Flame of Araby
{{Short description|1951 film by Charles Lamont}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Flame of Araby
| image = "Flame_of_Araby"_(1951).jpg
| caption = Film poster by Reynold Brown
| director = Charles Lamont
| producer = Leonard Goldstein
| writer = Gerald Drayson Adams
| narrator =
| starring = Maureen O'Hara
Jeff Chandler
| music =
| cinematography = Russell Metty
| editing = Ted Kent
| studio = Universal Pictures
| distributor = Universal Pictures
| released = {{Film date|1951|12|19|United States}}
| runtime = 77 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
| gross = $1.5 million (US rentals)'Top Box-Office Hits of 1952', Variety, January 7, 1953
}}
Flame of Araby (a.k.a. Flame of the Desert) is a 1951 American Technicolor adventure film directed by Charles Lamont starring Maureen O'Hara and Jeff Chandler. British film star Maxwell Reed made his American film debut in the picture. Locations were shot at three famous film locations: Vasquez Rocks, Bronson Canyon, and the Alabama Hills in Lone Pine, California.{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/75090/flame-of-araby#film-details|title=Flame of Araby (1952) – Original Print Info – TCM.com|work=Turner Classic Movies}}
Plot
Bedouin chief Tamerlaine (Jeff Chandler) is engaged in the hunt for the legendary black stallion Shahzada. Also chasing the prize steed is Tunisian Princess Tanya (Maureen O'Hara), who desires to capture the horse to race in competition against hated brothers Borka (Lon Chaney) and Hakim (Buddy Baer), so she will not be forced to marry one of them. After a prolonged and deadly rivalry, Tamerlaine decides to join forces with Tanya to trap the stallion – and in the process, the two fall in love.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/91624/Flame-of-Araby/overview?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104211834/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/91624/Flame-of-Araby/overview?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-11-04|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=The New York Times|author=Hal Erickson|author-link=Hal Erickson (author)|date=2014|title=Flame-of-Araby – Trailer – Cast – Showtimes – NYTimes.com}}
Cast
- Maureen O'Hara as Princess Tanya
- Jeff Chandler as Tamerlane
- Maxwell Reed as Prince Medina
- Lon Chaney Jr. as Borka Barbarossa
- Buddy Baer as Hakim Barbarossa
- Richard Egan as Captain Fezil
- Dewey Martin as Yak
- Royal Dano as Basra
- Susan Cabot as Clio
- Judith Braun as Calu
- Henry Brandon as Mallik
Production
The film was originally known as Flame of the Desert.{{Cite news|title=Drama: Raoul Walsh Debates British Contract; Una Merkel in 'Goldeen Girl'|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=Apr 17, 1951|work=Los Angeles Times|page=B7}}{{Cite news|title=WALD AND KRASNA IN DEAL WITH ANTA: R.K.O. Producers to Make 'The Great Moments'--Academy Providing Plays, Actors Film's Title Changed|author=THOMAS F. BRADY|date=Mar 28, 1951|work=New York Times|page=33}} Maureen O'Hara reportedly requested Chandler as her leading man.{{Cite news|title=Drama: Russian Intrigue Will Background Gable Film|date=Apr 6, 1951|work=Los Angeles Times|page=B8}}
Critical reception
TV Guide noted a "light diversion in the company of fiery redhead O'Hara, with the evil brothers delightfully played by Chaney and Baer."{{cite web|url=http://movies.tvguide.com/flame-of-araby/review/114860|title=Flame Of Araby|work=TV Guide}}
See also
- Raiders of the Seven Seas (1953), with the pirate Barbarossa as a hero
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0043542}}
- {{TCMDb title|75090}}
- [https://archive.org/details/variety184-1951-11/page/n135/mode/1up/search/%22jeff+chandler%22?q=%22jeff+chandler%22 Review of film] at Variety
{{Charles Lamont}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flame Of Araby}}
Category:1950s adventure drama films
Category:American swashbuckler films
Category:American adventure drama films
Category:Films set in the 16th century
Category:1950s English-language films
Category:English-language adventure drama films
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