TOBRUK
US, 1967, 110 minutes, Colour.
Rock Hudson, George Peppard, Nigel Green, Guy Stockwell, Jack Watson, Liam Redmond.
Directed by Arthur Hiller.
Tobruk is a routine war adventure although somewhat better of its kind. It has an exciting beginning but then moves into the familiar territory of a group crossing the African Desert on a mission. This was to be grimly satirised by Play Dirty, directed by Andre de Toth two years later. Tobruk focuses on Rommel's African campaign and the need for the British to destroy his fuel supplies at Tobruk. Rock Hudson leads the British group and there is an interesting subplot with German Jews working with the British. George Peppard has a chance of characterisation as their leader. Guy Stockwell is also in the group, although the traitor. Nigel Green has an opportunity to give a portrait of a very very British officer, loyal but in many ways obtuse. There is some comedy from Percy Herbert and Norman Rossington. The special effects are quite spectacular. The film was directed early in the career of Arthur Hiller who had made the anti-war The Americanization of Emily and was soon to make Love Story. Footage from the film was used in Henry Hathaway's Raid on Rommel with Richard Burton in 1971.
1. An interesting and entertaining World War Two film? Its similarity to the films of the '40s, '50s? Why a film like this in the late '60s? Impact later?
2. The use of Techniscope, colour, Californian locations for the African Desert? The special effects especially for the siege of Tobruk? The rousing musical score?
3. The impact of the film as a war story, adventure, character study, social comment? The subplot of the German Jews working with the British? The anticipation of Israel?
4. The impact of the dramatic opening. the frogmen's attack on the ship. the rescue of Major Craig? The ambiguity of Germans rescuing Craig?
5. The presentation of the allies and their relationships especially with these German Jews? Disdain, working relationship? The presentation of the Germans and their Italian allies?
6. Rock Hudson as hero? Canadian background and its explanation? His skills? The reason for his rescue and the others being left? His advice to Harker? His plan. his observing of the expedition, his leadership e.g. with the mines, his judgments and advice, final heroism in destroying the fuel? A credible war hero?
7. The character of Berman? his control, leadership, bravery? His place within the group? A spokesman for the German Jewish point of view? Iris various antagonisms? The clashes with Harker? His support of Craig? The sequence with the mines, the German Jewish spies and the liaison with the father and daughter? His final heroism and death? A war hero? The picture of the others in the group?
8. The spy and the air of mystery, his warning to the father and daughter, their being caught, his killing the girl, his murdering his colleague? His final revealing himself and Harker's killing him?
9. The portrait of the very British officer in Harker? The discussion about hindsight? His working by the book, the various personality clashes, his baiting of Craig? His decisions, taking of advice? The success of his mission? His final comment about dying and killing the spy?
10. How well did the film present its strategy? The various difficulties and the way these were coped with? The encounter with the spies and their plan of an Islamic rising? Their deaths?
11. The conventional difficulties throughout the expedition - time, the heat, the desert. the disguise as prisoners, the minefield, the attack of the British plane, the Tuareg chief, the spies, the entry into Tobruk?
12. The humour from the British and Irish soldiers? Their comments about prison, their banter with one another, their deaths when trying to get the money?
13. The spectacular effects of the blowing up of the fuel, the allied invasion?
14. The ending with the rescue and with Harker's death and with Bergman's heroics?
15. A war story, presentation of war action, observation of Hen in war, pro and antiwar, character study, the Jewish issues?
