Come out of your holes you Desert Rats.

Last night to kick off Mason fest,  I watched the World War 2 film The Desert Rats based on a true story about the siege of Tobruk in Northern Africa. The Australian 9th Division is put under the command of English Captain "Tammy" MacRoberts who is played by Richard Burton.   They are  to hold Tobruk for 2 months against Field Marshall Rommel played by Mason.  During this time the men go on secret night raids.  After more then two months some of the men go on a raid to a German ammo dump. They blow up the dump but  most of the men are captured, killed or wounded. Burton escapes with one other man.  After several more days of fighting the badly wounded and tired Australian 9th is relieved by the sound of bagpipes.

James Mason was a great choice as Rommel.The film was directed by Robert Wise who also directed The Day the Earth Stood Still, West Side Story, Star Trek: The Motion Picture and The Sound of Music. This is a great war film. There are very few films about Australia's part in the war. Next, we will watch Mason again as Rommel in The Desert Fox.