'Epic' war film starring 'greatest actor ever' has 100% rating and is on BBC today

If you're hankering for a captivating and thrilling war film this afternoon (Saturday), The Desert Rats is not to be missed.

Helmed by Robert Wise and featuring Richard Burton, James Mason and Robert Newton, this 1953 gem narrates the thrilling tale of the Siege of Tobruk during World War II, making it an ideal choice for some high-octane weekend viewing.

Set in 1941, the film unfolds as Nazi general Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps zeroes in on the crucial port city of Tobruk, which is under Allied control.

The responsibility of defending the city falls on the 9th Australian Division, with Captain MacRoberts, portrayed by Burton, assigned the command of a battalion of green troops.

At first, MacRoberts finds it challenging to gain the respect of his men, but as the siege escalates, the soldiers' courage begins to emerge.

While the film's combat scenes are hailed as some of the best in the genre, it's the touching dialogue and the depiction of the camaraderie among the troops that elevate The Desert Rats to the top tier of WWII films.

The Desert Rats also boasts several outstanding performances, but it's Burton's portrayal of a stern British officer under strain that truly steals the show.

Known for his roles in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Becket, Burton's performance as Captain MacRoberts is a career-defining moment.

His capacity to deliver emotional complexity to the role has garnered the picture universal praise, with one Rotten Tomatoes critique hailing him as "one of the greatest actors to have ever lived".

The picture achieved a flawless 100 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. One review stated: "Fantastic and brilliant - such a powerful movie to watch. It has a great cast, good fight scenes and is a thrilling classic war film."

Another noted: "The historical accuracy is at a Hollywood level, but one of the main points of the film is showing how a man with reduced self-esteem can step up and play his part in the greater scheme of things."

While a third commented: "An unusually well-done war flick - a fine film that highlights an almost forgotten campaign in WWII."

The Desert Rats is on BBC2 at 3.35pm today (Saturday).