review s r A patrol stranded in the desert that drives them to all sorts of unusual behavior. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting - primarily for historical reasons. The story is extremely simple/2-dimensional and the film feels small, despite huge talents behind it. The acting is good. It is neat seeing these old desert pictures. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Though at times as dry as it's setting, the film is punctuated by moments of sentiment and tragedy. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member I believe in being drunk enough to be brave and brave enough to be drunk A dozen British soldiers are traveling across the desert during World War 1 when they get pinned down by an Arabian assassin. The longer the troops are trapped in the desert, the more desperate they get... making the job of the assassin easier. How can the British overcome their unseen adversary? "Do you remember the time I drank 57 bottles of beer on a bet?" "57?" "Well, I may have miscounted by a few; I just remember it was 10 below my record." John Ford, director of Grapes of Wrath, Stagecoach, The Man who Shot Liberty Valance, The Searchers, Rio Grande, Pinky, Fort Apache, and The Fugitive, delivers The Lost Patrol. The storyline for this picture is okay but the acting is very good. The script was alright but nothing amazing. The cast includes Boris Karloff, Victor McLaglen, Reginald Denny, Billy Bevan, and Alan Hale. "Why don't you make your peace with god?" "Because I don't want to." I came across The Lost Patrol on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and decided to DVR it since it starred one of my favorites, Boris Karloff. Karloff is more of a supporting character in this film, and his lines are delivered better than they are written, and his abstract character is very interesting, but the overall movie is just okay. I found it entertaining but not great. "Where are we going to bury him?" Doesn't make much difference, does it?" Grade: B Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Lost Patrol

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Movie Info

Synopsis A British patrol is crossing the deserts of Mesopotamia during World War I when the commanding officer is suddenly struck down by an unseen sniper. Their sergeant (Victor McLaglen) suddenly finds himself in charge of the surviving members of his regiment, with no idea where they are or what their mission is. Barricaded at a desert oasis and surrounded by enemy snipers, with no way of summoning reinforcements, the sergeant is forced to call for volunteers for a suicide mission.
Director
John Ford
Producer
Cliff Reid
Screenwriter
Dudley Nichols, Garrett Fort
Distributor
RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co
RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre
War
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 16, 1934, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 21, 2016
Runtime
1h 14m
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