Ameriatch One of the best films i have seen

Dorathen Better Late Then Never

Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Fairaher The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

MartinHafer The plot of this movie seemed to make little sense, so I did a bit of research on the web and it appears to actually be based on real events from WWII--some of the strangest events you could imagine. Richard Widmark stars as a leader of a group of US Navy personnel stationed in Mongolia--YES, Mongolia! It seems they are a very isolated weather station but why the Navy was sent there is beyond me! In case they are attacked by the Japanese, they enlist the help of local herdsmen by providing them with nice new saddles--YES, saddles. As I said, it's all very hard to imagine but based on real events.Unfortunately for our small but intrepid group, their base IS attacked by the Japanese Air Force and their equipment ruined. As they are in the middle of no where and the American commanders must assume they are dead, they seem to have no choice to to make their way east--though the coast is over 800 miles from their base.While this is certainly not a great film, it's a great one for someone who loves WWII history--as it certainly doesn't get any more unusual than this. Plus, the film is enjoyable, well-acted and likable. Truly an odd movie but reasonably well made with its mostly American-Indian supporting cast.

Spikeopath Destination Gobi is directed by Robert Wise and written by Everett Freeman. It stars Richard Widmark, Don Taylor, Casey Adams & Murvyn Vye. "In the Navy records in Washington, there is an obscure entry reading 'Saddles for Gobi.' This film is based on the story behind that entry--one of the strangest stories of World War II."An odd story makes for an oddly entertaining yarn as Widmark and co troop across the Gobi Desert after a Japanese air attack on their weather station base. Other problems exist too, as the Mongol tribe they have befriended may not actually be friends. Poor Widmark, he's a Navy man out in the desert and the motley crew under his command are getting rather restless. Amazingly based on a true incident, tho we can safely assume there's much poetic license used by the makers, Destination Gobi has a nice blend of action, drama, adventure and comedy. The cast work well as a unit and run with the oddity of the plot, while Wise directs with customary assuredness. It's not one you would sit thru too often once viewed for the first time, but while it's on it's never less than engaging . 6.5/10

mulveymeister The UKs Channel 4 TV is showing a series of WW2 action films. They vary in quality, but this is the worst so far. The acting is wooden, the film is clichéd, the screenplay is lazy and the Mongolian culture is so insulted by Hollywood's 1950s image of indigenous peoples. Look at the wonderful family film 'The Cave of the Yellow Dog' to see the Mongols as they wish to be viewed. Find some wonderful films starring Richard Widmark (How the West was Won, Judgement at Nuremberg or The Alamo for example) rather than this rubbish. Whilst Everett Freeman was a prolific Hollywood writer, this was Edmond G. Love's only film. I am not surprised to see a long list of uncredited actors. Robert Wise was such an accomplished director, he must have been very inexperienced to do this work. He went on to direct classics like West Side Story, the Sound of Music and even Star Trek. This should be allowed to slip away uncredited to protect his good name.I cannot give more than 1 out of 10.

whitefell My father was a part of this group, they were actually called SACO. He liked this movie, thought it was somewhat accurate. He was a Navy Chief Petty Officer, a Medic, he loved Mongolia, it reminded him of Montana, where he grew up, and he admired the people. He liked the humor in it. They were actually a sort of obscure, almost "guerilla" group. Kind of like Navy Calvary. I thought it was called "Saddles for SACO", (maybe another earlier title?). He always felt it was a great mistake to underestimate the indigenous people, he used to use Mr.Custer as an example. All the West Point training or Annapolis , for that , purpose , may not help you in the end.And he told me, all Americans think they're John Wayne, unfortunately, those ponies didn't always know.