Taxi for Tobruk

Taxi for Tobruk

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	1961
Headquarters	France, Spain, West Germany

Taxi for Tobruk (original French title: Un taxi pour Tobrouk) is a 1961 war film directed by Denys de La Patellière featuring performances by Charles Aznavour, Lino Ventura, and Hardy Krüger. This production was a collaborative effort between France, Spain, and West Germany.

The narrative unfolds during the World War II Battle of El Alamein, with filming conducted on-site in Almería, Spain. The visual and set design were overseen by art director Paul-Louis Boutié.

Plot

The story begins on Christmas Eve 1941, introducing a diverse group of individuals:

• Captain Ludwig von Stegel departs from his ancestral castle in Pomerania;
• Petty Officer Théo Dumas spends time with an English household, reminiscing about his Montmartre bistro;
• François Gensac leaves his grandmother in Ablis to journey to London;
• Samuel Goldmann flees France to escape anti-Semitic persecution;
• Paolo Ramirez prepares to break out of prison after receiving a death sentence.

By October 1942 in Tobruk, Libya, a Free French Long Range Desert Group unit, diminished to four members following the loss of their leader, attempts to traverse the desert after executing a successful strike against German forces. Their vehicle is destroyed by a German aircraft—shot down by Ramirez—resulting in the loss of essential supplies and forcing the team to separate. Dumas and Ramirez continue their trek while Gensac and Goldmann remain behind.

Subsequently, the group captures a German officer, von Stegel, after ambushing his patrol. Their plan to reach British lines is hindered by challenging terrain such as soft sand and scarce fuel. They intercept a German convoy to procure supplies; however, tensions escalate when von Stegel assumes command and detains the French soldiers. Dumas reclaims authority by sabotaging the vehicle.

While crossing a minefield, Gensac sustains severe injuries. Near El Alamein, as they tend to wounds, Dumas considers releasing von Stegel but is interrupted when an Allied armored vehicle destroys their car, resulting in the death of all except Dumas.

The film concludes with a victory parade where Dumas, visibly affected by recent events, is scolded for keeping his cap on; he responds that his mind was elsewhere.

Cast

• Hardy Krüger as Captain Ludwig von Stegel
• Lino Ventura as Brigadier Théo Dumas
• Maurice Biraud as François Gensac
• Charles Aznavour as Samuel Goldmann
• Germán Cobos as Jean Ramirez
• Ellen Bahl as Frau von Stegel
• Roland Malet as Prisoner alongside Ramirez
• Carlos Mendy as German soldier in desert with von Stegel
• Jacques Préboist as Prisoner alongside Ramirez
• Lorenzo Robledo as German soldier in desert with von Stegel
• Dominique Rozan as Parisian on the Champs-Elysées
• Fernando Sancho as German corporal at the oasis
• Enrique Ávila as German soldier playing cards

Bibliography

• Hammer, Tad Bentley. International Film Prizes: An Encyclopedia. Garland, 1991.