The literal translation of the title of this movie is: Exterminating bandits in the desert.
This movie, like most Chinese war movies, is based on the true story that actually happened. It has a little historical value in that it gives an accurate depiction of the calvary troops, which was disbanded in most countries after the end of World War II.
However, this is a different political propaganda of the Great Leap Forward era in that unlike other political propaganda of its time, this one does not directly eulogizing the Great Leap Forward, but instead, looks on something in the past, in an effort to divert public attension away from criticizing the absurdity of the Great Leap Forward. Therefore, the movie cannot deserve any high grade.
