Just watching the film Sahara starring James Belushi - apparently yankie tankies were in Tobruk in June 1942!
RemeDesertRat, See Messages 12 and 22 in the following link: http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/35025-us-at-alamein/ I think the original Bogart film is based during the Gazala gallop in mid-June 1942 and there were indeed US servicemen operating tanks in battle at Knightsbridge and were therefore probably also involved in the retreat to the Alamein line. However, this is not the same as Tobruk or the "Quattara depression in Libya" [ ] - geography maybe isn't the scriptwriters forte. Best, Steve.
Haven,t seen the Bogart film, will have to look out for it. In the belushi film it starts with large units of us army and air force in Libya. At the moment one us tank crew and a handful of commonwealth soldiers, a french soldier and a sudanese sergeant are holding off large forces of africa korp at Acroma, giving 8th army a chance to regroup at Alamein.
RemeDesertRat, The Bogart film has one US tank crew, a handful of Commonwealth soldiers, a French soldier and a Sudanese Sergeant, holding off large forces of Africa Korps at Acroma. Oh, and both an Italian and Luftwaffe PoW. It doesn't have a start with large units of US army and air force in Libya. I don't think I'd like the Belushi version... How did you rate it? Best, Steve.
It is nowhere as good as the Bogie movie however Belushi does a good as do a couple of others. If you have the need to be picking at everything that is not "true" your based on fact library would be quite small.
I have a DVD of the Bogart Sahara and a copy of the later version. I prefer the original as it is pure contemporary propoganda of the time. However when you compare the two, the remake uses most of the same lines from the original script. Watch them for pure escapism, not for any historical accuracy. Regards Tom
Having watched the belushi film I can say I'd watch it again. Its just the beginning where it implies there is a large build up of US forces making me think I was watching a film about operation torch. Its better than some films ive seen about wwII.
This DVD. http://www.movli.com/movie/sahara-55401 The Sudanese Sgt's name was Tambula. Not forgetting the former French Resistance fighter, especially when he pretends to eat bread, cheese and onions, washed down with wine!! Regards Tom
* Hello Tom, I like that part of the film a lot - it is charismatic. I was in a Bouchon a couple of months back with a brother-in-law and guests, and we were discussing the usual things men discuss when not accompanied by women. Someone asked what did I fancy to eat and I mimicked that sketch... then ordered a rib-eye steak. Best, Steve.
Bogey's flick is a ton better than the newer one. Remake didn't work this time (as it usually happens :wink: )
