|
DVDs
Sahara
 By
Richard Moore
Sahara
is one of those few war movies that this chappie has not seen at
some time or another. Filmed in 1943, a year after Casablanca, it
is another 'yay-us' production from Hollywood meant to boost the
fighting spirits of Allied forces.
Humphrey
Bogart is Sergeant Joe Gunn, a tank sergeant assisting the Allies
in North Africa. He loves his Lee tank and doesn't take kindly when
even his allies are rude about it.
Retreating
to a then little-known place called El Alamein, Gunn and his crew
come across a number of Commonwealth troops stuck in the middle
of nowhere. They hop aboard and then try to locate much-needed water.
Along
the way they manage to pick up an Italian POW - who is very eager
to surrender - and shoot down a German pilot. Of course he happens
to be a dyed-in-the-wool Nazi that we can all hate.
This
motley collection finally track down some water at a series of small
wells and then discover hundreds of German troops, themselves desperate
for water, are heading their way.
What
follows is a terrific battle where the hugely outnumbered good guys
have to hold off the nasties.
Sahara
can be described as a propaganda movie, but one in which that aspect
is underplayed. The action scenes are terrific, the film work first-rate
and the storyline is a good one.
Transfer-wise
Sahara is first-rate and its black and white imagery radiates the
furnace-like conditions these guys fought a war in.
And,
as you would expect, Bogie is wonderful and gives Gunn a mysterious
edge that only he can.
Conclusion:
Movie:
75%
|
