Sahara (1943)

Sahara (1943), directed by Zoltan Korda.

Entertaining "lost patrol" adventure story about a tank crew and assorted soldiers trying to survive the desert and German pursuit. Humphrey Bogart stars and does a fine job. Don't insult his tank or you may end up walking.

One of the thirstiest films I can remember. California substitutes for Libya, but the terrain is incredibly bleak. The Germans are only half the battle; both sides are desperate for even a trickle of water. It becomes a siege story where the allies have a well and the axis wants it.

In addition to three Americans we have British, Irish, French, Sudanese Muslim and South African allies. Lloyd Bridges is either another South African or an Aussie; he didn't last long enough to produce an accent. Like many lost patrol stories it is an "and then there were none" plot as our characters are picked off one by one.

They also pick up a sympathetic Italian prisoner (J. Carrol Naish, nominated for an Oscar) and a nasty German officer (Kurt Kreuger; in the wikipedia article he is quoted as saying he passed out in the scene where Rex Ingram pushed his face into the sand).

There is a bit of speechifying about Hitler, Mussolini and "why we fight".

Also nominated for "Best Cinematography, Black-and-White" and "Best Sound, Recording". Miklós Rózsa score, photographed by Rudolph Maté.

http://watershade.net/public/sahara.jpg