The Desert Rats (1953): cast, story & where to watch
1953 · Film · ★ 6.2
Released in 1953, The Desert Rats is an action, drama, adventure and war film directed by Robert Wise, running about 88 minutes. “They crawled their way across the blazing sands of Africa... to turn disaster into victory!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. In North Africa, German Field Marshal Rommel and his troops have successfully fended off British forces, and now intend to take Tobruk, an important port city. A ramshackle group of Australian reinforcements sent to combat the Germans is put under the command of British Captain MacRoberts. The unruly Aussies immediately clash with MacRoberts, a gruff, strict disciplinarian, however this unorthodox team must band together to protect Tobruk from the German forces.
Who’s in it. The Desert Rats stars Richard Burton as Captain "Tammy" MacRoberts, James Mason as Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel, Robert Newton as Tom Bartlett and Robert Douglas as General, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.2/10, The Desert Rats has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Desert Rats page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Desert Rats tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Desert Rats (1953)?
- In US, The Desert Rats is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Desert Rats worth watching?
- The Desert Rats holds an audience score of 6.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, drama, adventure and war. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Desert Rats?
- The Desert Rats stars Richard Burton, James Mason, Robert Newton, Robert Douglas and Torin Thatcher.
- When was The Desert Rats released?
- The Desert Rats was released in 1953, with a runtime of about 88 minutes.