The Desert Song

The Desert Song (1953)

MusicRomance

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.

Director: H. Bruce Humberstone
Writer: Roland Kibbee

Casts

	Kathryn Grayson as Margot Birabeau
	Gordon MacRae as El Khobar / Paul Bonnard
	Steve Cochran as Captain Claude Fontaine
	Raymond Massey as Sheik Yousseff
	Dick Wesson as Benjamin 'Benjy' Kidd
	Allyn Ann McLerie as Azuri
	Ray Collins as Gen. Birabeau
	Paul Picerni as Hassan
	Frank De Kova as Mindar
	William Conrad as Lachmed
	Trevor Bardette as Neri
	Mark Dana as Lt. Duvalle
	Ben Astar as Sheik
	Bhogwan Singh as Old Villager
	Jack Tornek as Riff Guard
	Cosmo Sardo as Legionnaire
	Charles Perry as Legionnaire (uncredited)

Crew