Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- solemn
- serious
- morally ambivalent
- classic film night
- history film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly recognized a compelling James Mason performance and polished wartime biography, while objecting to the film's heroic rehabilitation of Rommel and insufficient attention to his role in German aggression.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film presents Rommel as courageous, humane, and morally distinct from Hitler despite his service in the German war effort.
Rommel's conduct, distrust of Hitler, and reluctant participation in the assassination plot drive the film's moral argument.
The production uses black-and-white cinematography and documentary-inflected historical presentation for its World War II subject.
The plot surveys Rommel's later career, European defenses, involvement in the Hitler assassination attempt, and final fate.
Films like The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel, and why
Patton
classic world war ii biopic centered on a morally complicated military commander
The Enemy Below
black-and-white historical war drama examining a celebrated Axis commander through a sympathetic lens
The Counterfeit Traitor
world war ii military biography shaped by questions of duty, command, and resistance to Hitler
Movie Details
- Director
- Henry Hathaway
- Release Date
- 1951-10-16
- Runtime
- 88 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (119)
Cast
- James Mason
- Cedric Hardwicke
- Jessica Tandy
- Luther Adler
- Everett Sloane
- Leo G. Carroll
- George Macready
- Richard Boone
- Eduard Franz
- Desmond Young
Common questions
- What is The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel about?
- A solemn classic Hollywood biography portrays Erwin Rommel as a brilliant commander whose opposition to Hitler cannot erase the moral shadows of his wartime legacy.
- What is The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel?
- Critics broadly recognized a compelling James Mason performance and polished wartime biography, while objecting to the film's heroic rehabilitation of Rommel and insufficient attention to his role in German aggression.
- Which films are like The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel?
- Films with a similar feel include Patton, The Enemy Below, and The Counterfeit Traitor.
- How long is The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel?
- The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel runs 88 minutes.
