El Alamein is a 1953 American war film directed by Fred F. Sears and starring Scott Brady, Edward Ashley and Rita Moreno. Also known by the alternative title of Desert Patrol, it depicts the 1942 Battle of El Alamein during the North African Campaign.
Contents
Plot
During the events of World War II, Banning (Scott Brady), an American civilian makes a living selling tanks to the Allied troops. In the process of delivering them to British soldiers on the front line, he becomes stuck with a group of men at a desert location that the Afrika Korps is using as a place to dump fuel. They delay the German onslaught until assistance arrives, before eventually blowing up the Nazi fuel supply and returning to the safety of the British lines.
Cast
Scott Brady as Joe Banning
Edward Ashley as Capt. Harbison
Robin Hughes as Sgt. Alf Law
Rita Moreno as Jara
Michael Pate as Sgt. McQueen
Peter Brocco as Selim
Peter Mamakos as Cpl. Singh Das
Ray Page as Nazi Pilot
Benny Rubin as Egyptian Driver
Henry Rowland as Nazi Officer
Production
El Alamein was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures, with sets designed by the art director Edward L. Ilou.
Scenes were filmed at the sand dunes in El Segundo, California. Actual combat footage was used to enhance the staged dramatics.