SEA OF SAND (1958)

It's October, 1942 as the British army prepares for a major offensive against the Germans at El Alamein in Egypt. The soldiers from a Long Range Desert Group are harassing Rommel's men, disrupting communications and supply lines. The group, led by Capt. Cotton (Michael Craig, pictured), operates in fairly non-standard ways which the newly assigned Capt. Williams (John Gregson) from the corps of engineers isn't completely comfortable with. Their next mission is to destroy a German petrol dump. Cotton, who should be taking leave, stays, perhaps needing distraction because of a recent break up with his wife. The two are at loggerheads for a time, but as war movie buffs will know, they'll eventually come to respect each other. Given the fairly large number of characters, it's surprising that they aren't more distinctly differentiated. The two we get to know most are Brody (Richard Attenborough), the snarky bloke who sneaks brandy in his canteen—even spitting brandy in the face of a German soldier at one point—and Matheson (Barry Foster), the young recent recruit with a new baby back home he hasn't seen yet. Behind enemy lines, they mostly manage to avoid the Germans, and when a German patrol goes past them while they're on the side of a road, Williams manages to con them by speaking German. There's an interesting scene in which a lone German armored car approaches slowly; the Brits think it might go right on by but it does engage them in a short battle. The attack on the depot is successful but getting back to base is crucial as they have important information about hidden German tanks to pass on. Their trek becomes quite dangerous with several casualties and one critically wounded man (Percy Herbert) who ends up with the most compelling storyline of the characters. There is despair and sacrifice in the hot desert as we wonder if any Desert Group survivors will make it back to base. One reason I liked this movie is that it reminded me of the 1960s TV show The Rat Patrol which was also about a group of Allied desert disrupters. There were only four men in the Rat Patrol (3 Americans, 1 British) but there are nearly a dozen soldiers who have at least some dialogue here. I wouldn't say there is a lack of stereotypes but they are downplayed a bit, and the sometimes bumpy camaraderie of the men feels right. It was filmed in Libya, giving the locations a look of realism. Acting is solid all around, with Michael Craig and John Gregson largely underplaying to good effect. Attenborough is perhaps a bit showier and Percy Herbert is a standout as the doomed wounded man. (Others are doomed as well.) This British film was released in a shortened version in the States as DESERT PATROL. Quite watchable. [YouTube]