Favorite of the month james mason stars in the war biopic the desert fox. The author of that biography and hence the movie, desmond rommel always fascinated me even before i read his life. Erwin rommel project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. David thomson looks back on an unforgettable actor who never settled for the easy option. Continue reading below in 1954, mason starred as a declining actor in the first remake of a star is born. The desert fox is a 1951 blackandwhite biographical war film from 20th century fox about field marshal erwin rommel in the later stages of world war ii. The desert fox by henry hathaway henry hathaway, james. I think the thing that stuck mostly in my mind was the highly regarded 1951 film rommel. James neville mason 19091984 was a threetime academy award nominated english actor who attained stardom in both british and american films. He entered the army in 1910 and rose slowly through the ranks. A brilliant tactician, rommel earns the respect not only of his own men but of the enemy. James mason field marshal erwin johannes rommel, cedric hardwicke dr.
Oct 06, 2011 rommel desert fox us 1951 c20th fox photograph. James masons portrayal of this gallant warrior became a highlight of his career iconography. Erwin johannes eugen rommel 15 november 1891 14 october 1944, popularly known as the desert fox wustenfuchs, was a famous german field marshal of world war ii. In 1952, mason purchased a house previously owned by buster keaton. He was born in yorkshire, and attended marlborough college and cambridge university, where he discovered acting on a lark, and abandoned a planned career as an architect. The story of rommel and a valet turned spy in 5 fingers. He played brutus in julius caesar in 1953, field marshal erwin rommel in the desert fox. For its day the movie included many of the great english actors of the 50s. Buy rommel the desert fox book online at low prices in. The desert fox the story of rommel james mason 1951. James mason was believable as erwin rommel, and the rest of the cast also played their parts very well. The desert fox by brigadier desmond young, who served in the british indian army in north africa. James mason was believable as erwin rommel, and the rest of the cast also.
The book thief by markus zusak the diary of a young girl by anne frank farewell to manzanar by jeanne. Jesse james has been the subject of many songs, books, articles and movies throughout the years. In this classic study of the art of war rommel analyses the tactics that lay behind. For military buffs, the film doesnt delve into what made rommel such a great tank commander and strategist. In wwii, he distinguished himself as commander of the 7th panzer division during the 1940 invasion of france, and his leadership of german and italian forces in the north african campaign earned him his legendary status as the desert fox. Speaking to field marshal rommel privately, the visitors told him tha. The story of the final years of the respected world war ii german general, erwin rommel. War film about field marshal erwin rommel in the later stages of world war ii. Field marshal erwin rommel rode across north africa onto the pages of history. Author daniel allen butler assesses both the temperament and the battlefield brilliance of world war ii nazi germanys desert fox in this 600page, hardcover book with 16 pages of photographs. In 1933 when he became commander of a hanoverian jaeger battalion expert in the. Popularly known as the desert fox, he served as field marshal in the wehrmacht armed forces of nazi germany during world war ii, as well as serving in the reichswehr of the weimar republic, and the army of imperial germany. In world war ii, he further distinguished himself as the commander of the 7th panzer division during. It stars james mason in the title role, was directed by henry hathaway, and was based on the book rommel.
David thomson on the career of james mason film the guardian. Feb 20, 2012 erwin rommel was a highly decorated officer in wwi, and was awarded the pour le merite for his exploits on the italian front. The film is narrated by michael rennie, who some might remember from the movie the day the earth stood still. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. The enemy below here is one of the best war movies ever, a chess game of cat and fish not mouse duration. Mason achieved considerable success in british cinema before becoming one of hollywoods biggest stars. Desert fox trailer 1951 rommel movie starring james mason. James mason was believable as erwin rommel, and the rest of the cast also played. In the cats in our lives, he recounted humorous and sometimes touching tales of the cats as well as a few dogs he had known and loved. Erwin rommel, german field marshal who became the most popular general at home and gained the open respect of his enemies with his spectacular victories as commander of the afrika korps in world war ii.
Erwin rommel, the nazi general celebrated as the brilliant desert fox, is portrayed in a new film as a weak man torn by his loyalty to adolf hitler. Brutus in the 1953 film of julius caesar, general erwin rommel twice, once in the desert fox. A biography of the wwii military genius known as the desert foxand his complex, ultimately fatal relationship with hitler from a new york timesbestselling author. Mason copped to the financial incentive years later in an interview, but still showed them up with a series of excellent performances in some fine films, beginning with his turn as celebrated tactician field marshall erwin rommel in the world war ii. May 14, 2009 james mason career villain, smooth talker, creative powerhouse would have been 100 today. James mason would reprise his role as nazi german field marshal erwin rommel two. Karl strolin, jessica tandy frau lucie marie rommel, luther adler adolf hitler, everett sloane gen. Gaining prominence in 1940 as a commander of a panzer division that smashed the french defenses see blitzkrieg, 1940, rommel went on to command the afrika korps where his tactical genius, ability. Erwin rommels nazi rebel role revisited the forward. James mason s performanace in the desert fox makes you believe he is erwin rommel. I think this book is a classic probably definitive biography on erwin rommel and it undoubtedly let to the 1951 movie with james mason in which the author has a part. David thomson on the career of james mason film the. Unfortunately, adolph hitler luther adler, laboring under the delusion that he too is a military genius, demands more of rommel. Mason copped to the financial incentive years later in an interview, but still showed them up with a series of excellent performances in some fine films, beginning with his turn as celebrated tactician field marshall erwin rommel in the world war ii drama the desert fox.
Infantry attacks by erwin rommel in chm, fb2, txt download ebook. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. In france in 1940, then for two years in north africa, then finally back in france again, at normandy in 1944, he proved himself a master of armored warfare, running rings around a succession of allied generals. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws.
World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. Fieldmarshall erwin rommel 1891 1944 was a german general and military theorist. One thing that i did not like would be that the actors all had british accents instead of german, which seemed quite out of place, but might have been normal for twentieth centtury fox at the time, and, after all, the actors and acrtresses. James mason biography childhood, life achievements.
Born leader, brilliant soldier, devoted husband and fathererwin rommel was intelligent, brave, and compassionate, while at the same time vain, egotistical, and arrogant. The trail of the fox the search for the true field marshal. Mason plays the title character, and the film follows the events which not only eventually drove rommel to become involved in a plan to assassinate adolf hitler, but the failed outcome which created his own demise. Popularly known as the desert fox, he served as field. The desert fox with james mason in the starring role. He was the top box office attraction in the uk in 1944 and 1945, with notable films including the seventh veil 1945 and the wicked lady 1945. Johannes erwin eugen rommel 15 november 1891 14 october 1944 was a german general and military theorist. Incidentally, this book is the basis for the outstanding film, rommel which stars the superb james mason, and which is available on dvd. Popularly known as the desert fox, the career serviceman served as field marshal in the wehrmacht defense force of the third reich during world war ii, as. The story of rommel in 1951, and in the desert rats 1953.
With james mason, cedric hardwicke, jessica tandy, luther adler. Sep 23, 2015 infantry attacks by erwin rommel in chm, fb2, txt download ebook. Jun 22, 2017 favorite of the month james mason stars in the war biopic the desert fox. James mason wrote most of the book and also illustrated it. James mason s portrayal of this gallant warrior became a highlight of his career iconography. Rommel brilliantly commanded an armored division in the attack 1940 on france. Much of the film is about rommels decision to participate in the assassination plot against adolf hitler.
With this book you realize that with only a few if onlys ww2 would have been very different. Erwin rommels most popular book is infantry attacks. Popularly known as the desert fox, the career serviceman served as field marshal in the wehrmacht defense force of the third reich during world war ii, as well as earlier serving in the reichswehr of the weimar republic, and the army of imperial germany 1871 1918. F or a time, erwin rommel was hitlers favorite general. In his own words by christopher ailsby, erwin rommel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The desert fox by henry hathaway henry hathaway, james mason. The war devastated missouri, and shaped the life of jesse james.
His legend secure, rommel will be forever thought of as a military genius who, but for bad fortune and the faults of others, might have changed the course of world war ii. Erwin rommel books list of books by author erwin rommel. James mason career villain, smooth talker, creative powerhouse would have been 100 today. Field marshal erwin rommel exerted an almost hypnotic influence not only over his own troops but also over the allied soldiers of the eighth army in the second world war. Mason plays the title character, and the film follows the events which not only eventually drove rommel to become involved in a plan to. He was born in yorkshire, and attended marlborough college and. Ronald grant archive the film begins with rommel james mason s defeat by the british, free french and americans in north africa.
The desert fox was based on the book by brigadier desmond. The film begins with rommel james masons defeat by the british. James mason in one of his defining roles as erwin rommel, telling. James mason was a great english actor of british and american films. During his lifetime, jesse james was largely celebrated by former confederates. What is considered the definitive book on erwin rommel.
Aug 22, 2008 jesse james has been the subject of many songs, books, articles and movies throughout the years. It is sort of a dramatic documentary and the author of the book, lt. The jamessamuel family took the confederate side at the outset of the civil war. List of books and articles about erwin rommel online. I think this book is a classic probably definitive biography on erwin rommel and it undoubtedly let to the 1951 movie with james mason in which the author has a part read more 4 people found this helpful. The story of the final years of the respected world war ii. This book is an exhaustive look at erwin rommel from his childhood, through his service in ww1, and above all his role in the second world war. Following 4 years in repertory companies, he joined the old vic under the guidance of sir tyrone guthrie and. Much of the film is about rommel s decision to participate in the assassination plot against adolf hitler.
See more ideas about actor, movie stars and old hollywood. He committed suicide in 1944 after his role in a failed plot to assassinate hitler became known to the fuhrer. Erwin rommel, the world war two german field marshal celebrated as the brilliant and humane desert fox, is portrayed in a new film as a weak man torn by his loyalty to adolf hitler and the. The james samuel family took the confederate side at the outset of the civil war. Two generals, wilhelm burgdorf and ernst maisel, were sent to his country home, where he was recovering from severe injuries. The desert fox, released six years after the end of world war ii, is a solemnly respectful tribute to erwin rommel, germanys most celebrated military genius. Find james rommels phone number, address, and email on spokeo, the leading online directory for contact information. Twentieth centuryfox here casts james mason an actor who will be remembered for playing charming villains as field marshal erwin rommel, who was. The desert fox is a superb filmed biography of german general erwin rommel, concentrating on the period between his retreat from north africa and his governmentdecreed death.
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