This is a fairly frenetic farce which stars the marvellous Peter Ustinov.In this film each of the countries fighting in the desert occupies the hotel in turn and brings with it their own nationalistic quirks.There are some funny moments but unfortunately at 96 minutes it is just to long.Certainly by the time the French take over you are just wishing for it to come to a quick conclusion.The cast is first rate and does the best they can with the somewhat limited material.Ustinov is funny as the hotel proprietor.It was truly the world,s loss when he died .He was a uniquely gifted personality and there are not a lot of those around.
10 Reviews
An early forerunner to 'Allo 'Allo
Leofwine_draca29 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
HOTEL SAHARA is a British black and white wartime farce set in North Africa during the Second World War. The two main cast members are a youthful Peter Ustinov and an ever-gorgeous Yvonne De Carlo. They play the exasperated proprietors of a hotel who have to change their attitudes and allegiances every time a new squad of soldiers shows up, because due to their important position in the desert they're constantly visited by the Germans, Italians, British, and French. Although this is the kind of film which feels very dated to modern audiences, it reminded me a little of 'ALLO 'ALLO and it has the same sense of anything-goes fun. The solid supporting cast, including Bill Owen and Roland Culver, also helps to increase the enjoyment factor.
Frenzied wartime changes around a desert oasis
SimonJack6 March 2019
"Hotel Sahara" is billed as a comedy, romance and war film. It takes place during the early days of World War II in North Africa. And, various men in the uniforms of Italy, England, Germany and France are part of the story. But that's about all there is to do with the war, except for some firing of rifles in one scene and a couple of mines exploding. The romance is questionable, and the comedy is very slight. What there is of it is situational.
There's no dialog in this film that will make one laugh of even chuckle. There are no antics, pratfalls or incidents of slapstick. The film has considerable frenzied activity, mostly with the hotel staff scurrying about to change motifs from one nationality to another. Changing a wall picture hanging from Mussolini to Hitler is the height of humor.
Yvonne De Carlo sings some songs - it seems to be a vehicle mostly for her to play different roles as the fiancé of the hotel owner. Peter Ustinov is good in his role, and most of the rest of the cast are fine. So, just for their effort and a good set with filming I stretch and give this film six stars. But, if one is looking for a good comedy or a time to have some laughter, it's best to try another film.
There's no dialog in this film that will make one laugh of even chuckle. There are no antics, pratfalls or incidents of slapstick. The film has considerable frenzied activity, mostly with the hotel staff scurrying about to change motifs from one nationality to another. Changing a wall picture hanging from Mussolini to Hitler is the height of humor.
Yvonne De Carlo sings some songs - it seems to be a vehicle mostly for her to play different roles as the fiancé of the hotel owner. Peter Ustinov is good in his role, and most of the rest of the cast are fine. So, just for their effort and a good set with filming I stretch and give this film six stars. But, if one is looking for a good comedy or a time to have some laughter, it's best to try another film.
Uproarious farce
glenw939816 March 2004
Uproarious World War II farce about the hotel of the title. Yvonne DeCarlo and Peter Ustinov as the proprietors, trying to survive the war but sitting in just the right place in the desert that the hotel changes sides depending on how the battle is going that week. The British move in, then out as the Germans move in, then out. Yvonne DeCarlo changes her personality, her wardrobe and her musical numbers to fit whoever the current occupiers happen to be. Hilarious ending has all sides occupying the hotel all at once. And you thought Yvonne DeCarlo was just Herman Munster's wife! Too bad this one isn't on video somewhere. Well worth a look if you happen to run across it.
Hotel Sahara
henry8-317 August 2022
Peter Ustinov and his fiancé Yvonne de Carlo run a hotel in the middle of the Sahara during WWII. When things get too close for comfort they have to react quickly to keep the warring countries, who keep visiting, content, if they are to stay alive and keep the hotel going.
Enjoyable enough farce with Ustinov and Co working tirelessly and frantically to convince the English, French, Italians and Germans that they're on their side as each visits in turn. Trouble is, this is supposed to be a farce but it just isn't frantic, silly or frankly quick enough to get any big laughs. It needed more confusion, mistaken identity, slamming doors and running around. It tries, but not enough.
Enjoyable enough farce with Ustinov and Co working tirelessly and frantically to convince the English, French, Italians and Germans that they're on their side as each visits in turn. Trouble is, this is supposed to be a farce but it just isn't frantic, silly or frankly quick enough to get any big laughs. It needed more confusion, mistaken identity, slamming doors and running around. It tries, but not enough.
Needs to be trimmed!
JohnHowardReid14 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Copyright 15 October 1951 by Tower Films, Ltd. U.S. release through United Artists Pictures: 15 October 1951. New York opening at the Rialto: 31 December 1951. U.K. release through General Film Distributors: 6 August 1951. Australian release through British Empire Films: 10 October 1952. 8,649 feet. 96 minutes. Cut to 87 minutes in the U.S.A. and Australia. A Tower Films Production, presented by the J. Arthur Rank Organisation.
SYNOPSIS: When war comes to the desert, Emad (Peter Ustinov) the proprietor of a luxury hotel by Kafka Oasis, finds himself, his fiancée Yasmin (Yvonne De Carlo) and his future mother-in-law Madame Pallas (Mireille Perrey) engulfed in the conflict by the sudden declaration of hostilities by the Italians.
Against his better judgment he is prevailed upon by Yasmin to remain, face the music and protect his property, for therein lies their future life together.
COMMENT: There was a promising comic central idea at the back of this tired, dispirited, slow-moving and lackluster farce; but few of its comic potentialities have been realized on the screen — thanks to a largely witless script that, like a stage play, is wholly confined within the precincts of the Hotel Sahara (except for a couple of brief scenes).
The film is also far too talkative, and is peopled by one- dimensional characters that not even a talent like Ustinov's can illuminate, hampered as he is by Annakin's slow and painstakingly routine direction.
Miss De Carlo looks pretty in her extensive wardrobe and even dances and sings a bit. Tomlinson has a small part, Culver is his usual self and the rest of the players are somewhat dull.
Cutting would help.
SYNOPSIS: When war comes to the desert, Emad (Peter Ustinov) the proprietor of a luxury hotel by Kafka Oasis, finds himself, his fiancée Yasmin (Yvonne De Carlo) and his future mother-in-law Madame Pallas (Mireille Perrey) engulfed in the conflict by the sudden declaration of hostilities by the Italians.
Against his better judgment he is prevailed upon by Yasmin to remain, face the music and protect his property, for therein lies their future life together.
COMMENT: There was a promising comic central idea at the back of this tired, dispirited, slow-moving and lackluster farce; but few of its comic potentialities have been realized on the screen — thanks to a largely witless script that, like a stage play, is wholly confined within the precincts of the Hotel Sahara (except for a couple of brief scenes).
The film is also far too talkative, and is peopled by one- dimensional characters that not even a talent like Ustinov's can illuminate, hampered as he is by Annakin's slow and painstakingly routine direction.
Miss De Carlo looks pretty in her extensive wardrobe and even dances and sings a bit. Tomlinson has a small part, Culver is his usual self and the rest of the players are somewhat dull.
Cutting would help.
"In the desert water is thicker than blood and far more plentiful!"
richardchatten15 August 2022
Peter Ustinov in a fez is of course hilarious in his first lead for a director other than himself, but who'd had thought Yvonne De Carlo could have been so funny? (Particularly the way she demonstrates what "a creature of infinite variety" she is by swiftly switching personalities to accommodate Albert Lieven.)
Blessed with appropriate music by Benjamin Frankel, the obvious phoniness of the desert set which the cute little vehicles trumble along only makes the whole thing even funnier.
Blessed with appropriate music by Benjamin Frankel, the obvious phoniness of the desert set which the cute little vehicles trumble along only makes the whole thing even funnier.
Zany little post war war movie.
mark.waltz14 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
A fun cast led by Peter Ustinov and Yvonne de Carlo makes this odd little comedy quite enjoyable. The war is coming to a close, and troops of varying nationalities and sides start to show up for various reasons at the desert Hotel Sahara run by Ustinov with DiCarlo its main entertainer, and quite alluring. rumors of the Italian army showing up are abound, but it's actually the Germans who eventually show up, and there are also British soldiers led by Roland Culver and David Tomlinson on a mission there as well. The Germans of course are imperious, immediately ordering DiCarlo to put on something a little bit more modest (which gets an amusing look from her), and of course there's also the American touch as well later on.
There's not really a strong slot in this comedy, just the conflicts of running a hotel that is thrust into chaos during war, and the most amusing scene shows the end of the war where differing sides appear to be getting along in harmony. Ustinov gives a scene-stealing performance, and de Carlo gets to perform a few musical numbers as well. Poor Tomlinson ends up in drag, several explosions from within the hotel turn out to be not what is suspected, but it's all pretty innocuous and silly. Have there been an actual plot rather than just a bunch of running around (like an old theatrical farce), this could have been a dl more memorable film. But Ustinov and de Carlo will make it worth seeking out as it is very rare, but easily forgotten after it's over.
There's not really a strong slot in this comedy, just the conflicts of running a hotel that is thrust into chaos during war, and the most amusing scene shows the end of the war where differing sides appear to be getting along in harmony. Ustinov gives a scene-stealing performance, and de Carlo gets to perform a few musical numbers as well. Poor Tomlinson ends up in drag, several explosions from within the hotel turn out to be not what is suspected, but it's all pretty innocuous and silly. Have there been an actual plot rather than just a bunch of running around (like an old theatrical farce), this could have been a dl more memorable film. But Ustinov and de Carlo will make it worth seeking out as it is very rare, but easily forgotten after it's over.
Classic slap stick
sg-789497 July 2018
Enjoyable plot.
plan9923 June 2023
There must have been hotels etc. Which actually experienced this type of problem with towns and villages changing hands more than once. Peter Ustinov was perfect for this part as were all the others cast. It did not look any any footage was shot outside of a studio as mentioned elsewhere as it all looked very much studio shot with a few lorry loads of sand spread around a bit. An amusing tale with plenty of odd characters to keep an audience entertained for the running time, it did not seem to be too long at any point. Well worth watching and no wonder the leading lady attracted the attention of soldiers of various nationalities.
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