Raid on Rommel (1971): Cast & Plot
Raid on Rommel is a 1971 action war film directed by Henry Hathaway, starring Wolfgang Preiss as Gen. Erwin Rommel, Richard Burton and Robert Wolders. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 39m (99 min)
- Director
- Henry Hathaway
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Universal Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Raid on Rommel About?
The premise of Raid on Rommel without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Captain Foster plans a daring raid on German‑occupied Tobruk, gathering elite commandos to strike Rommel’s forces in the Sahara. A clerical mix‑up leaves him in charge of a medical unit led by a Quaker conscientious objector, forcing the untrained squad to confront the Desert Fox under unlikely leadership.
Raid on Rommel Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- hot weather
- afrika corps
- world war two in africa
- british soldier
- sand
- dust
- sweating
- military vehicle
- universal studios
- secret
- 1940s
- airplane shot down
+38 more Show fewer
- tank
- air drop
- troop truck
- truck
- doctor
- submachine gun
- royal air force
- machine gun
- ether
- radio broadcast
- prisoner of war
- reference to adolf hitler
- year 1943
- british army
- german officer
- german soldier
- libya
- dead body
- halftrack
- combat
- opening action scene
- main character shot
- martial arts
- war violence
- behind enemy lines
- battle
- goggles
- uniform
- trash
- explosion
- sergeant
- world war two
- desert
- character name in title
- woman in jeopardy
- field marshal erwin rommel character
- tobruk
- mission
Raid on Rommel Cast & Characters
Wolfgang Preiss leads the cast as Gen. Erwin Rommel, with Richard Burton as Capt. Alex Foster and Robert Wolders as German Pilot (uncredited). Directed by Henry Hathaway; 18 actors are credited in all.
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Director Henry Hathaway
-
Wolfgang Preiss as Gen. Erwin Rommel -
Richard Burton as Capt. Alex Foster - Robert Wolders as German Pilot (uncredited)
- Ronald Southart as British Colonel (uncredited)
Also Starring in Raid on Rommel
· 14 more- Clinton Greyn Maj. Hugh Tarkington
- Danielle De Metz Vivianne Gagliardo
- John Colicos Sgt. Maj. Allan MacKenzie
- Ben Wright Admiral
- Patrick Whyte Flag Captain (uncredited)
- Brook Williams Reilly
- James O'Hara Lt. Executive Officer (uncredited)
- Karl-Otto Alberty Schroeder
- Greg Mullavey Brown
- John Orchard Garth
- Christopher Cary Conscientious Objector
- Erik Holland Sentry at Checkpoint (uncredited)
- Chris Anders Tank Sergeant
- Michael Sevareid Wembley
More from Henry Hathaway
More films directed by Henry Hathaway, best-rated first: True Grit, Niagara, The Sons of Katie Elder and How the West Was Won.
Raid on Rommel Plot Summary
What happens in Raid on Rommel from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In Libya in 1942, Captain Alex Foster, [Richard Burton], an intelligence officer with the British Army, allows himself to be captured by a German Afrika Korps convoy transporting British prisoners, pretending to be injured. Once integrated with the prisoners, consisting of a medical unit and remnants of a commando force, Foster outlines his plan to seize the convoy with their help and redirect it toward the Libyan port town of Tobruk.
Foster, in an Afrika Korps uniform, and Major Hugh Tarkington, the medical officer as his prisoner, gain access to the depot and meet Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, [Wolfgang Preiss]. During a friendly dispute over philately between Rommel and Tarkington, Foster notices a map indicating the location of the fuel depot.
Full summary
The whole story of Raid on Rommel, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Raid on Rommel?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In what year is Raid on Rommel set?
Cars in Raid on Rommel
12 cars on screen, including the White M2 Halftrack and the Chrysler M48 'Patton'.
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White M2 Halftrack Main role -
Chrysler M48 'Patton' Important role -
1951 GMC M135 Important role -
White M2 Halftrack Important role
Raid on Rommel Also Known As
20 alternative titles, including “Comando en el desierto” and “Kanoner i ørkenen”.
- Also known as
-
- Comando en el desierto
- Kanoner i ørkenen
- Le 5ème commando
- Le Cinquième Commando
- Támadás Rommel ellen
- Im Morgengrauen brach die Hölle los
- Kanonerna i öknen
- Attacco a Rommel
- Saharas helte
- Yllätysisku - Raid on Rommel
- Os Veteranos de Tobruk
- הקרב על רומל
+8 more Show fewer
- Os Comandos Atacam Rommel
- Rommel Baskını
- Τα Γεράκια της Ερήμου
- Поход Роммеля
- 롬멜 습격 작전
- Útok na Rommela
- 黎明时战火纷飞
- Powstrzymać Rommla
Seen Raid on Rommel?
Movies Like Raid on Rommel
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Desert Rats, Tobruk and The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel.
Raid on Rommel FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Raid on Rommel, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Raid on Rommel?
Raid on Rommel runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).
When was Raid on Rommel released?
Raid on Rommel was released on February 12, 1971.
Who directed Raid on Rommel?
Raid on Rommel was directed by Henry Hathaway.
More films by Henry Hathaway Who is in the cast of Raid on Rommel?
Raid on Rommel stars Wolfgang Preiss as Gen. Erwin Rommel, Richard Burton as Capt. Alex Foster and Robert Wolders as German Pilot (uncredited), among 18 credited actors.
Does Raid on Rommel have a post-credit scene?
No. Raid on Rommel has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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