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The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel Overview:

The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (1951) was a Action - Drama Film directed by Henry Hathaway and produced by Nunnally Johnson.

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The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel Quotes:

Field Marshal Gerd von Runstedt: From the moment the Bohemian corporal promoted himself to the supreme command of our forces, the German Army has been the victim of a unique situation: not only too many of the enemy, but one too many Germans.
Gen. Fritz Bayerlein: Nothing yet, though?
Field Marshal Erwin Johannes Rommel: No, but he
[Hitler]
Field Marshal Erwin Johannes Rommel: knows the situation. I sent him the whole story last night. If there's anything he can do, he will.
Gen. Fritz Bayerlein: No matter what you say, to Berlin we're only a sideshow - and you know it.
Field Marshal Gerd von Runstedt: [It's] too late for me. I'm seventy now - too old to fight, too old to challenge authority, however evil... but not too old, however, to wish you and your friends the best of luck in their extremely interesting enterprise.
[a British officer steps from the back of his tralier to address the officers before him]
British officer: Gentlemen, the following order from General Auchinleck, is to all commanders and chiefs-of-staff of the Middle East Forces.
[reads]
British officer: "There exists a real danger that our friend Rommel is becoming a kind of magician or bogeyman to our troops, who are talking far too much about him. He is by no means a superman, although he is undoubtedly very energetic and able. Even if he were a superman, it would still be highly undesirable that our men should credit him with supernatural powers. I wish you to dispel by all possible means the idea that Rommel represents something more than an ordinary German general. Please ensure that this order is put into immediate effect, and impress upon all commanders, that from the psychological point of view, it is a matter of the highest importance. Signed, C.J. Auchinleck, General, Commander-In-Chief, M.E.F."
Field Marshal Keitel: Have you any better suggestions?
Field Marshal Gerd von Runstedt: Yes, one very much better. Make peace, you idiot!
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The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel Facts
'The Hollywood Reporter ' announced in February 1950 and August 1950 that the 20th Century Fox studio planned to film background shots in North Africa where this picture is predominantly set. However, these plans fell through. However, background shots filming was shot on location by director Henry Hathaway in France, England and Germany according to editions of 'The Hollywood Reporter ' in January 1951 and March 1951.
According to the Twentieth Century-Fox records collection of the Legal Department at the UCLA Arts Special Collections Library, the script for this film was read and authorized by both the US State Department and US Commissioner for Germany, John J. McCloy, around the time of the early part of January 1951. Twentieth Century-Fox received harsh criticism both during pre-production and upon the release of the film for its sympathetic portrayal of German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.
Kirk Douglas and Richard Widmark were considered to play the title role of German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. The 15 February 1950 edition of 'The New York Times' stated that the rights to Brig. Gen. Desmond Young M.C.'s book 'Rommel' had been acquired by 20th Century-Fox and "the title role will be offered to Kirk Douglas." Later, according to a February 1951 memo held in the AMPAS Library MPAA/PCA file for this film, "Richard Widmark has been chiefly mentioned as Rommel."
Studio information reported that Gen. Heinrich von Stulpnagel would be played by John Goldsworthy and Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery would be played by Trevor Ward but neither are credited. They appear but are not credited.
Apparently, Erwin Rommel's widow, Lucie Marie Rommel acted as a technical consultant and adviser to this movie. She was played by Jessica Tandy in the film itself. Mrs. Rommel lent the production some of her husband's personal artifacts and liaised with Nunnally Johnson, the film's producer and screenwriter. As Frau Lucie Maria Rommel, Mrs Rommel later also acted as a military consultant to the film The Longest Day made by 20th Century-Fox, the same studio that produced this movie.
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