Alright, fellow tapeheads, settle in. Remember flicking through the action section at Blockbuster, the fluorescent lights humming overhead, searching for that perfect Friday night fix? Sometimes you grabbed the big blockbuster, sure, but other times you stumbled onto something… unexpected. Like finding James Belushi commanding a tank in the middle of World War II. Yes, you heard me. Pop the tape in, adjust the tracking, because we’re diving into the dusty, explosive world of Sahara (1995).
This isn't your grandad's Sahara, though it walks deliberately in the giant footsteps of the 1943 Humphrey Bogart classic. Instead of Bogie's weary intensity, we get Belushi as Master Sergeant Joe Gunn, leading a motley crew of Allied soldiers stranded in the Libyan desert after the fall of Tobruk. Their chariot? A lone M3 Lee tank affectionately nicknamed "Lulubelle." Their goal? Survive the heat, find water, and somehow outwit a relentless battalion of Germans hot on their tail.
### Belushi Behind the Cannon
Let’s address the elephant – or rather, the tank – in the room. James Belushi, known more for comedies like Trading Places (1983) or his everyman charm in films like K-9 (1989), stepping into a role immortalized by Humphrey Bogart? It sounds like a dare. And honestly, Belushi doesn't try to be Bogart. He brings his own brand of gruff, working-class authority to Gunn. It’s less world-weary cynicism, more blue-collar grit under fire. Does it completely work? Maybe not for Bogart purists, but for a 90s cable movie actioner, Belushi grounds the film with a relatable, stressed-out determination that feels surprisingly right for the era. He sells the desperation and the sudden bursts of leadership needed to keep his disparate crew alive.
### Trenchard-Smith Delivers the Goods
Behind the camera, we have the legendary Australian action maestro Brian Trenchard-Smith. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, think The Man from Hong Kong (1975) or the absolutely wild Turkey Shoot (1982). Trenchard-Smith was a master of delivering maximum bang for your buck, often working with modest budgets but packing his films with incredible practical stunts and relentless pacing. Sahara is no exception. He knew exactly what kind of movie this needed to be: lean, mean, and full of things blowing up for real.
Forget glossy CGI vistas. Trenchard-Smith, filming not in Africa but swaps the Sahara for the rugged landscapes of Queensland, Australia (a clever cost-saving move that hardly registers on screen), puts you right there in the grit and dust. Retro Fun Fact: The production actually managed to secure and restore a genuine M3 Lee tank for the film, giving "Lulubelle" an authentic weight and presence that no digital creation could replicate back then. Seeing that vintage steel rumble across the desert landscape felt incredibly tangible on those old tube TVs.
### Real Steel, Real Explosions
And the action! This is where Sahara truly earns its spot on the VHS Heaven shelf. Trenchard-Smith stages some genuinely thrilling sequences. The tank-on-tank encounters, the desperate defense of a desert well – it all feels visceral and dangerous because, well, it was. Remember how impactful those squibs looked back then, registering bullet hits with a jolt? Sahara delivers that in spades. You see real vehicles getting wrecked, real fireballs bloom against the desert sky, and stunt performers earning their paychecks. There's a Stuka dive-bombing sequence that feels genuinely harrowing, achieved through clever camerawork, miniatures, and good old-fashioned explosions. Compared to the often weightless physics of modern digital effects, there's a grounded reality here, a sense of genuine mechanical threat that hits different. Wasn't that raw, physical impact part of the thrill of 90s action?
Alongside Belushi, the supporting cast does solid work holding down the fort. Aussie actors Jerome Ehlers (as the pragmatic British officer) and Alan David Lee add capable support, filling out the diverse band of brothers facing impossible odds. The script, penned by David Phillips, hits the expected beats of camaraderie under pressure, sacrifice, and the grim realities of war, keeping things moving efficiently between the set pieces.
### A Solid Cable & Video Store Warrior
Premiering on Showtime in the US before hitting video stores everywhere, Sahara knew its audience. It wasn't aiming for Oscars; it was aiming for action fans hungry for straightforward, well-executed thrills. I distinctly remember grabbing this tape, intrigued by the cover art and Belushi's unexpected presence. It delivered exactly what it promised: ninety minutes of desert warfare, tough guys, and satisfyingly loud explosions. It might not have the iconic status of its 1943 predecessor, but it carved out its own niche as a dependable action rental. Retro Fun Fact: While a remake, its direct-to-cable/VHS path meant it reached a different audience, becoming a familiar sight for movie buffs browsing those seemingly endless rental aisles.
Does it hold up? If you appreciate the craft of practical effects and the directorial efficiency of someone like Trenchard-Smith, absolutely. It’s a film that understands its limitations but confidently plays to its strengths – namely, blowing things up convincingly in the middle of nowhere.
VHS Heaven Rating: 7/10
The rating reflects a film that delivers solidly on its B-movie action promises. Belushi is surprisingly effective, the supporting cast is game, and Brian Trenchard-Smith directs the practical action with a seasoned, confident hand that makes the tank battles genuinely exciting. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it rolls over the bumps with explosive charm.
Final Thought: Bogart might raise an eyebrow at this update, but for a shot of pure, unadulterated 90s practical action filmmaking – complete with real tanks and tangible grit – Sahara ’95 still fires on all cylinders. A worthy relic from the golden age of the video store action aisle.