James Mason in Henry Hathaway's "The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel" (1951)
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Published 2023-05-17
A phone call from Adolf Hitler (Luther Adler) promptly returns him to his Afrika Korps command, with the British Eighth Army under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery (Trevor Ward) poised to counterattack the Axis forces in the Second Battle of El Alamein. Without adequate supplies, weapons, fuel, or men, Rommel is ordered by Hitler to hold fast and fight to the last man. He questions the outrageous directive, initially attributing it to the “clowns“ surrounding Hitler in Berlin, and demands it be re-transmitted again. Receiving the same message, he crumples it with the intention of disregarding the command.
Rommel again falls ill and is returned to Germany, where he is hospitalized. An old family friend, Dr. Karl Strölin (Cedric Hardwicke), Lord Mayor of Stuttgart, visits him to request he join a group of dissidents plotting to overthrow Hitler. Rommel strongly resists.
After his recuperation, Rommel is transferred to Western Europe, where he is placed in charge of completing the Atlantic Wall. After inspection, he realizes its defenses are inadequate to protect against an Allied invasion. He and his superior, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt (Leo G. Carroll), are handicapped by Hitler's astrology-based belief that the real invasion will come at Calais. As a result, the D-Day landings at Normandy are successful, and a broad beachhead is secured. Hitler then compounds his error by refusing to release troops and tanks desperately needed to halt the Allies, and again forbids an orderly retreat to set up a strong defense in depth.
Rommel then risks broaching the topic of a conspiracy against Hitler with von Rundstedt. The older man refuses to commit, but wishes Rommel success with the plot, indicating he expects Rommel to be named his successor within 24 hours.
Immediately after, Rommel is seriously injured when his staff car is strafed by an Allied plane. Once again he spends an extended recuperation at home.
On July 20 Colonel Klaus von Stauffenberg (Eduard Franz) plants a bomb at Hitler's feet during a meeting of the general staff at the Wolf's Lair. It detonates with severe casualties, but Hitler survives. Thousands suspected of complicity in the attack are tracked down and executed.
An official silence surrounds Rommel, but evidence of his secret participation is gathered. Soon after, General Wilhelm Burgdorf is sent by Hitler to charge Rommel with treason, instructed to offer the beloved national hero a choice between sure conviction, destruction of his reputation, and death by garrote, or an immediate but painless suicide (with his passing attributed to cumulative war wounds), along with the promise that his wife and son will be well looked after. The veiled threat to their welfare should Rommel insist on a public trial, cinches his decision.
He bids a stoic farewell to his wife, who promises to explain the choice to their son. Rommel then climbs into a staff car to meet his fate en route to Berlin.
A voiceover of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Jack Moyles) reciting a speech delivered to the House of Commons in praise of Rommel for his chivalry in battle, tactical genius, and courageous stance against Hitler leads to the credits.
A 1951 American biographical war film directed by Henry Hathaway, produced by Nunnally Johnson, screenplay by Nunnally Johnson, based on the book Rommel: The Desert Fox by Brigadier Desmond Young (who served in the British Indian Army in North Africa), cinematography by Norbert Brodine, starring James Mason, Cedric Hardwicke, Jessica Tandy, Everett Sloane, Leo G. Carroll, George Macready, Richard Boone, Eduard Franz, Desmond Young, and Luther Adler, who portrayed Adolf Hitler, was Jewish.
Finnish president and Field Marshal Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim's personal Mercedes-Benz 770, a gift received from Adolf Hitler, was used as a prop car in the film.
This World War II film utilized real black-and-white archival combat footage from the British documentary" Desert Victory" (1943). The black and white format allows large sections of actual documentary war action footage and the like throughout the film.
Rommel's widow, Lucie Marie Rommel (played by Jessica Tandy), acted as a technical consultant and adviser. She lent the production some of her husband's personal artifacts and liaised with Nunnally Johnson. She later also acted as a military consultant on "The Longest Day" (1962), another 20th Century-Fox production.
Rommel opposed the idea of attempting to assassinate Hitler. He believed it would make the Commander-in-Chief a martyr, and also cause a civil war in Germany as the SS would still be in power.
All Comments (21)
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When a Afrika Korp veteran was asked about James Mason's portrayal of Rommel, he replied "Altogether too polite"
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I was Born in the early 1970s and James mason playing Rommel was so outstanding my generation grew up with James masons Face as Rommels for the next 40 years! I dont think he has been beaten right up untill today!
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To be honest, me, being a German at the age of 60, I just watched this movie for the first time in my life and I am pretty much blown away by it. The only American movie I have ever watched so far, that tried to be faithful to historic events in regards to Nazi Germany was Tom Cruise's Valkyrie, the subject of which is briefly touched upon in this movie, too. Having grown up with countless movies with rather stupid Nazi stereotypes I can hardly comprehend that a movie like this was made just about 6 years after the war, paying tribute to actual events while trying to make a single buck at the American box office. I don't know any numbers about that. I just remember the huge success of "The longest day" by the Zanuck Studios and while trying to repeat that success with an equally faithfully story about the attack on Pearl Harbor with "Tora Tora Tora" they went bankrupt over it in the end. Cudos to James Mason for portraying Erwin Rommel as what he was, a traditional family man and soldier faithful to his country with no ambition in politics, whatsoever.
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James Mason has played the role Of Rommel in a very passionate and realistic manner. Great direction. Loved watching it. A collectors gift. Thks for sharing.
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James Mason was a great actor...and his role as Erwin Rommel proves it...An Outstanding Movie "The Desert Fox" glad I have it on DVD
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The film had the premiere only 6 years after Rommel's death. That makes an impression. And James Mason was incredible as Rommel. This is a must-see.
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Mason was born on 15 May 1909 in Huddersfield, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the youngest of three sons of John Mason and Mabel Hattersley, daughter of Joseph Shaw Gaunt.[1][2] A wealthy wool merchant like his father, John Mason travelled often on business, mainly in France and Belgium. Mabel—who was "uncommonly well-educated" and had lived in London to study and begin work as an artist before returning to Yorkshire to care for her father—was "attentive and loving" in raising her sons.[3] The Masons lived in a house in its own grounds on Croft House Lane in Marsh. (It was replaced in the mid-1970s by flats called Arncliffe Court.) A small residential development opposite where the house once stood is now called James Mason Court. Mason was educated at Marlborough College and took a first in architecture at Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he became involved in stock theatre companies in his spare time. He had no formal acting training, and initially embarked upon it for fun. wikipedia
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What a well done movie, and terrific memory. I can remember watching it late on a Saturday night, me in my PJ’s, squished between my parents on our old couch, a full 10 feet away from our brand new 26 inch color TV, watching an “old” B&W movie. It’s just interesting how much seeing this picture again evokes such powerful, and wonderful, feelings and memories… Thanks for posting!
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This is the performance James Masons life. His performance transcends the film. Peak acting/ peak performance 🎭
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James Mason was a Great actor. ..Great movie. Thanks.
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I grew up with this movie. Still to this day, I can't help but see James Mason when I read something about Rommel.
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General Erwin Rommel treated his soldiers like he treated his own son! They love and respected him they can go anywhere even in the moon with him! He showed leadership by example always in the frontline of the Battle! He never demanded anything from his soldiers that he wouldn’t do by himself! He treated his captured enemies well according to the Geneva Convention! Amongst all the Nazi Germany Corps of World War 2 the Africa Corps of General Erwin Rommel is the only one bereft of atrocities committed during World War Two k! Salute to a great General k!
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Huge admirer of James Mason's work and Rommel was indeed a legend.
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When i watch war movies I remember General Patton's quote " you do not win a war by dying for your country. you win a war by making the other guy die for his country." I cleaned up the quote for gentle souls.
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I'm glad to hear that Churchill made that tribute to Rommel about being a great general. And I'm even more appreciative of the fact that he mentioned that he turned against Hitler in the end, and showed that not every German towed the line when it came to Nazi rulership over Germany. There was a resistance in Germany which should be pointed out and they should have equal measure to those in other countries who did the same thing. Fairness must be given its due at any time to those on all sides in all nations because nothing is ever one-sided anywhere among any people when it comes to war or any other human endeavor.
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Love the show!! Thank you so much for posting it. James mason is such a good actor. ♥️🇨🇦
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Happy heavenly birthday to James Neville Mason (May 15, 1909 - July 27, 1984) 🎉
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When the first words of a film are spoken by Michael Rennie, you know it'll be good. I first saw this in grade school (I'll be 49 in June) and it's always been a favorite. You really went to some serious effort in the desciption. Thanks so much for all your work getting this out.
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Tank action in the desert intrigued me. In 1956-58 I worked for the B&O RR. They transferred me from the machine shop work on Steam locos to the diesel shop, Apr 57. The foreman had been a Tank Commander opposing Rommel and he was still angry that we never provided air cooled engines. He kept losing Tanks with water cooling problems. I can see his face so clearly but I cant remember his name. GREAT BOSS!!! When the B&O leased a whole fleet of NEW model diesels in Feb 58, most of us lost our jobs because they werent going to need much maintenance for a long time. And anybody could change Michiana filters. LOL
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My Grandfather was an original Desert Rat serving during WW2. Dad was in the RGJ and also a Desert Rat. I was 17 when we went into Kuwait, third member of my family to wear the badge as part of 7th Armd. Also loved James Mason in Cross of Iron!
