Taken prisoner in the Libyan desert, Sergeant David Thatcher (Victor Mature) – an American serving with the British Royal Tank Corps in North Africa during WWII – escapes from the Italian prisoner-of-war camp ‘Campo 30’ along with the orthodox and disciplined Sgt. Kendall (Leo Genn); Trooper “Tiger” Noakes (Anthony Newley), a cockney and born comedian; Bartlett (Sean Kelly), a phoney Aussie; and a taciturn Pole (Bonar Colleano) who is obsessed with the idea of killing Germans.
With the aid of a lovely Italian girl named Carola (Luciana Paluzzi) they obtain provisions from an Italian Officers’ Club but are almost apprehended, and in the ensuing gunfight, Carola is killed.
Thatcher is wanted by the Gestapo because of his pre-war anti-Nazi activities in Europe (he had tried to assassinate Josef Goebbels) and the fugitives are pursued relentlessly across the North African wilderness.
They battle the Italian camp guards, then the heat and the dryness of the desert itself.
The Gestapo enlists the aid of anti-British Arab tribesmen who eventually overpower the group in a wadi, killing Bartlett.
When Thatcher refuses, despite torture, to sign a confession of espionage that would implicate the US Government, sympathetic German officer Captain Ritter (Alfred Burke) – who is ashamed of Gestapo methods – helps them to escape before committing suicide.
As they get away Kendall is severely wounded, and later the Pole – who wantonly murders every German they meet – is killed in a skirmish with German tanks as the fugitives are caught in the murderous crossfire of a gigantic tank battle ranging from Benghazi to Tobruk.
As approaching British troops put the enemy to flight, Kendall dies, leaving Thatcher and Noakes the sole survivors of the breakout from Campo 30.
No Time To Die – released in the US as Tank Force! – is a colourful and thrilling blend of fact and fiction, competently acted and directed. It’s Boys Own material at its best.
Sgt David Thatcher
Victor Mature Sgt. Kendall
Leo Genn Trooper “Tiger” Noakes
Anthony Newley The Pole
Bonar Colleano Carola
Luciana Paluzzi Bartlett
Sean Kelly Johnson
Kenneth Fortescue Italian Girl
Anne Aubrey Camp Commandant
George Coulouris Captain Ritter
Alfred Burke Patterson
David Lodge Sheikh
Maxwell Shaw Silverio
Alan Tilvern German Sergeant
George Pravda 1st English Soldier
Percy Herbert 2nd English Soldier
Kenneth Cope Alberto
Robert Rietty SS Colonel
Martin Boddey Italian Cook
Andreas Malandrinos German Colonel
Richard Marner German Corporal
Ernst Walder Italian Officer
Peter Elliott 2nd Italian Officer
Julian Sherrier Italian Driver
Robert Bruce Mustapha
Bob Simmons
Director Terence Young
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With the aid of a lovely Italian girl named Carola (Luciana Paluzzi) they obtain provisions from an Italian Officers’ Club but are almost apprehended, and in the ensuing gunfight, Carola is killed.
As they get away Kendall is severely wounded, and later the Pole – who wantonly murders every German they meet – is killed in a skirmish with German tanks as the fugitives are caught in the murderous crossfire of a gigantic tank battle ranging from Benghazi to Tobruk.
