Not a bad war film as these things go. Decent production values, nice attention to wardrobe, effective location shooting, and a couple of professional performances add up to a watchable movie along the lines of "The Guns of Navaron." A group of British Commandos and Jewish Special Servic Forces kidnap a Canadian officer, Hudson, to guide them through the desert in an attempt to destroy Rommel's fuel depot at Tobruk.

The mission succeeds of course and an impending disaster by British forces is aborted. Most of the men die but a handful, including Hudson, manage to escape.

It's not really worth going on about. The direction is by Arthur Hiller and is professionally competent. The story was written by Leo Gordon, who has given himself a small role as one of the raiders. Nigel Green as the Commando Colonel gives his usual compellingly hammy performance. The plot is a bit complicated. As in "The Guns of Navaron" and "Where Eagles Dare," there is a traitor in the group. If you can't pick him out after a few lines, you get no better than a D Plus in this course.

George Peppard, born in Detroit, plays Bergman, the German Jew who speaks flawless German. The chief weakness in his performance is that he does not speak flawless German. My own command of German has deteriorated over the years into a kind of influence over it, but when Peppard gives an order like "Vorwarts!" (I had to leave out an umlaut) and it comes out as "Forvards!", even I have to wince.

The climax is explosive and brutal, as it must be in a film like this.

The year is 1942 and Germany's famed 'Desert Fox' is winning the war in North Africa. His vaunted 'Afrika Korps' is nearly unstoppable and is only a short distance from all out victory. In this movie "Tobruk" comes the story of a last desperate attempt to stop Rommel at the port city of the same name. A small detachment of specialist troops called the SIG, join British commandos who will attempt to travel 800 miles through the vast, rugged and hostile Sahara desert and attack Rommel's secret oil reserves. In order to accomplish this nearly impossible mission, the British kidnapped a highly experienced but reluctant Canadian officer, Maj. Donald Craig (Rock Hudson) so that Nigel Green as Col. Harker and George Peppard as Capt. Kurt Bergman, can convince him it must be done. Other Hollywood greats like Guy Stockwell, Jack Watson as Sgt. Maj. Jack Tyne and Leo Gordon as Sgt. Krug are what make's this film completely memorable. Interestingly enough, the story itself was written by Leo Gordon and was so well conceived, it was used to enhance a nearly duplicate film called "Raid on Rommel" four years later. As for this movie, it is so packed with inner conflicts between characters that often, it's hard to tell who they are at war with. Nevertheless, the background world conflict is sufficient to view with admiration the soldiers who willingly gave so much for what they believed. A superior action-oriented film and one which has become a Classic in its own right. Highly recommended. ****

This thrilling wartime picture contains high-powered action-packed, shootouts , grand-scale blow-up , intrigue and lots of fun . The film belongs the sub-genre of warfare commandos , being highlighted by a stirring and thrilling climax with overwhelming action scenes . This WWII actioner talks upon a motley group formed by British soldiers (Nigel Green ,Percy Herbert , Jack Watson, Leo Gordon -who also wrote the script-) led by a Major (Rock Hudson replaced Laurence Harvey , though role was formerly offered to Dirk Bogarde who turned down) and rebel Jews (George Peppard) craving the dreamed country against the Nazi and Italian armies in the North African desert -Libya- during WWII with the aim to knock out the guns of Tobruk . They ought to sneak to clear the path for bombing strike at oil supply depots before Erwin Rommel (The Fox of the desert) arrives in Egypt (he'll be stopped in the Alamein by Montgomery who defeated the German army in the 1942-43 years). They must pass through Alix line disguised as German soldiers escorting allied privates . There actually was a raid on Tobruk, 13-14 September 1942, including the German-Jewish SIG and fake British POWs. Unlike the outcome in the movie, "Operation Agreement" was a complete failure.

Decent wartime movie full of battles , explosions , thrills and extraordinary feats . From the beginning until ending the exciting warlike action is continued and the film runtime is adjusted . In the movie there is tension , suspense , emotion and for that reason results to be amusing ; besides , fast movement , and various happenings as well as spectacular scenes makes it entertaining and no boring . The picture has a certain remembrance with ¨Dirty dozen¨ , ¨Kelly's heroes¨ and ¨When the eagles dare¨ and the group of films were made about warlike adventures during the 60s and early 1970s . Portions of the film were edited into the 1971 Richard Burton film ¨Raid on Rommel¨ (1971) by Henry Hathaway and nearly all the action scenes was footage taken from Tobruk . The final confrontation between the protagonists and the enemies on the Nazi desert fortress is stimulating , it's the highlight of the movie . Russell Harlan's cinematography is good , like is well reflected on the splendid desert's photography . Rousing and breathtaking musical score by the great Bronislau Kaper . Well produced by Gene Corman , brother of legendary producer/director Roger Corman , as Gene financed several successful War films such as ¨The secret invasion¨, ¨Von Richthofen and Brown¨ ,¨You can win'em all¨ and the best of all them : ¨The Big Red One¨ . The motion picture was professionally directed by Arthur Hiller . Rating : Acceptable and passable warfare flick . The yarn will appeal to WW2 enthusiasts and Rock Hudson fans.