The Desert Song (1929 film)
| The Desert Song | |
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theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Roy Del Ruth |
| Screenplay by | Harvey Gates |
| Story by |
Otto A. Harbach Oscar Hammerstein II Frank Mandel |
| Based on |
The Desert Song (1926 operetta) Music: Sigmund Romberg Book & Lyrics: Otto A. Harbach Oscar Hammerstein II Frank Mandel |
| Starring |
John Boles Carlotta King Louise Fazenda Myrna Loy |
| Music by |
Irving Berlin Sigmund Romberg Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II Otto Harbach |
| Cinematography |
Barney McGill (Technicolor) |
| Edited by |
Ralph Dawson Furusawa |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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125 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Desert Song is a 1929 American Pre-Code operetta film directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring John Boles, Louise Fazenda, and Myrna Loy. It was photographed partly in two-color Technicolor, the first film released by Warner Bros. to be in color. Although some of the songs from the show have been omitted, the film is otherwise virtually a duplicate of the stage production and extremely faithful to it. It was based on the hit musical play with music by Sigmund Romberg and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel
The stage musical opened at the Casino Theatre on Broadway on November 30, 1926 and ran for a very successful 465 performances. Based on the success of this film, Warner Bros. quickly cast John Boles in an all color musical feature called Song of the West which was completed by June 1929 but had its release delayed until March 1930.
French General Birabeau has been sent to Morocco to root out and destroy the Riffs, 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 Riffs. 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 Riffs, and Pierre and Margot live happily ever after.
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Wikipedia