The Desert Song

1h 50min

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.

Cast

Kathryn Grayson

Kathryn Grayson

Margot Birabeau
Gordon MacRae

Gordon MacRae

El Khobar / Paul Bonnard
Steve Cochran

Steve Cochran

Captain Claude Fontaine
Raymond Massey

Raymond Massey

Sheik Yousseff
Dick Wesson

Dick Wesson

Benjamin 'Benjy' Kidd
Ray Collins

Ray Collins

Gen. Birabeau
Mark Dana

Mark Dana

Lt. Duvalle
Bhogwan Singh

Bhogwan Singh

Old Villager
Jack Tornek

Jack Tornek

Riff Guard
Cosmo Sardo

Cosmo Sardo

Legionnaire
Charles Perry

Charles Perry

Legionnaire (uncredited)

Release date

30th May 1953

Status

Released

Spoken languages

English