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Taxi for Tobruk

Original title: Un taxi pour Tobrouk
  • 1961
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
2K
YOUR RATING
Taxi for Tobruk (1961)
DramaWar

During World War II, French Commandos join forces with a German officer in order to survive the African desert.During World War II, French Commandos join forces with a German officer in order to survive the African desert.During World War II, French Commandos join forces with a German officer in order to survive the African desert.

  • Director
    • Denys de La Patellière
  • Writers
    • Michel Audiard
    • René Havard
    • Denys de La Patellière
  • Stars
    • Hardy Krüger
    • Lino Ventura
    • Maurice Biraud
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Denys de La Patellière
    • Writers
      • Michel Audiard
      • René Havard
      • Denys de La Patellière
    • Stars
      • Hardy Krüger
      • Lino Ventura
      • Maurice Biraud
    • 10User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos23

    Taxi for Tobruk (1961)
    Taxi for Tobruk (1961)
    Charles Aznavour, Maurice Biraud, Germán Cobos, Hardy Krüger, and Lino Ventura in Taxi for Tobruk (1961)
    Charles Aznavour, Maurice Biraud, Germán Cobos, Hardy Krüger, and Lino Ventura in Taxi for Tobruk (1961)
    Germán Cobos and Lino Ventura in Taxi for Tobruk (1961)
    Charles Aznavour, Maurice Biraud, Germán Cobos, Hardy Krüger, and Lino Ventura in Taxi for Tobruk (1961)
    Charles Aznavour, Maurice Biraud, Germán Cobos, Hardy Krüger, and Lino Ventura in Taxi for Tobruk (1961)
    Lino Ventura in Taxi for Tobruk (1961)
    Charles Aznavour, Maurice Biraud, Germán Cobos, and Lino Ventura in Taxi for Tobruk (1961)
    Lino Ventura in Taxi for Tobruk (1961)
    Charles Aznavour, Maurice Biraud, and Lino Ventura in Taxi for Tobruk (1961)
    Charles Aznavour and Lino Ventura in Taxi for Tobruk (1961)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Hardy Krüger
    Hardy Krüger
    • Le capitaine Ludwig von Stegel
    Lino Ventura
    Lino Ventura
    • le brigadier Theo Dumas
    Maurice Biraud
    Maurice Biraud
    • François Gensac
    Charles Aznavour
    Charles Aznavour
    • Samuel Goldmann
    Germán Cobos
    Germán Cobos
    • Jean Ramirez
    Ellen Bahl
    • Frau von Stegel
    • (uncredited)
    Roland Malet
    • Convict with Ramirez
    • (uncredited)
    Carlos Mendy
    Carlos Mendy
    • German Soldier in Desert with von Stegel
    • (uncredited)
    Roland Ménard
    • Récitant
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • …
    Jacques Préboist
    • Convict with Ramirez
    • (uncredited)
    Lorenzo Robledo
    • German Soldier in Desert with von Stegel
    • (uncredited)
    Dominique Rozan
    Dominique Rozan
    • Parisian on the Champs-Elysées
    • (uncredited)
    Fernando Sancho
    Fernando Sancho
    • German Corporal in the Oasis
    • (uncredited)
    Enrique Ávila
    Enrique Ávila
    • German Soldier Playing Cards
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Denys de La Patellière
    • Writers
      • Michel Audiard
      • René Havard
      • Denys de La Patellière
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Lino Ventura (Theo Dumas or Dudu) is presented as a boxing champion of Europe at the beginning of the movie. He was actually champion of Europe of Greco-Roman wrestling in 1950.
    • Quotes

      Le capitaine Ludwig von Stegel: If you don't like war, why sign treaties with countries that always fight wars?

    • Connections
      Featured in Beckmann: Episode dated 14 April 2008 (2008)

    User reviews10

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Strange bedfellows.
    Denys de la Patelliere in unlikely to belong in anyone's Pantheon of great directors but his straightforward, understated style suits this material admirably.

    Adapted by the director and Réne Havard from the latter's novel, the film's slow pacing enhances the dynamic between the five protagonists whilst the editing of Jacqueline Thiedot maintains the tension throughout, especially in the gripping minefield sequence.

    The film also has the brilliant Michel Audiard written all over it with many quotable lines, not least "Two sitting intellectuals won't go as far as one walking brute." The 'intellectuals' in this instance are played by Charles Aznavour and Maurice Biraud whilst the 'brute' is, unsurprisingly, Lino Ventura. Making up the quintet are Germán Cobos, here 'dubbed' by Marcel Bozzufi and Hardy Kruger whose role as an infuriatingly clever German made him perfect casting as the even more infuriating Dorfmann in 'Flight of the Pheonix' four years later.

    For those interested in such things, should the ongoing musical theme sound familiar, it is an arrangement of the nineteenth century French Christmas carol 'Les Anges dans nos Compagne'

    Once again Charles Aznavour's screen presence overcomes his diminuitive stature and he fulfils the promise of his earlier performance in Franju's 'La Tete contre les murs' whilst the role of Theo not only solidifies Lino Ventura's popularity but also enables him to shake off his 'gangster' image. De la Patelliere was one of Jean Gabin's preferred directors during his later years and as Ventura matured he was to assume Gabin's mantle.

    Inspired by the true story of two soldiers, a German and a Dane who aided each other having lost their way in Finland, the message of this piece is that even in the worst of times, Humanity can transcend borders and nationality.
    helpful•2
    0
    • brogmiller
    • Jan 19, 2023

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 10, 1961 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Spain
      • West Germany
    • Official site
      • Gaumont (France)
    • Languages
      • French
      • German
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Taxi nach Tobruk
    • Filming locations
      • Almería, Andalucía, Spain
    • Production companies
      • Société Nouvelle des Établissements Gaumont (SNEG)
      • Franco London Films
      • S.N.E. Gaumont
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Optiphone
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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