▁the ▁novel ▁of ▁the ▁same ▁name ▁by ▁British ▁author ▁Christopher ▁Land on . ▁Direct ed ▁by ▁J . ▁Lee ▁Thompson ▁and ▁st arring ▁John ▁M ills , ▁the ▁film ▁was ▁a ▁pri zew inner ▁at ▁the ▁ 8 th ▁Berlin ▁International ▁Film ▁Festival . ▁Under ▁the ▁title ▁Des ert ▁Att ack , ▁a ▁short ened , ▁ 7 9 - min ute ▁version ▁of ▁the ▁film ▁was ▁released ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 1 ; ▁Craig ▁Butler ▁later ▁referred ▁to ▁related ▁versions ▁as ▁" n ons ens ical ▁pieces ". ▁ ▁Plot ▁Captain ▁An son , ▁the ▁officer ▁command ing ▁a ▁British ▁R ASC ▁Motor ▁Am bul ance ▁Company , ▁is ▁suffering ▁from ▁battle ▁fat igue ▁and ▁alco hol ism . ▁During ▁the ▁Western ▁Des ert ▁Camp aign ▁of ▁the ▁Second ▁World ▁War , ▁when ▁it ▁is ▁apparent ▁that ▁Tob ru k ▁is ▁about ▁to ▁be ▁bes ie ged ▁by ▁the ▁German ▁A frika ▁Kor ps , ▁An son ▁and ▁most ▁of ▁his ▁unit ▁are ▁ordered ▁to ▁ev acu ate ▁to ▁Alexand ria . ▁During ▁the ▁ev acu ation , ▁An son , ▁MS M ▁Tom ▁P ugh ▁and ▁two ▁n urs es , ▁Sister ▁D iana ▁Mur do ch ▁and ▁Sister ▁Den ise ▁N orton , ▁become ▁separated ▁from ▁the ▁others ▁in ▁an ▁Austin ▁K 2 / Y ▁amb ul ance , ▁nick named ▁' K aty '. ▁The ▁quart et ▁decide ▁to ▁drive ▁across ▁the ▁desert ▁back ▁to ▁British ▁lines . ▁ ▁As ▁they ▁depart ▁they ▁come