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The Desert Song (1953)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... See full summary » Director:H. Bruce Humberstone |
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Title: The Desert Song (1953)
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Cast
| Cast overview: | |||
| Kathryn Grayson | ... | ||
| Gordon MacRae | ... |
El Khobar /
Paul Bonnard
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Steve Cochran | ... | |
| Raymond Massey | ... |
Sheik Yousseff
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Dick Wesson | ... | |
| Allyn Ann McLerie | ... |
Azuri
(as Allyn McLerie)
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| Ray Collins | ... |
Gen. Birabeau
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| Paul Picerni | ... |
Hassan
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| Frank DeKova | ... |
Mindar
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| William Conrad | ... |
Lachmed
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Trevor Bardette | ... |
Neri
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Mark Dana | ... |
Lt. Duvalle
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
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. Written by Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>
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The most glorious musical adventure of all! See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
30 May 1953 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
El Khobar - Schrecken der Wüste See more »Filming Locations:
Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USACompany Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)Color:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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Benjy Kidd: It's you - the one with the body!
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(uncredited)
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, Frank Mandel and Otto A. Harbach
Sung by Gordon MacRae and Kathryn Grayson
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The Desert Song opened at the Casino Theatre on November 30, 1926 and ran for 471 performances. See more »Goofs
When Margot Birabeau (Kathryn Grayson) is singing "One Flower in Your Garden" she reaches over to a rose bush and removes a long-stemmed rose with no effort instead of having to cut it free. She then handles the stem without being pricked by the thorns, revealing that the rose is artificial. See more »Quotes
Azuri: It's you - the one with the face!Benjy Kidd: It's you - the one with the body!
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Soundtracks
"The Desert Song"(uncredited)
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, Frank Mandel and Otto A. Harbach
Sung by Gordon MacRae and Kathryn Grayson
See more »
Gordon Macrae does look a lot like Superman and Clark Kent and in this film, he has a secret identity as a mild mannered professor as contrasted with his hero persona, El Khobar.
I must admit I was a collector of Batman, Superman, The Flash, Green Lantern and Silent Knight comics when I first saw this movie as a boy in knee pants. But even then, I knew a good song when I heard it. So well into adulthood when this movie was re-released, I made it a point to see it again. I have borrowed the video version twice and I plan to do so again. I simply can't let go of the melodies of The Desert Song and One Alone.
On Gordon MacRae, what can I say? It doesn't seem fair that one so handsome could also be the greatest singer on celluloid and besides, he is funny. Spoiler: Even my little sons who had no clue about Broadway musicals were in stitches when he pulled that stunt with the ethnic musical instrument that sounded like a cross between the bleating of an ass and a sheep.
Kathryn Grayson who strikes me as prim and proper with a seriously classical singing voice gamely plays the role of a flirt. I am sure if she didn't hit it very big in the movies, she would have been the resident soprano of a major opera theatre. She is always a treat to watch and listen to.