The Desert Song (1953)

Music Romance

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.

Updated May 29 2020

Releases:

US -

1953-05-30

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Keywords:

morocco foreign legion musical sheik arab

FACTS

Runtime: 110 mins Rating: 6.3 Tag Line: The Best Loved of all Musical Adventures!

Cast

Raymond Massey

Sheik Yousseff

Ray Collins

Gen. Birabeau

William Conrad

Lachmed

Frank De Kova

Mindar

Allyn Ann McLerie

Azuri

Paul Picerni

Hassan

Steve Cochran

Captain Claude Fontaine

Gordon MacRae

El Khobar / Paul Bonnard