Swashbuckling, erratic, fun, patriotic, packed with action. The central story is melodramatic and silly but works for the tone. You wouldn't buy it in a Western front movie but the Arabian front was where Lawrence of Arabian was running around dressed as an arab so it suited more romantic outlandish tales like Betty Bryant dressing up as a boy to spy.
It's surprisingly sexy with Bryant watching three diggers bathe, and Bryant and Taylor having sex in a hut during the night while it rains outside - Chauvel movies were more adult than the typical Hollywood movie of the time.
Grant Taylor is terrific value as the cocky, swaggering, playful Red and Chips Rafferty very good as the larrikin friend - he bounces off the screen. Pat Twohill is fine, just has less of a distinctive character to play - in Rats of Tobruk Chauvel fixed that by having Peter Finch play the third friend all soulfully (the one area that film is better than this).
Impressive production values - Arab markets, small towns, prison cells, battles over the sand dunes, especially the final charge. The Germans chew the scenery Eric Von Stroheim style. Rousing. Silly. Fun.
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