Desert Sands
{{Short description|1955 film by Lesley Selander}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Desert Sands
| image = Desert Sands poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Lesley Selander
| producer = Howard W. Koch
executive
Aubrey Schenck
| screenplay = Danny Arnold
George W. George
George F. Slavin
| based_on = {{based on|Punitive Action|John Robb}}
| starring = Ralph Meeker
Marla English
J. Carrol Naish
John Carradine
Ron Randell
John Smith
Keith Larsen
| music = Paul Dunlap
| cinematography = Gordon Avil
| editing = John F. Schreyer
| studio = Bel-Air Productions
| distributor = United Artists
| released = {{Film date|1955|11|18}}
| runtime = 87 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}
Desert Sands is a 1955 American adventure film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Danny Arnold, George W. George and George F. Slavin. The film stars Ralph Meeker, Marla English, J. Carrol Naish, John Carradine, Ron Randell, John Smith and Keith Larsen.{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/unsung-aussie-actors-ron-randell-top-twenty/|title=Unsung Aussie Actors – Ron Randell: A Top Twenty|date=August 10, 2019}}
The film was released on November 18, 1955, by United Artists.{{cite web|url=http://movies.tvguide.com/desert-sands/112734|title=Desert Sands|work=TV Guide|access-date=23 October 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/17510/desert-sands|title=Desert Sands (1955) - Overview - TCM.com|work=Turner Classic Movies|access-date=23 October 2014}} The film was based on the 1954 novel Punitive Action, one of a series of French Foreign Legion novels written by John Robb. Unlike many Foreign Legion films the film was set in the 1950s.
Plot
A strong force of mounted tribal Arabs launches a surprise attack on a French Foreign Legion fort in the North African desert, having previously intercepted and brutally massacred a relief column en route to the fort. After an Alamo-like battle, the more numerous Arabs capture the fort.{{cite web
| last = Crowther
| first = Bosley
| title = Screen: Foreign Legion; Gory 'Desert Sands' Bows at Palace
| website = The New York Times
| date = November 19, 1955
| url = https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F0CE6DB1538EE3BBC4152DFB767838E649EDE
| access-date = March 28, 2015}} Addressing the surviving Legionnaires as captives, the Arab leader makes passing reference to Pan-Islam as a motivation for the attacks.
Various sub-plots ensue, until eventually another Legion relief column approaches the fort, unaware that it has been captured. The Arabs create the appearance that all is well and ambush the relief column as it enters the fort. Meanwhile, the captive Legionnaire survivors from the original garrison escape and join the fighting. Another all-out, Alamo-style shootout follows, but this time the reinforced Legionnaires are victorious. The French flag is raised over the fort once again as the captured Arab survivors are led away.
Cast
- Ralph Meeker as Captain David Malcolm
- Marla English as Princess Zara
- J. Carrol Naish as Sergeant Diepel
- John Carradine as Jala, The Wine Merchant
- Ron Randell as Private Peter Ambrose Havers
- John Smith as Private Rex Tyle
- Keith Larsen as El Zanal
- Marc Cavell as Young Boy El Zanal
- Lita Milan as Alita
- Philip Tonge as Corporal Sandy McTosh
- Peter Mamakos as Private Lucia "Lucky" Capella
- Otto Waldis as Gabin
- Jarl Victor as Lieutenant Gina Mackie
- Mort Mills as Woloack
- Aaron Saxon as Tama
- Nico Minardos as Gerard
- Albert Carrier as Ducco
- Terence De Marney as Kramer
- Peter Bourne as Weems
- Peter Norman as Dr. Kleiner
- Joseph Waring as Dylak Spokesman
- Bela Kovacs as Major Henri Panton
Production
The film was based on a 1954 novel by John Robb, Punitive Action. Robb wrote a sequel to this, Storm Evil.{{cite news|title=Author gets copy of own novel|newspaper=The Journal
|date=9 April 1962|page=3}} In September 1954 it was announced Schenck-Kock productions had brought the film rights.{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|url=https://archive.org/details/variety195-1954-09/page/n111/mode/1up?|title=Briefs from the lots|date=8 September 1954|page=22}}
The film was shot at the Imperial Dunes in California. The first choice for the lead was Paul Newman who was offered $20,000 however his agent wanted $35,000 that the producers would not pay.p. 174 Weaver, Tom A Sci-Fi Swarm and Horror Horde: Interviews with 62 Filmmakers McFarland, 25 Feb 2010
Reception
Variety said the writers "used every cliche in the book, not even bothering to cast around for a novel twist" where Randell "believe it or not" plays an "English- man addicted to the bottle, who when the fighting starts, exonerates himself.. His performance has a certain merit." The critic did add the film "isn’t going to
win any Academy Awards, but it’s an actioner that doesn’t pretend to be anything else. For that reason alone, it should hold its own."{{cite magazine|page=15|title=Desert Sands|magazine=Variety|date=10 August 1955}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0047983|Desert Sands}}
- [https://letterboxd.com/film/desert-sands/ Desert Sands] at Letterbox DVD
{{Lesley Selander}}
Category:1950s English-language films
Category:American adventure films
Category:Films directed by Lesley Selander
Category:Films about the French Foreign Legion
Category:Films based on British novels
Category:Films shot in California