In poland, france, and belgium, once the tanks got through the soldiers took it for granted that they. The films closing epilogue and remembrance statement reads. Tough, resourceful, disdainful of their british bosses they nonetheless fought bravely and well for their side and by extension for values now quaint. The rats of tobruk may not be charles chauvels best movie, but it deserves serious consideration as his best movie about war which is to argue that it is in some ways superior to his more famous and betterloved forty thousand horsemen 1940, made four years earlier. Together they serve in north africa, fighting against the forces of rommel in what has now become one of australias greatest. Watch the rats of tobruk, the australian classic war film by. What this all boils down to is that the fighting rats of tobruk is very much a functionary look at a group of australians and what they did during wwii. Sadly this movie doesnt do credit to what they did but ends up a typical mix of australians being laid back but then doing what is needed when necessary. German radio started calling the australians poor desert rats of tobruk, which they took immense pride in, calling themselves the rats of tobruk. There were also major oil fields in the middle east that were vital to fuel their tanks, planes and motorised transport. Tobruk is a 1967 world war ii adventure film directed by arthur hiller and written by leo gordon. Rats of tobruk libya ww2 second world war 1939 1945. Australian screen is part of the national film and sound archive of australia.
Horsemen is a more entertaining and better constructed film, fully deserving of its place in the australian pantheon. This film shows how troops spend most of their time. Fully restored and presented in a brand new transfer, the rats of tobruk is a rousing tribute. The allies marching and singing were off to see the wizard was neat as was the german announcer naming the allies the fighting rats of tobruk, which was deemed a badge of honor by the allies.
Australian troops of the australian 9th division and the 18th brigade of the australian 7th division under lieutenant general leslie. The rats of tobruk may not be charles chauvels best movie, but it deserves. Together they serve in north africa, fighting against the forces of rommel in what has now become one of australias greatest wartime legendsthe rats of tobruk. The movie stars rock hudson, george peppard and nigel green. The rats of tobruk was the name given to the soldiers who held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps, during the siege of tobruk in world war ii the siege started on 10 april 1941. The rats of tobruk was the name given to the soldiers of the garrison who held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps, during the siege of tobruk in world war ii.
Most of the fighting scenes were in the dark which did not translate well on. Three australian friends end up fighting nazis in north africa in a clumsily executed action tale. Its members used all their bushcraft to avoid being discovered. Joanne klein is collecting photos and records of ww11 rats of to bruk 14,000 plus for the rota of victoria so they can preserve their history. The eight month long siege of tobruk in 1941, which saw the name rats of tobruk first coined by radio berlin as a contemptuous one take a proud place in australian history was one of the greatest stories of bravery and endurance against overwhelming odds in the history of modern warfare. The film focuses on a joint britishsig special interrogation group raid on the fuel dumps at german controlled port city of tobruk. They tend to be overlooked in britain at least so here is what the germans thought of them. Also this made the enemies have to bring in more troops and supplies as they had to travel lots of distance over the. The rats of tobruk may not be charles chauvels best movie, but it deserves serious consideration as his best movie about war.
The rats of tobruk 1944 clip 1 on aso australias audio and. Bbc ww2 peoples war i was a tobruk rat, and still am. This destination was important as it was a place to set up and protect egypt where they could have a good defense. Watch rats of tobruk online vimeo on demand on vimeo. Joe valli in the fighting rats of tobruk 1944 the fighting rats of tobruk 1944. Of course the production values were much superior, still the rats of tobruk shows a lot of care about the australian fighting man and his contribution in world war ii from the folks they were defending. Stay connected to your students with prezi video, now in microsoft teams. Fighting rats of tobruk movie quotes rotten tomatoes. An abridged version was released in the united states in 1951 as the fighting rats of. The film follows three drover friends who enlist in the australian army together during world war ii. The job of the reconnaissance patrol was to gather information and, if possible, to secure prisoners for identification. Rafferty, and pete, an intellectual english new chum finch.
I was reunited with my former co in 1944 in dekelia. By 1941, theyre with the 9th division of the australian infantry force, fighting. The fighting rats of tobruk is a 1944 australian film directed by charles chauvel. The siege started on 10 april 1941 and was finally relieved at the end of november. The fighting rats of tobruk 1944 the fighting rats of.
Framed tribute rats of tobruk victorian collections. The film follows three drover friends who enlist in the australian army together. The fighting rats of tobruk trailer 1944 video detective three friends enlist in the australian army and serve in north africa, holding the city of tobruk against rommels forces. At pre sent they have collected over 10,000 names for. Together they serve in north africa, fighting against the forces of rommel in what. Chamun productions australias only fully wartime feature concentrates on three types with the a.
Tobruk patrols were of two types fighting and reconnaissance. Australian troops of the australian 9th division and the 18th brigade of the australian 7th division under lieutenant general leslie morshead made up more than. According to the book bill collins book of movies by bill collins, the film. It ended in a stalemate, and it cost rommel 33,000 men and most of his tanks. Richard burton did a fine hollywood based film, desert rats, about the same siege at tobruk and chips rafferty had a featured role in that. Curators notes the rats of tobruk 1944 on aso australias. Tobruk is a 1967 american technicolor drama war film directed by arthur hiller and starring rock hudson and george peppard. Operation crusader was launched on november 18 to december 30 to achieve what battle axe failed to do. To complete the package theres also an informative photo gallery, with some. Grant taylor bluey donkin, peter finch peter linton, chips rafferty milo trent, pauline garrick kate carmody, mary gay sister mary ellis, george wallace barber of tobruk, joe valli northumberland fusilier.
The rats of tobruk the fighting rats of tobruk 2015. No quotes approved yet for fighting rats of tobruk. An abridged version was released in the united states in 1951 as the fighting rats of tobruk. The fighting rats of tobruk 1944 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them the rats of tobruk. Milo and english gent peter ship out to africa to fight in the siege of tobruk. Tells the audience this one was made in australia what. The rats of tobruk hold an identifiable place within the ranks of returned servicemen, particularly in australia, where there is the rats of tobruk memorial, canberra on 22 march 1944, the original members of the rats of tobruk formed the north bondi subbranch of the returned and services league of australia and it is still known in modern times as tobruk house or the rathouse. Also featuring george wallace and joe valli, chauvels bold tale of war gives life to the many heroic tales of mateship during wwii. Rats of tobruk, the 1944 stream umbrella entertainment. The rats of tobruk 1944 anzacs wage a long and courageous resistance to nazi invasion during world war ii. Identifying with authority, they obeyed rather than thought.
See the full list of the rats of tobruk cast and crew including actors, directors, producers and more. Tobruk 1967 internet movie firearms database guns in. The rats of tobruk is a 1944 australian film directed by charles chauvel. Rats of tobruk home tribute is a tribute to the rats of tobruk, who fought in tobruk, during the siege of tobruk, of 241 days from april 10 to december 1941. Together they serve in north africa, fighting against the forces of rommel in. The battle in tobruk took place from april 10th 1941 to november 27th 1941 w hy was this an important destination. The fighting rats of tobruk 1944 dvd grant taylor peter finch. Operation bulimba, the units next task, brought much credit to the battalion for its fighting qualities and bravery. A captured veteran of the early european campaigns stated. Their story is based on the siege of the libyan city of tobruk in north africa by rommels afrika korps. With grant taylor, peter finch, chips rafferty, pauline garrick.
Found these quotes about the 9th australian infantry division who defended tobruk for 242 days in 1941. This is the films first real encounter in the desert and chauvel emphasises the immediacy and very personal nature of the fighting, as well as the comradeship of. After returning to australia, the tobruk siege servicemen looking for comradeship, established the rats of tobruk association. The siege of tobruk took place in the western desert of north africa in 1941 at the height of the second world war. The fighting rats of tobruk 1944 opens on a pastoral scene lowing herds roaming over the gently rolling hills of australia, whips cracking, and on the background soundtrack a male chorus singing an outback song. Whereas hitler believed in the superiority of his aryan troops, these defiant australians proved to be the superior breed. States until the 1950s as the fighting rats of tobruk which the opening title card has it here. Corny, but its a fair enough way to open a movie made during wartime. Following on the great tradition of forty thousand horsemen, charles chauvels 1944 cinematic account of the battle of rommel is. Tells the story of three menbluey, a tough two fisted drover taylor, milo, a laconic dingo trapper rafferty, and pete, an intellectual english new chum finch. The film was written by leo gordon who also acted in the film and released through universal pictures.
Together they serve in north africa, fighting against the forces of rommel in what has now become one of australias greatest wartime legends the rats of tobruk. The fighting rats of tobruk trailer 1944 video detective. Tobruk rats it was a miracle the enemy didnt break in. The rats of tobruk controlling north africa would give the allied forces a base from which to attack occupied europe, across the mediterranean. I was a tobruk rat, and still am at 94 years of age. Fighting rats of tobruk desert war fight for available in dvd ship this item temporarily out of stock online buy online, pick up in store is currently unavailable, but this item may be. Grant taylor, peter finch, chips rafferty, pauline garrick director. One of very few australian features made during world war ii, this 1944 film memorializes a great.
I saw this and it is really an old movie and one i wouldnt have gotten if it didnt have robert carlyles name. The 1941 siege of tobruk, birth of the rats of tobruk. Like stealthy shadows, they saw without being seen. The german afrika corps under the command of general erwin rommel had commenced the offensive which drove the british forces eastwards across the desert to the egyptian frontier.