Main Cast: Kathryn Grayson, Gordon MacRae, Steve Cochran, Raymond Massey, Dick Wesson
Release Year: 1953
Country: US
Run Time: 110 minutes
Plot
The Desert Song is the third film version of the famous Sigmund Romberg/Oscar Hammerstein Jr. stage operetta. Gordon MacRae plays the wimpish American tutor of lovely Kathryn Grayson, the daughter of a military officer stationed in Arabia. Under cover of night, MacRae assumes the identity of the Red Shadow, head of the Riffs, who fights against the oppression of a cruel local potentate (Raymond Massey). Circumstances force MacRae to kidnap Grayson and spirit her away to his desert headquarters, where she eventually sees the wisdom of his mission and falls in love with him. With Grayson's help, the Red Shadow thwarts Massey's plans to massacre all "foreigners" living in his domain. The story was old-fashioned even when Desert Song was first produced in the 1920s, but the songs, including One Alone, The Riff Song and the title tune, still retain their audience appeal. The only serious detriment to the 1953 Desert Song is the comedy relief of Dick Wesson as a wisecracking American reporter, a wearisome carryover from the stage original. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Combining elements from Robin Hood and The Scarlet Pimpernel with the lush, sweeping music of Sigmund Romberg, The Desert Song is one of the "warhorses" of the operetta genre. While there's an almost-inevitable stiffness to the piece, and while the plotting often strains credulity, this third version of the classic is quite satisfying and works extremely well. A great deal of credit must go to leading man Gordon MacRae. While not one of the screen's greatest actors, MacRae is well cast here, and he brings an invaluable virility and ease of presence that helps to cover some of the script's weaker spots. The star also looks magnificent, and is in fabulous voice; his renditions of the title song (he sings it twice, once solo and once as a duet) are stirring and capture all the considerable power of Romberg's music. Kathryn Grayson is somewhat less effective; she doesn't have the naturalness the role calls for. But she's in fine voice, and when she and MacRae sing "One Alone," there are legitimate goosebumps. The rest of the cast is generally fine, with Allyn Ann McLerie rating special mention for her sinuous dancing, and even Dick Wesson's ham-fisted comedy relief is tolerable. H. Bruce Humberstone has directed with appropriate flair and one eye steadily on color, atmosphere and adventure, with the result that Desert Song is a melodious, entertaining diversion. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Stanley Fleischer - Art Director, LeRoy J. Prinz - Choreography, H. Bruce Humberstone - Director, William H. Ziegler - Editor, Max Steiner - Composer (Music Score), Ray Heindorf - Musical Direction/Supervision, Robert Burks - Cinematographer, Rudi Fehr - Producer, Roland Kibbee - Screenwriter, Oscar Hammerstein II - From Musical by, Otto Harbach - From Musical by, Sigmund Romberg - From Musical by, Lawrence Schwab - Play Author, Frank Mandel - Play Author
