The Desert Fox

Released Oct 17, 1951

1h 28m

War

Drama

List

71%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

61%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (James Mason) leads the German troops against the Allied forces in World War II. Rommel's virtuosity on the battlefield makes him a national hero and earns the begrudging respect of his foes, but his tactics also infuriate Adolf Hitler. Rommel's close friend Dr. Strölin (Cedric Hardwicke) asks him to take part in a plan to assassinate the Führer; when Hitler learns of Rommel's involvement in the scheme, the field marshal is given a chilling ultimatum.

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Russ G

For a movie that's a rather sympathetic treatment of a mythical historical figure, it's odd that Rommel's early victories in North Africa are skipped. Overall it's a pretty thin script, fleshed out with lots of stock footage. Wasn't James Mason generally in better movies than this?

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

11/07/22

Full Review

Liam D

James Mason (The Fall of the Roman Empire, The Last of Sheila) gives an commanding performance in an interesting Drama with solid directing by Henry Hathaway (North to Alaska, Kiss of Death)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/09/22

Full Review

Audience Member

The film is simply too short to get any understanding of Rommel. I also had a big issue with all the very english accents when playing Germans. I really cannot recommend this film.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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andy f

James Mason is brilliant as Rommel in this strangely touching biopic. The scenes of war are quite affecting. An intelligent and worthwhile movie about one of Hitler's most loyal officers.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Would have been much better if all the Germans did not have British accents! Can't British Actors pull off at least a basic German accent to make the movie more credible and watchable? This is one of the most annoying production/casting jokes that ruins so many movies, war and religious movies especially. Arabs and Palestinians with strong British accents..... Germans with British accents.... come on- how much effort is put into costumes, sets etc... only to have the Germans sounding more British than the Brits themselves. I have watched with people who were totally confused with such war movies - due to confusing accents and dialog

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Audience Member

Really good old film about a great WWII general. Though it is mostly fictional as far as plot goes it does tell a pretty accurate story of general Rommel. A lot would demonize him because he fought for Germany, but Rommel himself wasn't a Nazi. Even though the acting is nothing flashy I still love the way the characters are carried out, James mason's.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Henry Hathaway

Director

James Mason

Field Marshal Erwin Johannes Rommel

Cedric Hardwicke

Dr. Karl Strolin

Jessica Tandy

Frau Lucie Marie Rommel

Luther Adler

Adolf Hitler

Everett Sloane

Gen. Wilhelm Burgdorf

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Christopher Lloyd

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

The purpose of the book and movie is not to tell the complete story of Rommel's life, but to set the historical record straight about his death.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 6, 2011

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

It's sympathetic of the legendary Nazi general to the point it makes him an heroic figure.

Rated: B-

May 24, 2010

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Michael Szymanski

International Press Academy

Rated: 2/5

Oct 7, 2005

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jun 17, 2005

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Jules Brenner

Cinema Signals

Rated: 5/5

Mar 30, 2005

Full Review

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan

Mason is great as the Nazi tank commander.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 3, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (James Mason) leads the German troops against the Allied forces in World War II. Rommel's virtuosity on the battlefield makes him a national hero and earns the begrudging respect of his foes, but his tactics also infuriate Adolf Hitler. Rommel's close friend Dr. Strölin (Cedric Hardwicke) asks him to take part in a plan to assassinate the Führer; when Hitler learns of Rommel's involvement in the scheme, the field marshal is given a chilling ultimatum.

Director: Henry Hathaway
Screenwriter: Nunnally Johnson
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: War, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 17, 1951, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 14, 2017
Runtime: 1h 28m