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The Rats of Tobruk

  • 1944
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
336
YOUR RATING
The Rats of Tobruk (1944)
Trailer for this wartime drama
Play trailer1:21
1 Video
29 Photos
ActionDramaWar

Tells the story of three men--Bluey, a tough two fisted drover (Taylor), Milo, a laconic dingo trapper (Rafferty), and Pete, an intellectual English "new chum" (Finch). Together they serve i... Read allTells the story of three men--Bluey, a tough two fisted drover (Taylor), Milo, a laconic dingo trapper (Rafferty), and Pete, an intellectual English "new chum" (Finch). Together they serve in North Africa, fighting against the forces of Rommel in what has now become one of Austra... Read allTells the story of three men--Bluey, a tough two fisted drover (Taylor), Milo, a laconic dingo trapper (Rafferty), and Pete, an intellectual English "new chum" (Finch). Together they serve in North Africa, fighting against the forces of Rommel in what has now become one of Australia's greatest wartime legends--The Rats of Tobruk.

  • Director
    • Charles Chauvel
  • Writers
    • Charles Chauvel
    • Elsa Chauvel
    • Maxwell Dunn
  • Stars
    • Grant Taylor
    • Peter Finch
    • Chips Rafferty
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.4/10
    336
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Charles Chauvel
    • Writers
      • Charles Chauvel
      • Elsa Chauvel
      • Maxwell Dunn
    • Stars
      • Grant Taylor
      • Peter Finch
      • Chips Rafferty
    • 11User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Fighting Rats of Tobruk
    Trailer 1:21
    The Fighting Rats of Tobruk

    Photos28

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    Top cast16

    Edit
    Grant Taylor
    Grant Taylor
    • Bluey Donkin
    Peter Finch
    Peter Finch
    • Peter Linton
    Chips Rafferty
    Chips Rafferty
    • Milo Trent
    Pauline Garrick
    • Kate Carmody
    Mary Gay
    • Sister Mary Ellis
    George Wallace
    • Barber of Tobruk
    Joe Valli
    • Northumberland Fusilier
    Pat Twohill
      Walter Pym
      Norman Blackler
      Gilbert Ellis
      Joe Anderson
      Tony Villa
      • Japanese Soldier
      Robert Carlyle
      Edward Esau
        George Gentry
          • Director
            • Charles Chauvel
          • Writers
            • Charles Chauvel
            • Elsa Chauvel
            • Maxwell Dunn
          • All cast & crew
          • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

          User reviews11

          5.4336
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          Featured reviews

          Dr Jazz

          a great movie

          I love this movie mainly because it tells the story of brave soldiers fighting for their country. Chips Rafferty, Grant Taylor and Peter Finch play three Australian cattle drovers. When the war starts they all join up. It shows that soldiers are really ordinary people until a war starts and once they join up they become heroes. I always laugh at George Wallace as he plays the comic relief. Its definitely worth seeing i managed to track down what I am convinced is the only copy left in existence. If you ever see a copy buy it.
          7morrisonhimself

          Bad sound recording, some bad acting, but made in the middle of the war

          Trying to watch "The Rats of Tobruk" at Kanopy, the library service, I was often frustrated by the too-dark print and by the frequent sound errors.

          I don't like war movies anyway, and this one did what I expect from a war movie: It showed the sheer insanity of war, and how, as usual, the people in charge, meaning governments and their component politicians, manage to get people killed for pretty much no reason.

          Yes, this was made in 1944, getting on toward the end of World War II, but I did expect higher quality. The Brits made good movies during the war, and they were often directly under attack.

          Still, everything considered, I can recommend "The Rats of Tobruk" as an interesting experience: It's an Australian movie, which in my opinion we don't see enough of here in these United States.
          6malcolmgsw

          Interesting Aussie war film

          This film turned up very unexpectedly on one of our free view film channels.It contains most of the elements that you expect from a World War 2 film.A fair amount of newsreel film is used there is rather too much comedy.The barber,played by George Wallace,a popular vaudevillian there is a strange character played by Joe Valli who reminds me of Frank Randle.Interesting to see a young Chips Rafferty and an eve younger Peter Finch.Made in 1944 it was not released in the UK till 1949.
          10coogansbluff

          Up the Diggers!

          An interesting Aussie film about three mates who join the Army together and end up fighting the Afrika Korp at Tobruk.

          I give this film such a high rating because it is one of only a handful of movies that tell the tale of the Diggers at war.I believe there should be more movies about the efforts of the Aussie soldier in WWII and the great job that they did. It also does a far better job of telling the story about the legendary rats of Tobruk then the later Richard Burton movie "The Desert Rats" (although a good film itself).

          I recommend this film to all Australians and any war movie buffs out there, that is if you can find a copy of it!
          4richardchatten

          Anzacs in Libya

          This film clocked in at just 68 minutes on its US release in 1951, and you can guest what got cut as you wade through the amateurish indoor dialogue scenes and unfunny comedy relief between the occasional bursts of action (and finally the short segment set in New Guinea evidently added at the last minute to bring the story up to date).

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          Storyline

          Edit

          Did you know

          Edit
          • Trivia
            Some of the "German" tanks are actually mocked-up Sentinel tanks from a canceled Australian cruiser tank project; their appearance represents the only time Sentinels were ever used outside of testing.
          • Goofs
            When questioned by an officer, the men say that they are from the 2/2nd battalion. This battalion was part of the 16th Brigade of the 6th Division. The battalion was not part of the 9th Division which served in Tobruk during the siege.
          • Quotes

            Peter Linton: Still I've got to get home to the old country now. I've got to be in this show somehow.

            Milo Trent: You stick with us and you'll be in it quick enough!

          • Crazy credits
            The incidents in this film are founded upon fact but the characters are fictitious.
          • Connections
            Featured in Trailer Cinema (1992)
          • Soundtracks
            The Dying Young Stockmen
            (uncredited)

            Written by Horace Flower

            Sung by the stockmen and heard as a theme during the film

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          FAQ12

          • How long is The Rats of Tobruk?Powered by Alexa

          Details

          Edit
          • Release date
            • December 8, 1944 (Australia)
          • Country of origin
            • Australia
          • Language
            • English
          • Also known as
            • The Fighting Rats of Tobruk
          • Filming locations
            • Commonwealth Film Laboratories, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia(Studio)
          • Production company
            • Chamun Productions
          • See more company credits at IMDbPro

          Tech specs

          Edit
          • Runtime
            1 hour 32 minutes
          • Color
            • Black and White
          • Aspect ratio
            • 1.37 : 1

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