It's far too long this, but otherwise isn't an half-bad wartime adventure that shows off Robert Shaw's ability to play a baddie with aplomb. He's "Col. Hessler", the commander of a Panzer tank division at a crucial stage towards the end of the war. With the Allies pressing every advantage, he must follow his faintly ridiculous orders and counter-attack - aiming to regain the port of Antwerp - against the well armed troops of "Gen. Grey" (Robert Ryan) who is being aided by his shrewd eye-in-the-sky "Col. Kiley" (Henry Fonda). This gent is very suspicious of the way the Nazis seem to have gone quiet. He knows they still have a formidable arsenal, and that one false step could see them becoming the target. "Hessler" has one vulnerability, though, and this is fuel. His tanks are superior and he has an element of surprise, but he must find petrol and "Kiley" knows this. The cat and mouse game that ensues is well enough directed by Ken Annekin, and includes a formidable array of Hollywood A-listers to help it along. He also tries to develop a story with a little more politics to it. The duplicity and mistrust that surrounds "Hessler" and his long-suffering "Conrad" (Hans Christian Blech) illustrating that the concept of blind loyalty - even pride - was still alive and well, even in those who ought to have realised better. It's not meant to be an history, just a solid story of battles, tanks and oil drums and it is slow to get going, but the last hour do redeem it enough to make it watchable. Just maybe not too often.
