Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

A Masterpiece!

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

An infuriatingly uneven biopic, Henry Hathaway's The Desert Fox, is so poorly made that one might be tempted to ignore the topic of Erwin Rommel, a brilliant and chivalrous Wehrmacht commander who was more loyal to his men and patriotic toward Germany than a follower of Hitler.The internal conflict is classic, cut from the same basic cloth as Brutus in Caesar.You would think this film would be riveting. It's not. Even though James Mason is magnificently Prussian as Rommel, and there are several other great performances, we're left with a clunky and truncated story of the man George Patton called a "magnificent bastard."That's a great name for Rommel. Born and bred to an ethic of an earlier time, Rommel became an anachronism to the new and improved concept of warfare in World War II.Yet, if you don't know anything about Erwin Rommel--and you're willing to accept that he has been romanticized by history and Hollywood-- this film is something of a good start.

For years, I avoided watching "The Desert Fox" because I assumed, like most Hollywood produced films of the era that the movie would play fast and loose with the facts. This is just too often the case with bio- pics of the era. So, I am usually much more likely to watch a documentary and get the facts instead of seeing a film which is intended much more as entertainment than a history lesson. And, given that I was a history teacher, of course I'd prefer documentaries. But in this case, I was surprised. While the film was far from perfect, what you saw was true and the filmmakers did a good job of establishing at the beginning that they conducted a lot of interviews in order to tell the story right--including consulting with Rommel's widow. I really appreciate this--and that is why I rate the film an 8. Plus the acting and most of the production were very, very nice.So, is it perfect? Nope. I had a few problems. I usually hate the overuse of stock footage and this film is no exception. In one case, I was really mad because its use was so sloppy. You see an American torpedo plane (an Avenger) become a British fighter plane in mid-air because of sloppy editing! Also, the film is NOT a comprehensive story about Rommel's life or even his life during WWII. It's much more spotty and emphasizes his progression from a loyal officer to a guy who had some knowledge of the plot to kill Hitler and kept his silence because he saw that this mad man was destroying his country. It's not a bad choice to do this sort of study but I would love to have seen more--more about him as a man.By the way, I did laugh at a scene between Rommel and von Rundstedt that would have occurred in June 1944. You see von Rundstedt putting on his scarf and picking up a heavy winter coat at the end of their talk. Where was von Rundstedt stationed...Antarctica?!

Although a very well crafted and watchable film that stays close to the historical characters and events, without the usual Hollywood treatment of such period war movies - action heroes, love interest, bangs and explosions etc., however there is some strange castings. Notably Manfred, Rommel's son, who looks like a 1950's geeky American college kid. Jessica Tandy, a much underrated actress is superb. Mason could act the pants of any other actor and shines in this film, as indeed he did playing the same role in The Desert Rats. Richard Boone in a rare non-cowboy role makes me wonder why he never prospered in mainstream cinema. For once Hollywood manages to make a factual film without distorting history in order to get bums on seats and sell popcorn.

For meritorious service above and beyond the call of duty to his country, Rommel was advised in the end to 'off' himself. No trial necessary, as he was guilty until proved innocent, and why waste everyone's time. But, of course, he was working for the original 'wild and crazy guy'."The Desert Fox" is an excellent biopic and is an idealized version of Rommel's military career, particularly as it pertains to Germany's WW II Afrika Corps. It is one of James Mason's best pictures, right behind "Odd Man Out" and slightly ahead of "A Star Is Born". It is a sympathetic portrayal of a man torn between loyalty and love of country, and perhaps a man a little slow on the uptake regarding current internal military affairs. Supporting acting was in very capable hands and there was chemistry evident between Mason and his wife, played by Jessica Tandy. Good script, good direction - hard to find a flaw in this one, which played on FMC the other morning.