Shorts worn in 'The English Patient'

[Doug C]

I know, I know.. another character specific clothing question. But basically I was wondering if anyone knew what shorts Count Amashi (sp?) was wearing in the desert scenes of the English Patient. I mean maybe they "German or British Tropical" or whatever. They were a fuller and longer cut than most shorts you see of that era. Of course they may not have been military at all, I don't know.

Doug C

 

[BellyTank]

Have a look in this thread-

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=7639&highlight=knees+brown

B
T

 

[Mojave Jack]

Doug, try doing a search on eBay on Luftwaffe Tropical Shorts (he spells it "Luffwaffe") or Sahariana Shorts (or better yet just go straight to his eBay store.) [Link removed]. The only size they don't seem to have pretty much all the time is mine, of course (34"), but the repros run a pretty reasonable $40. The Luftwaffe shorts run longer and baggier than the Heer (Army) shorts, and so are probably closer to the Count de Almásy's shorts. I've not gotten a pair myself, so I can't speak to the quality, though.

You can also find a pair of Ghurka shorts, either on eBay, where post-war versions pop up fairly regularly, or from Bill's Khakis, which unfortunatley are both expensive and not authentic. (They have a cargo pocket on one leg, and may have a zipper.) If you want strictly authentic, the German repros are probably your best bet. The Ghurka shorts were an Indian Army issue item, and became general issue towards the end fo the war and afterwards into the 50s or 60s, so their not hard to find.