John Ford’s powerful The Lost Patrol details a doomed troop of British soldiers stranded in the Mesopotamian desert during World War I. When the commanding officer is killed by a sniper, Seargent Victor McLagen must take charge to help his men survive their unseen assailants while battling the desperation of the baking sun.
“Three main things distinguish [The Lost Patrol]: Ford’s adroit avoidance of ‘Foreign Legion’ clichés in the characterisation and plotting; Max Steiner’s excellent score, which won an Oscar; and Karloff’s extraordinary ‘expressionist’ performance as a soldier convinced that doom is at hand. The latter, in particular, represents an aspect of Ford’s work that is often forgotten: a bold use of visual and dramatic stylisation” – Time Out
