Desert Sands (1955)

Desert Sands (1955)

„Desert Sands“ is a 1955 adventure film directed by Lesley Selander. The screenplay by George W. George, George F. Slavin and Danny Arnold is based on a novel by John Robb.

In 1939, the evil Jala, brother of the Dylak sheik in French Morocco, arranges to assassinate his sibling, whom he considers a weakling. The assassins are dressed as French Legionnaires, and the sheik’s young children, El Zanal and Princess Zara, witness the killing and vow never to forgive the foreigners.

Fifteen years later, the soldiers at Ft. Valeau in the Sahara Desert eagerly await the relief column that is marching toward them. Jala, disguised as a wine merchant, arrives at the fort and questions Sgt. Diepel why no radio reports have been received from the relief troops. The new commander, Capt. David Malcolm, arrives ahead of his troops in a helicopter, but Malcolm explains to Capt. Montclair that he received his orders too late to join the march.

Montclair warns Malcolm that there has been no radio contact with his troops, but Malcolm is not worried, as the neighboring Dylak tribes have been peaceful for years, and Montclair turns over his command and departs in the helicopter. After Montclair’s departure, Malcolm interviews Pvt. Peter Havers (Ron Randell), an alcoholic but charming Englishman, and sends him to the guardhouse for being drunk while on duty.

That night, a sentry spots a burning cross in front of the fort, and the men are horrifed to discover the mutilated bodies of eight men from the relief column. Malcolm orders Dr. Kleiner (Peter Norman) to revive his friend, Lt. Rene, despite the great pain it will cause him, and before dying, Rene whispers that El Zanal, the current Dylak sheik, was responsible for the massacre.

The next day, the men, especially the cowardly Ducco, bemoan their situation, but Malcolm is encouraged by a radio report that Maj. Henri Panton is marching with a full battalion to aid them. A large group of Arabs appear before the fort. When three of the men wave a flag of truce, they are taken to Malcolm’s office, and there the spokesmen order Malcolm to surrender. Knowing how well-provisioned the fort is, Malcolm dismisses the mens’s threats, but as they leave, they blow up the fort’s gates.

During the ensuing battle, wave after wave of Arabs descend upon the fort, until finally, the legionnaires are forced to surrender. The remaining soldiers are confined to the barracks, and there El Zanal tells Malcolm that he knows about Panton’s imminent arrival and intends to rebuild the fort and ambush the unsuspecting battalion members when they enter.

Meanwhile, Princess Zara, who always rides at her brother’s side, has become intrigued by Malcolm and sends for the handsome American. Zara reveals that legionnaires assassinated her father, and becomes enraged when Malcolm protests that soldiers would never commit such an act.

While Malcolm plots with the soldiers, Zara informs her brother that she has fallen in love with the captain.

The next day, while the tribesmen prepare for the arrival of the battation, Zara and her maid, Alita, kill Jala and rush to free Malcolm. The fort gates open and Panton’s men advance as Malcolm frees his men and finds weapons. A huge gun battle ensues, during which Havers is killed and Malcolm shoots El Zanal. Later, with peace restored, the remaining Dylaks are rounded up, and Panton assures Malcolm that Zara’s efforts to help him will earn her a lenient sentence. Malcolm smiles at Zara as she joins her people, then watches proudly as the French flag is raised.

A 1955 American Technicolor and SuperScope adventure film directed by Lesley Selander, produced by Howard W. Koch and Aubrey Schenck, written by George W. George & George F. Slavin and Danny Arnold, based on John Robb’s book „Punitive Action“ (1954), cinematography by Gordon Avil, starring Ralph Meeker, Marla English, J. Carrol Naish, John Carradine, Ron Randell, John Smith, Keith Larsen, Lita Milan, Philip Tonge, Peter Mamakos, and Otto Waldis. Produced by Bel-Air Productions and released by United Artists.

Marla English married San Diego businessman Allen Paul Sutherland and retired from acting at just 21 after starring in the horror film „Voodoo Woman“ (1957).

The first choice for the lead was Paul Newman who was offered $20,000 however his agent wanted $35,000, and the producers would not pay it.

One of a series of French Foreign Legion novels written by John Robb. Veteran B-Movie director Lesley Selander, „Fighter Attack” (1953), „Fort Vengeance” (1953), ”Flat Top” (1952), does well on the fight scenes and the lush desert photography (Mojave Desert, and Yuma, Arizona) gives it a torrid atmosphere.

This long forgotten United Artists „B“ programmer, while admittedly not a masterpiece, is a conventional sweeping, action adventure film, with good battle scenes, interesting characters, stirring renditions of „Le Boudin“ (the signature march of the Legion) and the little known and sexy Elizabeth Taylor lookalike, drop dead beautiful Marla …

Cast:

• Ralph Meeker – Capt. David Malcolm
• Marla English – Princess Zara
• J. Carrol Naish – Sergeant Diepel
• John Carradine – Jala
• Ron Randell – Pvt. Peter Havers
• John Smith – Pvt. Rex Tyle
• Keith Larsen – El Zanal
• Lita Milan – Alita
• Philip Tonge – Cpl. Sandy McTosh
• Otto Waldis – Gabin
• Peter Mamakos – Pvt. Lucia Capella
• Jarl Victor – Lt. Gina Mackie
• Nico Minardos – Gerard
• Aaron Saxon – Tamal
• Albert Carrier – Ducco
• Joseph DeCorse – Arab
• Al Wyatt Sr. – Arab
• Joe Yrigoyen – Arab
• Linda Sue Rowen – Arab Girl
• Ben Wright – Commandant Captain
• Peter Norman – Dr. Kleiner
• Joseph Waring – Dylak Spokesman
• Marc Cavell – El Zanel as a Boy
• Terence de Marney – Kramer
• Rudy Germane – Legionnaire
• Bela Kovacs – Maj. Henri Panton
• Peter Bourne – Weems
• Mort Mills – Wolock, Radio Man

„Desert Sands“ ist ein Abenteuerfilm aus dem Jahr 1955 unter der Regie von Lesley Selander. Das Drehbuch von George W. George, George F. Slavin und Danny Arnold basiert auf einem Roman von John Robb.

Im Jahr 1939 arrangiert der böse Jala, Bruder des Dylak-Scheichs in Französisch-Marokko, ein Attentat auf seinen Bruder, den er für einen Schwächling hält. Die Attentäter sind als französische Legionäre verkleidet, und die kleinen Kinder des Scheichs, El Zanal und Prinzessin Zara, werden Zeugen des Mordes und schwören, den Ausländern nie zu verzeihen.