It's a good story and has some pretty good acting throughout. It is fun seeing a young Peter Finch whom I am only really familiar with from
Network. There is a cattle driving scene early on that made me think of
Red River which would come out 4 years later. Of course it is on a smaller scale here, but photographed well. The desert stuff was pretty goods too, though it doesn't have the production value of
Sahara from the year before.
The night scenes were really dark and muddy looking. It made it hard to tell what was going on, which may have been unintentionally interesting. A sort of way of showing the fog of war; Just sounds without seeing what is happening.
The worst part for me came at what could have been the best part. They are trapped in this city surrounded by troops far outnumbering their own. A broadcast comes through from the enemy trying to break their spirits by telling them how little hope there is. How they are cut off and alone and surrender is the only option. At this point one of the soldiers gives a rendition of the Saint Crispins Day speech from Henry V. This is a speech so powerful that even just reading the written words gives me chills, a speech I would never believe you could really screw up too bad. But here it is so flat and boring and has no impact at all. It is unfortunate because it is a perfect situation for such a monologue, but alas, it is a failure which is very disappointing.
It is competent film making, obviously inspired and informed by other features of the time from Hollywood. It is nothing groundbreaking, but a solid effort.