Main Cast: John Boles, Louise Fazenda, Johnny Arthur, Edward Martindel
Release Year: 1929
Country: US
Run Time: 125 minutes
Plot
After literally inventing the movie musical with The Jazz Singer, Warner Bros. purchased the motion picture rights to the evergreen Sigmund Romberg/Oscar Hammerstein II 2nd operetta The Desert Song. Although the results looked like a photographed stage play (a common failing of early-talkie songfests), the unforgettable Romberg-Hammerstein tunes (The Riff Song, One Alone, the title number) more than carried the day. John Boles stars as The Red Shadow, the Robin Hood-like leader of the Riffs and the bane of the existence of General Bierbieu (Edward Martindel). The good General has another cross to bear in the form of his nerdish, lily-livered son Pierre, who is likewise despised by heroine Margot (Carlotta King). Little does anyone suspect that the wimpy Pierre and the dashing Red Shadow are one in the same! Myrna Loy is exotica personified as the Red Shadow's native sweetheart Azuri (her navel-exposing harem outfits must be seen to be believed), while comedy relief is supplied by "nance" comedian Johnny Arthur as effeminate reporter Benny Kidd, and Louise Fazenda as Benny's rambunctious assistant Susan. Partially filmed in Technicolor, this version of The Desert Song, and its 1943 remake, were long withheld from distribution due to the rather lukewarm 1953 version, likewise produced by Warner Bros., which starred Gordon MacRae and Kathryn Grayson. A "pocket" version of The Desert Song, the 2-reel musical The Red Shadow, was released by Warners' short-subject subsidiary Vitaphone in 1933, with Alexander Gray and Bernice Claire in the leading roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Roy Del Ruth - Director, Ralph Dawson - Editor, Sigmund Romberg - Composer (Music Score), Barney "Chick" McGill - Cinematographer, Harvey Harris Gates - Screenwriter, Oscar Hammerstein II - Screenwriter, Otto Harbach - Screenwriter, Sigmund Romberg - Screenwriter, Frank Mandel - Screenwriter, Laurence Schwab - Screenwriter, Otto Harbach - From Musical by, Lawrence Schwab - Play Author, Frank Mandel - Play Author
The Desert Song is a 1929 musical operetta film photographed partly in Technicolor. Although some of the songs from the show have been omitted, the film is otherwise virtually a duplicate of the stage production. It was based on the hit musical play by Sigmund Romberg and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and Otto Harbach, respectively. The stage musical opened at the Casino Theatre on Broadway on November 30, 1926 and ran for a very successful 465 performances [1].
French General Birabeau has been sent to Morocco to root out and destroy the Riff, a band of Arab rebels, who threaten the safety of the French outpost in the Moroccan desert. Their dashing, daredevil leader is the mysterious "Red Shadow". Margot Bonvalet, a lovely, sassy French girl, is soon to be married at the fort to Birabeau's right-hand man, Captain Fontaine. Birabeau's son Pierre, in reality the Red Shadow, loves Margot, but pretends to be a milksop to preserve his secret identity. Margot tells Pierre that she secretly yearns to be swept into the arms of some bold, dashing sheik, perhaps even the Red Shadow himself. Pierre, as the Red Shadow, kidnaps Margot and declares his love for her.
To her surprise, Margot's mysterious abductor treats her with every Western consideration. When the Red Shadow comes face to face with General Birabeau, the old man challenges the rebel leader to a duel. Of course Pierre will not kill his own father, so he refuses to fight, losing the respect of the Riff. Azuri, the sinuous and secretive native dancing girl, might be persuaded to answer some of these riddles if only she can be persuaded by Captain Fontaine. Meanwhile, two other characters, Benny (a reporter) and Susan provide comic relief. Eventually, the Red Shadow's identity is discovered, a deal is struck with the Riff, and Pierre and Margot live happily ever after.
Pre-Code Sequences
After 1935, the original 1929 version became illegal to view or exhibit in the United States due to its Pre-Code content which included sexual innuendo, lewd suggestive humor and open discussion of themes such as homosexuality (e.g. Johnny Arthur plays a character who is obviously gay). Consequently, a cleaned-up version was made in 1943 and again in 1953.
Songs
Act One
Riff Song
French Marching Song
Then You Will Know
The Desert Song
Azuri's Dance
Act Two
Love's Dear Yearning
Let Love Go
One Flower
One Alone
Sabre Song
The Desert Song Ballet
Preservation
The film exists only in a black and white copy. The film elements are missing from a small portion of one of the musical numbers but the complete soundtrack survives intact on Vitaphone disks.
