Tobruk *** (1967, Rock Hudson, George Peppard, Nigel Green, Guy Stockwell, Jack Watson) – Classic Movie Review 6447

Director Arthur Hiller’s exciting big-budget 1967 World War Two war drama stars George Peppard as German-Jewish Captain Kurt Bergman joining forces with freed Canadian POW Major Donald Craig (Rock Hudson) and British commander Colonel John Harker (Nigel Green) to attack General Erwin Rommel’s fuel supply at the port of Tobruk.

An interesting subplot in Leo V Gordon’s solid screenplay concerns Hudson and Green’s thinly veiled anti-Semitism directed towards Peppard and his men.

Director Hiller keeps it pacey and engrossing, and makes sure he provides an explosive action climax to top it off.

Raid on Rommel (1971) told a similar story and re-used Tobruk’s battle scenes with their Oscar-nominated Best Special Effects (Albert Whitlock, Howard A Anderson).

Also in the cast are Guy Stockwell as Lieutenant Mohnfeld, Jack Watson as Sergeant Major Tyne, Liam Redmond, Leo Gordon, Norman Rossington, Percy Herbert, Heidy Hunty, Robert Wolders, Anthony Ashdown, Curt Lowens (who plays a German Colonel), Rico Cattani, Peter Coe, Lawrence Montaigne, Robert F Hoy, Phil Adams and Ronnie R Rondell Jr.

It is shot in Technicolor by Russell Harlan, produced by Gene Corman, sored by Bronislau Kaper, and designed by Alexander Golitzen and Henry Bumstead.

The 40th Armored Division of the California Army National Guard provided technical advice and assistance.

Curt Lowens.

Curt Lowens, a Polish Holocaust survivor and World War Two hero who came to Hollywood, died on 8 May 2017, aged 91. Lowens worked for director Alfred Hitchcock in Torn Curtain (1966).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6447

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