This film goes beyond the standard WW2 war film due to excellent writing and acting. Of course, due to the propaganda needs of the time (it was filmed during the war), it included an incredibly diverse and multinational cast of heroes in order to bolster the war effort at home. It seem unlikely that such a diverse group of soldiers would have actually fallen together like they did in the movie, but that can easily be forgiven. Plus, the characterizations of the gungho evil Nazi prisoner and the war weary and decent Italian soldier are designed for to further the war effort at home. But, because it's so well done, you'll excuse these overly stereotypical roles. Especially since everything else works together so well.
The plot is simple--following a battle, diverse allied troops happen together to form a small company in search of the rest of their armies AND to find water (since after all, it is in the North African desert). Along the way, they stumble upon the German uber-Nazi and Italian soldiers who they take prisoner.
Eventually, they find some water at an ancient deserted fortress and then they wait,.....What happens next, you'll have to see for yourself. The plot has some really nice twists and you'll really grow to care about these men and their plight. This is a Bogart film but he is so ably assisted it's hard to just characterize it has HIS film.
The plot is simple--following a battle, diverse allied troops happen together to form a small company in search of the rest of their armies AND to find water (since after all, it is in the North African desert). Along the way, they stumble upon the German uber-Nazi and Italian soldiers who they take prisoner.
Eventually, they find some water at an ancient deserted fortress and then they wait,.....What happens next, you'll have to see for yourself. The plot has some really nice twists and you'll really grow to care about these men and their plight. This is a Bogart film but he is so ably assisted it's hard to just characterize it has HIS film.