The Desert Song (1953)

A story of the French occupation of Moraco. This was a well made movie going almost loosely along the lines as the light Opera of the 50 ies.of the same name. The songs and music were very good by both of lead actors. It had some action seans but most of the movie was built around the romance of the two lead characters and the desire to make peace between the desert tribes and the French.There was an attempt at comedy with a bumbling American reporter, but it fell short in my opinion. If you like 50 ies. musicals, this will be a must see. The format of the film fits right in with that eras movie style and the attempt to just entertain and give the viewers a fine evening out at the movies was obtained.

I bought it to hear Gordon MacRae sing "The Riff Song" - gorgeous music, dreadful plot (but I was always taught that really good musicals didn't need a good plot). I'd buy it again.

The singing is superb. The story is a bit over the top even for musical comedy, but it is still loads of fun. Since we are not likely to get another "Desert Song" on film and even rarely in theater, this is about as good as it gets. The Nelson Eddy version--a TV show, is a highly abridged version, but also very much worth watching.

OK- great premise. Wonderful score, two great Hollywood actors (Gordon MacRae, Kathryn Grayson) and a whole host of secondary characters (including Raymond Massey and a young William Conrad), with a fabulous (at the time, not today) 'exotic' setting, this is the third film setting of the story (that's why it was called "The NEW Desert Song" in publicity releases). And, so- what does one get? After stating the obvious, when watching the film, the interest level goes down from there... precipitously. MacRae is known to me from his work in "Oklahoma!" from 1945- the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical with Shirley Jones. One of the most beautiful voices ever on the screen, and still good-looking, MacRae is just not a good enough actor to portray the 'Clark Kent/Superman' premise of this show. Kathryn Grayson, who had acted with Mario Lanza, Howard Keel, etc. seems ill-paired with MacRae; not vocally, but histrionically. By this point in her career, having done a fabulous job as Lilli Vannessi/Kate in 'Kiss Me, Kate' the same year- where she appears mature, sophisticated, svelte, and utterly sexy- instead, as Margot in 'Desert Song,' she appears only calculating, spoiled, fat, (well, just too buxom) and 'old' for the role she was given. (She was 31 at the time; Margot is still in school- thus the need for a Latin tutor, so she should be @17 or so).But I think what makes this film not work, is the visceral distrust/disgust for anything 'Arabic' in the post- Al Queda, post-oil embargo era. Nobility of spirit, working together against a common foe, the 'worth' of a culture based on a fable, and the utter lack of intelligence of a people storied in history, (1001 Nights) are not necessarily on parade in modern scenarios with the likes of sheiks and oil barons of the Arabian peninsula. A very dated work, that just fails on too many counts. But the music? Marvelous. And the singing? If only they had done that, and 'that Alone to be my own' instead of this movie......

The last time I had the great pleasure of watching The Desert Song was in 1967 at the London Palace Theater withJohn Hanson which was the stage version. This film is just as amazing with Kathryn Grayson and Gordon MacRaeand has given me so many happy memories. I just love the old musicals.

I grew up with this music but had never seen the story acted out so purchased this DVD.It turns out that this 1953 version was substantially rewritten from the original musical, and omitted "Why Did We Marry Soldiers", "Let Love Come", "The Sabre Song", and "Then you will know I love you". Even the Riff Song had been "modernized" to sing about setting people free, and the "If One Flower Grows Alone in your Garden" song was recast to be sung by Margot about a rose garden (not the meaning of the original song at all!!).MacRae and Grayson are excellent singers and reasonably good actors, and there were some reasonably good (by 1950's standards) action scenes. I didn't hate it; I just really missed both the songs that were not sung, and the songs that should have been left alone.Even the hero, "The Red Shadow", was renamed "El Khobar"... why???If you like Gordon MacRae and Kathryn Grayson, and enjoy seeing Raymond Massey as a leering villain, then you will like this version. But if you are looking to see the songs you know in a story that makes them make sense, you will be disappointed.

I love old musicals and think Gordon MacRae was one of the greatest singers of all times. I have quite a collection of these, including an out-of-print copy of "Deep In My Heart," the story of Sigmund Romberg's career. I also have "The Student Prince." This movie, "The Desert Song," was really fun to watch and filled with great music. The acting of some of these old singers is not as great as their singing, but if you like the old musicals the way I do, this is one of the best. My only regret is that so many of them are only available on VHS and have not been made into DVD format.

Interesting story about a rural mountain young woman who is growing up and learning about life both city and rural. Beautiful music and singing. Ann Blythe has a beautiful voice.

VOIR DES VIEUX FILMS

Lovely musical

Excellent

like the music, simple story

A very enjoyable movie. For a 1953 movie the quality of sound was surprisingly good. The singing of Kathryn Grayson andGordon McRae is a joy, clear and strong in good old-fashioned romantic settings. Visually, the movie was of high quality.The story and the settings appealed to me. A much better story and more realistic locations than the 1946 movie.The wonderful voices of Gordon McRae and Kathryn, good sound , and visually good ,makes for a most enjoyable experience.I am still singing One Alone and Blue Heaven.