The Desert Song (1953)
The Best Loved of all Musical Adventures!
Shiek Yousseff, poses as a friend of the French while secretly plotting to overthrow them. Apposing Yousseff are the Riffs, whose secret leader, The Red Shadow, is Paul Bonnard, a professor who is studying the desert, and whose attacks on the supply trains intended for Yousseff keep the Riff villages in food. Foreign Legion General Birabeau arrives to conduct an investigation, accompanied by his daughter, Margot. Birabeau hires Bonnard to tutor her, and she is attracted to a Legionaire captain, Claud Fontaine. While the general, Bonnard and Fontaine pay a visit to Yousseff, an American newspaper man, Benji Kidd, discovers a secret way in and out of Yousseff's palace, with the aid of Azuri, a dancing girl in love with Bonnard. The latter is forced to resume his role as the Riffs leader, and kidnap Margot until he can convince her of Yousseff's treachery. But Yousseff's men attack the Riff camp and take Margot prisoner.
Cast
- Kathryn Grayson - Margot Birabeau
- Gordon MacRae - El Khobar / Paul Bonnard
- Steve Cochran - Captain Claude Fontaine
- Raymond Massey - Sheik Yousseff
- Dick Wesson - Benjamin 'Benjy' Kidd
- Allyn Ann McLerie - Azuri
- Ray Collins - Gen. Birabeau
- Paul Picerni - Hassan
- Frank De Kova - Mindar
- William Conrad - Lachmed
Screenplay
- Roland Kibbee (Screenplay)
- Otto A. Harbach (Theatre Play)
- Frank Mandel (Theatre Play)
- Oscar Hammerstein II (Theatre Play)
- Laurence Schwab (Theatre Play)
Themes
Musical Spectacle
Keywords
foreign legion, morocco, musical, sheik, arab
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is The Desert Song about?
- Shiek Yousseff, poses as a friend of the French while secretly plotting to overthrow them. Apposing Yousseff are the Riffs, whose secret leader, The Red Shadow, is Paul Bonnard, a professor who is studying the desert, and whose attacks on the supply trains intended for Yousseff keep the Riff villages in food. Foreign Legion General Birabeau arrives to conduct an investigation, accompanied by his daughter, Margot. Birabeau hires Bonnard to tutor her, and she is attracted to a Legionaire captain, Claud Fontaine. While the general, Bonnard and Fontaine pay a visit to Yousseff, an American newspaper man, Benji Kidd, discovers a secret way in and out of Yousseff's palace, with the aid of Azuri, a dancing girl in love with Bonnard. The latter is forced to resume his role as the Riffs leader, and kidnap Margot until he can convince her of Yousseff's treachery. But Yousseff's men attack the Riff camp and take Margot prisoner.
- Who directed The Desert Song?
- The Desert Song was directed by H. Bruce Humberstone.
- Who stars in The Desert Song?
- The Desert Song stars Kathryn Grayson, Gordon MacRae, Steve Cochran, Raymond Massey, Dick Wesson, Allyn Ann McLerie.
- How long is The Desert Song?
- The Desert Song has a runtime of 1h 50m (110 minutes).
- What genre is The Desert Song?
- The Desert Song is a Music, Romance film.
- Where was The Desert Song produced?
- The Desert Song was produced in United States of America.
- What are the themes of The Desert Song?
- The themes of The Desert Song include: Musical Spectacle.