JohnHowardReid Yet another drama that focuses on the futility of war in the desert, "Taxi for Tobruk" presents viewers with some rousing action and a marvelous music score (which was later swiped by Michel LeGrand for a similar movie, "Play Dirty"). Although routinely directed and inclined to be talky, the film does have a fair degree of special appeal for people like me who like to see movies that present characters that are way different from the norm. We critics get damn tired of seeing the same characters over and over and over - even if the plot lines are slightly different and the actors strive not to totally repeat the same old characterizations. In this particular case, for instance, the lead characters bungle their way along. Now, that's different! And even better, they actually develop an uneasy camaraderie with their German prisoner.

hstaurati Un taxi pour Tobrouk was one of the very first war movies I watched as a child, and I was impressed with the depth of the characters that were portrayed in it. No stereotypes here; just a movie about an unlikely band of people, trying to survive in the dessert. One thing that I will never forget, (please do not count it as a spoiler!!!) is when the French soldiers discuss about what they should do with their prisoner, and they say that "you should kill them before you get the chance to know them". If that does not portrait the madness of war, then I wonder, what is? Others have already written a lot about the plot, so I will not go into details. All I can say is that it is bad that this movie is not available on a subtitled version, for all of us, the poor people who do not know French, to buy.

pete36 Story takes place during 1942 in the Libyan desert at the crucial battle in El Alamein, when the British finally defeated the German "Afrikakorps". But this is a French movie so it deals with the Free French troops who were fighting alongside the British.The basic storyline is quite simple : during a raid on a German supply dump, the French CO gets killed and the remaining members of the squad have to make their way back to friendly lines. Along the way they lose their patrol car but then capture an enemy truck, together with a German captain (Hardy Krüger).Lino Ventura, one of France's most famous actors, is the grumpy ex-prizefighter turned NCO (very close to his real-life personae). He was already a respected actor but this really launched him to French super-stardom. Also well-known singer Charles Aznavour co-stars, but movie's main reputation lies with its script and dialogues (a mix between comedy and tragedy) by Michel Audiard, who was the scriptwriter of countless other successful Frrench movie classics (usually starring JP Belmondo or Jean Gabin).This war movie may not so be well known outside of France, but up to this day it remains a true French classic. French public TV choose to air 'Taxi to Tobruk" on May the 1st this year, an important holiday in France.

RogerFranzose A really funny war movie and even today still worthwhile seeing. Tells a lot about the mentality of Germans and french...! Not only in the army but also about the people - even today. The 'movie-buffs' will know what I mean...a pity this film is far underrated and not very well known. Intense acting, riveting plot, keeps one glued to the story! Hardy Krueger and Lino Ventura are simply great actors! Hopefully these comments may change that the movie is better known in the future because it has all the chances to become a "war classic". Does anybody know if the film is available at least on (an European language version) VHS-video?