Sword in the Desert
| Sword in the Desert | |
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Theatrical poster
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| Directed by | George Sherman |
| Produced by | Robert Buckner |
| Written by | Robert Buckner |
| Starring |
Dana Andrews Märta Torén Stephen McNally |
| Music by | Frank Skinner |
| Cinematography | Irving Glassberg |
| Edited by | Otto Ludwig |
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Production
company |
Universal International
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| Distributed by | Universal International |
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Release date
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Running time
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101 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | ₤200,000 or $1 million |
Sword in the Desert is a 1949 American war film directed by George Sherman. It was the first American film to deal with the 1947–1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine and marked the first significant feature film role for Jeff Chandler.
Freighter owner and captain Mike Dillon (Dana Andrews) reluctantly smuggles Jewish immigrants into Palestine, making it very clear to the Jewish leader, David Vogel (Stephen McNally), he is only doing it for the money. Dillon is annoyed to learn that he will have to go ashore to get paid the $8000 he is owed. When a British patrol boat arrives sooner than expected, Dillon is forced to join the Jews in their flight for freedom. There are casualties on both sides before the illegal refugees get away, including one of Dillon's men.
The screenplay was based on a short story by Robert Buckner, who came up with the idea after a visit to Palestine in 1934. Bucker later expanded this into a short story about Christmas in Palestine as experienced by a visiting American. In the 1940s he expanded this into a novel, then a screenplay, originally called Night Watch, then later Desert Legion.
Stephen McNally was originally supposed to play the American pilot, while Paul Christian was to play an Israeli leader. However Christian had to drop out due to an eye infection, McNally took over his role, and Dana Andrews played McNally's part. (Dick Powell had also been discussed for the role of the American.) Ann Blyth was intended to play the female lead. Bucker was originally announced as director but George Sherman took over that task. Blyth was reassigned by Universal to Come Be My Love and the female lead given instead to Märta Torén.
Jeff Chandler was cast in February 1949. The role was originally intended for an older actor but was reconfigured once Chandler was cast.
Production took place on Universal's backlot with location work at Monterey, California, the San Fernando Valley and Victorville in the Mojave Desert.
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