Sahara
Seen it?1943 | 97 min | War
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (92% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs. If you loved Born on the Fourth of July or Hamburger Hill, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Intense.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 37 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1943: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
In Libya, an American tank commander, along with a handful of Allied soldiers, tries to defend an isolated well with a limited supply of water from a German Afrika Korps battalion during the Western Desert Campaign of World War II.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
92% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.2 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Nominated for 3 Oscars.
- Box office & staying powerWeak
$2 million worldwide
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 53K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Born on the Fourth of July
Saturday SpecialAnother war story, and a Saturday Special.
Hamburger Hill Saturday SpecialAnother war story.
Casualties of War Saturday SpecialAnother war story, and a Saturday Special.
Salvador Sunday Safe BetAnother war story, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
For Sama
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed war story that fewer people know today.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Zoltan Korda
- Humphrey BogartSgt. Joe Gunn
- Bruce BennettWaco Hoyt
- J. Carrol NaishGiuseppe
- Lloyd BridgesFred Clarkson
- Rex IngramSgt. Maj. Tambul
- Richard AherneCapt. Jason Halliday
- Dan DuryeaJimmy Doyle
- Carl HarbordMarty Williams
- Patrick O'MooreOsmond 'Ozzie' Bates
- Louis MercierJean Leroux - 'Frenchie'