Poster of The Desert Rats

The Desert Rats

Plot: 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
Release Date: Wednesday, May 20 1953
70 years ago
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Cast

Portrait of Richard BurtonRichard Burton
Richard Burton was
27 in The Desert Rats
as 'Captain "Tammy" MacRoberts'.
Tue, Nov 10 1925 –
Sun, Aug 05 1984
Portrait of James MasonJames Mason
James Mason was
44 in The Desert Rats
as 'Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel'.
Sat, May 15 1909 –
Fri, Jul 27 1984
Portrait of Robert NewtonRobert Newton
Robert Newton was
47 in The Desert Rats
as 'Tom Bartlett'.
Thu, Jun 01 1905 –
Sun, Mar 25 1956
Portrait of Robert DouglasRobert Douglas
Robert Douglas was
43 in The Desert Rats
as 'General'.
Tue, Nov 09 1909 –
Mon, Jan 11 1999
Portrait of Torin ThatcherTorin Thatcher
Torin Thatcher was
48 in The Desert Rats
as 'Col. Barney White'.
Sun, Jan 15 1905 –
Wed, Mar 04 1981
Portrait of Chips RaffertyChips Rafferty
Chips Rafferty was
44 in The Desert Rats
as 'Sgt. "Blue" Smith'.
Fri, Mar 26 1909 –
Thu, May 27 1971
Portrait of Charles TingwellCharles Tingwell
Charles Tingwell was
30 in The Desert Rats
as 'Lt. Harry Carstairs'.
Wed, Jan 03 1923 –
Fri, May 15 2009
Portrait of Charles DavisCharles Davis
Charles Davis was
27 in The Desert Rats
as 'Pete'.
Mon, Aug 31 1925 –
Sat, Dec 12 2009
Portrait of Ben WrightBen Wright
Ben Wright was
38 in The Desert Rats
as 'Mick'.
Wed, May 05 1915 –
Sun, Jul 02 1989
Portrait of Patrick AhernePatrick Aherne
Patrick Aherne was
52 in The Desert Rats
as 'English Officer (uncredited)'.
Sun, Jan 06 1901 –
Wed, Sep 30 1970
Portrait of John AldersonJohn Alderson
John Alderson was
37 in The Desert Rats
as 'Corporal (uncredited)'.
Mon, Apr 10 1916 –
Fri, Aug 04 2006
Portrait of Frank BakerFrank Baker
Frank Baker was
60 in The Desert Rats
as 'British Officer (uncredited)'.
Mon, Oct 10 1892 –
Tue, Dec 30 1980
Portrait of John BlackburnJohn Blackburn
John Blackburn was
>> in The Desert Rats
as 'Sergeant (uncredited)'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Robert BoonRobert Boon
Robert Boon was
36 in The Desert Rats
as 'German Lieutenant (uncredited)'.
Thu, Oct 26 1916 –
Tue, Jan 13 2015
Portrait of Frederic BrunnFrederic Brunn
Frederic Brunn was
>> in The Desert Rats
as 'German Gunner (uncredited)'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Arthur BrunnerArthur Brunner
Arthur Brunner was
>> in The Desert Rats
as 'German Radio Man (uncredited)'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Paul BuschPaul Busch
Paul Busch was
27 in The Desert Rats
as 'German Orderly (uncredited)'.
Sat, Aug 29 1925 –
Sun, Aug 15 1993
Portrait of Paul CavanaghPaul Cavanagh
Paul Cavanagh was
64 in The Desert Rats
as 'Colonel (uncredited)'.
Fri, Dec 07 1888 –
Sun, Mar 15 1964
Portrait of Frank ChaseFrank Chase
Frank Chase was
30 in The Desert Rats
as 'Commando (uncredited)'.
Thu, Feb 22 1923 –
Fri, Jul 02 2004
Portrait of Tony ChristianTony Christian
Tony Christian was
>> in The Desert Rats
as 'German Sentry (uncredited)'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Nicolas CosterNicolas Coster
Nicolas Coster was
18 in The Desert Rats
as 'Medic (uncredited)'.
Mon, Dec 03 1934 –
Mon, Jun 26 2023
Portrait of Noel DraytonNoel Drayton
Noel Drayton was
39 in The Desert Rats
as 'Captain (uncredited)'.
Tue, Oct 07 1913 –
Mon, Dec 07 1981
Portrait of Harold DyrenforthHarold Dyrenforth
Harold Dyrenforth was
39 in The Desert Rats
as 'Observer (uncredited)'.
Tue, Jun 24 1913 –
Fri, Oct 28 2005
Portrait of Charles B. FitzsimonsCharles B. Fitzsimons
Charles B. Fitzsimons was
29 in The Desert Rats
as 'Fire Officer (uncredited)'.
Thu, May 08 1924 –
Wed, Feb 14 2001
Portrait of John FraserJohn Fraser
John Fraser was
22 in The Desert Rats
as 'Artillery Man (uncredited)'.
Wed, Mar 18 1931 –
Fri, Nov 06 2020
Portrait of Arno FreyArno Frey
Arno Frey was
>> in The Desert Rats
as 'Kramm (uncredited)'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Ray HardenRay Harden
Ray Harden was
>> in The Desert Rats
as 'Hugh (uncredited)'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Charles KeaneCharles Keane
Charles Keane was
>> in The Desert Rats
as 'Sgt. Donaldson (uncredited)'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Lester MatthewsLester Matthews
Lester Matthews was
52 in The Desert Rats
as 'Foreign Secretary (uncredited)'.
Tue, Jun 05 1900 –
Fri, Jun 06 1975
Portrait of Gavin MuirGavin Muir
Gavin Muir was
52 in The Desert Rats
as 'Captain (uncredited)'.
Sat, Sep 08 1900 –
Wed, May 24 1972
Portrait of James O'HaraJames O'Hara
James O'Hara was
25 in The Desert Rats
as 'Communications Man (uncredited)'.
Sun, Sep 11 1927 –
Thu, Dec 03 1992
Portrait of John O'MalleyJohn O'Malley
John O'Malley was
36 in The Desert Rats
as 'Riley (uncredited)'.
Thu, Nov 02 1916 –
Wed, Aug 26 1959
Portrait of Patrick O'MoorePatrick O'Moore
Patrick O'Moore was
44 in The Desert Rats
as 'Jim (uncredited)'.
Thu, Apr 08 1909 –
Sat, Dec 10 1983
Portrait of Peter OrtizPeter Ortiz
Peter Ortiz was
39 in The Desert Rats
as 'Wireman (uncredited)'.
Sat, Jul 05 1913 –
Mon, May 16 1988
Portrait of Michael PateMichael Pate
Michael Pate was
33 in The Desert Rats
as 'Capt. Currie (uncredited)'.
Thu, Feb 26 1920 –
Mon, Sep 01 2008
Portrait of Richard PeelRichard Peel
Richard Peel was
32 in The Desert Rats
as 'Rusty (uncredited)'.
Sat, Jul 17 1920 –
Tue, Oct 11 1988
Portrait of Guy PrescottGuy Prescott
Guy Prescott was
>> in The Desert Rats
as 'Maj. O'Rourke (uncredited)'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Jack RaineJack Raine
Jack Raine was
56 in The Desert Rats
as 'C.I.C. (uncredited)'.
Tue, May 18 1897 –
Wed, May 30 1979
Portrait of Otto ReichowOtto Reichow
Otto Reichow was
48 in The Desert Rats
as 'Gunner (uncredited)'.
Sun, Dec 04 1904 –
Fri, Oct 20 2000
Portrait of Michael RennieMichael Rennie
Michael Rennie was
43 in The Desert Rats
as 'Narrator (voice) (uncredited)'.
Wed, Aug 25 1909 –
Thu, Jun 10 1971
Portrait of Jerry RiggioJerry Riggio
Jerry Riggio was
>> in The Desert Rats
as 'Commando (uncredited)'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Per SkavlanPer Skavlan
Per Skavlan was
>> in The Desert Rats
as 'German Guard (uncredited)'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Frederick StevensFrederick Stevens
Frederick Stevens was
>> in The Desert Rats
as 'German Major (uncredited)'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Gilchrist StuartGilchrist Stuart
Gilchrist Stuart was
34 in The Desert Rats
as 'Captain (uncredited)'.
Sun, Jan 19 1919 –
Wed, Jun 08 1977
Portrait of Albert TaylorAlbert Taylor
Albert Taylor would have been no older than
72 in The Desert Rats
as 'Jensen (uncredited)'.
Wed, Apr 08 1868 –
Tue, Apr 09 1940
Portrait of John WengrafJohn Wengraf
John Wengraf was
56 in The Desert Rats
as 'German Doctor (uncredited)'.
Thu, Apr 22 1897 –
Sat, May 04 1974
Portrait of Alfred ZeislerAlfred Zeisler
Alfred Zeisler was
60 in The Desert Rats
as 'von Helmholtz (uncredited)'.
Mon, Sep 26 1892 –
Fri, Mar 01 1985
Portrait of Ashley CowanAshley Cowan
Ashley Cowan was
>> in The Desert Rats
as ''.
Unknown Birthday

Crew

Portrait of Robert WiseRobert Wise
Director
Robert Wise was
38 in The Desert Rats
Thu, Sep 10 1914 –
Wed, Sep 14 2005
Portrait of Lucien BallardLucien Ballard
Director of Photography
Lucien Ballard was
45 in The Desert Rats
Wed, May 06 1908 –
Sat, Oct 01 1988
Portrait of Richard MayberyRichard Maybery
Assistant Director
Richard Maybery was
>> in The Desert Rats
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Alfred NewmanAlfred Newman
Music Director
Alfred Newman was
52 in The Desert Rats
Sun, Mar 17 1901 –
Tue, Feb 17 1970
Portrait of Richard MurphyRichard Murphy
Writer
Richard Murphy was
41 in The Desert Rats
Wed, May 08 1912 –
Wed, May 19 1993
Portrait of Robert L. JacksRobert L. Jacks
Producer
Robert L. Jacks was
25 in The Desert Rats
Tue, Jun 14 1927 –
Wed, Aug 26 1987
Portrait of Barbara McLeanBarbara McLean
Editor
Barbara McLean was
49 in The Desert Rats
Mon, Nov 16 1903 –
Thu, Mar 28 1996
Portrait of Leigh HarlineLeigh Harline
Original Music Composer
Leigh Harline was
46 in The Desert Rats
Tue, Mar 26 1907 –
Wed, Dec 10 1969
Portrait of Ben NyeBen Nye
Makeup Artist
Ben Nye was
46 in The Desert Rats
Sat, Jan 12 1907 –
Sun, Feb 09 1986
Portrait of Ray KelloggRay Kellogg
Special Effects
Ray Kellogg was
47 in The Desert Rats
Wed, Nov 15 1905 –
Mon, Jul 05 1976
Portrait of Fritz FordFritz Ford
Stunts
Fritz Ford was
25 in The Desert Rats
Sat, Nov 12 1927 –
Fri, Aug 25 2006
Portrait of Charles LeMaireCharles LeMaire
Wardrobe Supervisor
Charles LeMaire was
56 in The Desert Rats
Thu, Apr 22 1897 –
Sat, Jun 08 1985
Portrait of Lyle R. WheelerLyle R. Wheeler
Art Direction
Lyle R. Wheeler was
48 in The Desert Rats
Sun, Feb 12 1905 –
Wed, Jan 10 1990
Portrait of Alfred BruzlinAlfred Bruzlin
Sound
Alfred Bruzlin was
53 in The Desert Rats
Mon, Jul 24 1899 –
Fri, Jul 03 1970
Portrait of Roger Heman Sr.Roger Heman Sr.
Sound
Roger Heman Sr. was
>> in The Desert Rats
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Edward B. PowellEdward B. Powell
Orchestrator
Edward B. Powell was
43 in The Desert Rats
Sun, Dec 05 1909 –
Tue, Feb 28 1984
Portrait of Fred J. RodeFred J. Rode
Set Decoration
Fred J. Rode was
57 in The Desert Rats
Tue, May 19 1896
Portrait of Addison HehrAddison Hehr
Art Direction
Addison Hehr was
43 in The Desert Rats
Wed, Oct 27 1909 –
Sun, Feb 28 1971