This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

I too watched this movie several times on WBKB (now WLS) in the Chicago area back in the late 50's and early 60's. Yea, there was the "thrill" of these guys finding a "German" (actually a fairly current American tank, painted-up to look like, well, just like a painted-up American tank!) at the bottom of a sound stage sand dune. Entertaining stuff for the ten to twelve year old screen watchers, none-the-less.However, they got the name WRONG. As I recall, the ugly woman painted on the tank's turret had the name beside it that read "Die Eiserne Jungfrau". The translation they gave in the movie, and the title of the film, was "The Steel Lady". Not so! "Die Eiserne Jungfrau" translates as "The Iron Maiden". I think that if the script writers had bothered to translate the name correctly, then the concept of an ancient torture device (the "Iron Maiden", where the victim is ENCLOSED inside a metal human like form, with spikes aiming in towards him as the cage is closed tight), well, that would better explain the "battlefield humor" the "German tank crew" had when they named the tank in this story.Eisen Hund

I remember seeing this film in the late fifties on TV. When I decided to track it down all I could remember was a group of guys uncover a tank in the desert, manage to get it up and running and blast a few desert nomads. For some reason I also knew Rod Cameron was the star.Being a 16mm film collector I asked around and a fellow in California told me the title when I provided him with as much of the story line as I remembered. Some time later another friend helped me find a VHS copy. Boy did it bring back memories. Since that time with the help of E-bay, I've been able to find a complete set of lobby cards, the press book, the insert, the half sheet, the one sheet, the three sheet and a 16mm print. Its great to able to watch it on an eight foot movie screen. If there's any interest I may be able to get the 16mm print transfered to tape or DVD. I can be contacted at Knightra49@hotmail.com Update. I now have The Steel Lady on DVD, very good quality.

I remember seeing this film on T-V about 1959. I only saw a portion and have been looking for it ever since. It made an impression on me that I have carried for years. I have explained the part that I could remember to others and all anyone could say was "Flight Of the Phoenix". I have seen this movie and was very disappointed. Only today, 03/10/05, did I finally figure out the name of it, with the help of the internet! I would very much like to see this movie in it's entirety. As an Engineer, several previous reviews "Hit the nail on the head" about the practicality and plot intrigue. If anyone knows where it can be found, please comment on this web site or e-mail me at Mike.Milord@gdc4s.com.

I've written at least a half dozen scathing reviews of this abysmal little flick and none get published, so I must opine that someone at imdb.com really likes this awful movie. The idea that a bunch of oilmen can resurrect a military tank that has set in the desert for over a decade, and make a fighting machine of it again is ludicrous. So is the acting and direction. Pass on it.