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Poster for The Desert Song

The Desert Song

Seen it?

1953 | 110 min | Music, Romance

Monday Morning Maybeearly rating

Why it’s a Monday Morning Maybe

With almost no lasting buzz and soft box office, this one could be a tough watch. Keep your phone handy.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
If you count yourself among people who'll be humming afterwards and people who like their stories with a little heart-flutter, this one's for you. The music is woven into the story, not just laid on top.
The mood
Warm and romantic.
The pace
Well paced, at 1 hr 50 min.
What might put you off
  • Made in 1953: an older pace and style.
  • Skip it if romance makes you roll your eyes.

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.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsNot counted

    Not enough reviews on record yet

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $2 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 6K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone

  • Kathryn GraysonMargot Birabeau
  • Gordon MacRaeEl Khobar / Paul Bonnard
  • Steve CochranCaptain Claude Fontaine
  • Raymond MasseySheik Yousseff
  • Dick WessonBenjamin 'Benjy' Kidd
  • Allyn Ann McLerieAzuri
  • Ray CollinsGen. Birabeau
  • Paul PicerniHassan
  • Frank De KovaMindar
  • William ConradLachmed