Sahara (Combat Classics)

There's plenty of top-notch, explosive action in this 1943 “Bogie”  classic about a ragtag battalion stranded in the great African desert during World War II. After the fall of the Libyan city of Tobruk, Sergeant Joe Gunn (Humphrey Bogart) and his crew – ‘Waco’ Hoyt (Bruce Bennet), Fred Clarkson (Lloyd Bridges)  and Jimmy Doyle (Dan Duryea) – retreat in their tank across the Sahara. Along the way they pick up six Allied stragglers and Tambul (Rex Ingram), a Sudanese corporal, and his Italian prisoner.

Tambul directs the group to a desert fortress, where they hope to find desperately needed water. A detachment of German soldiers arrives and attempts to barter food for water, but Gunn and his followers refuse. When the Germans attack, Gunn leads his desert-weary men in a desperate battle, hoping that British reinforcements can arrive in time.

Critic Reviews:

• " Packed with pithy dialog, lusty action and suspense, and logically and well-devised situations avoiding ultra-theatrics throughout. " – Variety Staff

• " “Sahara” is a laudable conception of soldier fortitude in this war, and it is also a bang-up action picture, cut out to hold one enthralled. " – Bosley Crowther

• " Like other WWII adventures, Sahara contains elements of propaganda, but it's expertly directed by Korda, well acted by Bogart and the other men, and strikingly photographed by Rudolph Mate who received an Oscar nomination. " – Emanuel Levy