Little known and I once heard some reviewer in a movie book, describe it as dull - he's wrong, sorry! A company of British soldiers in WW2 Tunisia with the odd 'paddy' as it were, which would make any British company a good one, is depleted, slightly demoralised and awaiting the final push FROM the Nazi Afrika Corps. Leo Genn plays Major Gerrard leading the company, plus support from the excellent Michael Medwin, especially good as the reluctant Lieutenant Vernon bemoaning his pay AND being upstaged by the faithful Sergeant known as 'Tom' to Genn (Played well by the underestimated Robert Brown).
The unit is tasked with taking over what seems to be an old Foreign Legion fort and using it as an artillery spotting/observation post, with Captain Mead (Kieron Moore) doing the spotting. Of course with him there's a 'Raife' Richardson bit, where he's atop the observation tower, knocking over his water and suffering from sunstroke, though not going blind like Raife in 'The Four Feathers' - I digress anyway! There's plenty of angst, bitching etc., and although the action couldn't be seen to be overdone, it's rightly where it is without being as I say, too much.
The final scene is where the post is overrun, but Genn manages to give the last order on the radio, targeting 'himself' and the men as it's now in Nazi hands could be a little bit corny perhaps, but the dialogue and performances more than make up for this in any way. This is a must, but I'd rate it as good as any war film like 'The Cruel Sea' or 'Ice Cold in Alex' - sadly not shown enough to warrant that, let's hope someone can elevate it to its true status in years to come - just like 'Sea of Sand' too! Some good old British stalwart character actors star the great Percy Herbert and Michael Ripper. The standard B/W photography easily belies the fact it was shot on Salisbury Plain and NOT the North African Desert it implies, very well!
The unit is tasked with taking over what seems to be an old Foreign Legion fort and using it as an artillery spotting/observation post, with Captain Mead (Kieron Moore) doing the spotting. Of course with him there's a 'Raife' Richardson bit, where he's atop the observation tower, knocking over his water and suffering from sunstroke, though not going blind like Raife in 'The Four Feathers' - I digress anyway! There's plenty of angst, bitching etc., and although the action couldn't be seen to be overdone, it's rightly where it is without being as I say, too much.
The final scene is where the post is overrun, but Genn manages to give the last order on the radio, targeting 'himself' and the men as it's now in Nazi hands could be a little bit corny perhaps, but the dialogue and performances more than make up for this in any way. This is a must, but I'd rate it as good as any war film like 'The Cruel Sea' or 'Ice Cold in Alex' - sadly not shown enough to warrant that, let's hope someone can elevate it to its true status in years to come - just like 'Sea of Sand' too! Some good old British stalwart character actors star the great Percy Herbert and Michael Ripper. The standard B/W photography easily belies the fact it was shot on Salisbury Plain and NOT the North African Desert it implies, very well!