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The Desert Song (Max Liebman Presents)

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2016}}

{{Infobox television episode

| series = Max Liebman Presents

| image =

| caption =

| season = 1

| episode = 15

| director = Max Liebman

| writer =

| based_on = {{Based on|The Desert Song|Sigmund Romberg}}

| music = Sigmund Romberg

| photographer =

| production =

| airdate = {{Start date|1955|5|7}}

| length = 75 minutes

| guests =

| prev =

| next =

| episode_list =

}}

"The Desert Song" is the fifteenth episode of the American television musical variety series Max Liebman Presents,{{Cite web |title=THE DVD SHELF: "A Connecticut Yankee," "Desert Song," "Four Weddings and a Funeral," "Honeymoon in Vegas" and More |url=https://playbill.com/article/the-dvd-shelf-a-connecticut-yankee-desert-song-four-weddings-and-a-funeral-honeymoon-in-vegas-and-more-com-181767}}{{Cite web |date=2012-10-12 |title=More vintage TV musicals from the '50s |url=https://www.reformer.com/local-news/more-vintage-tv-musicals-from-the-50s/article_9fbb2418-386a-52ae-858c-8488a27fea3c.html |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=Brattleboro Reformer |language=en}} adapted from the 1926 operetta The Desert Song, which was based on a true event - an uprising of the Riff tribes against French colonial rule in Morocco in 1925.

The music for the operetta was composed by Sigmund Romberg. The book and the lyrics were written by Oscar Hammerstein II, Otto Harbach, Frank Mandel, and Laurence Schwab. Writers for the television adaptation were William Friedberg, Will Glickman and Neil Simon. First telecast live in the United States on May 7, 1955, on NBC. The conductor for the production was Charles Sanford - while the choreographer for all of the dances and musical segments was Rod Alexander. Due to the time constraints for the live telecast, the television version had to be abridged and adapted and it is therefore slightly different from the original operetta. NBC broadcast the live telecast two years after the film version of The Desert Song with Gordon MacRae and Kathryn Grayson was made.

The television version features the only surviving footage of Nelson Eddy in a complete live musical.{{Cite book |last=Leonard |first=William T. |url=https://archive.org/details/theatrestagetosc0001leon/mode/2up?q=Desert+Song |title=Theatre : stage to screen to television |date=1981 |publisher=Metuchen, N.J. : Scarecrow Press |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-8108-1374-8}}

Plot

French efforts to turn Morocco into a modern colony are balked by a native Riff rebellion, led by the mysterious Red Shadow. Unknown to all, including his own father, the daring and fearless rebel leader is none other than Pierre, the unassuming son of the French commanding officer, General Birabeau. At the French military outpost, Pierre effectively conceals his Red Shadow identity by assuming a meek persona.

Pierre loves the lively and adventurous Margot. However Margot, who wants excitement in her life, only thinks of the likable, mild-mannered Pierre as a friend. So Pierre, in his disguise as the Red Shadow, kidnaps Margot and takes her to the desert fortress of his friend, Ali Ben Ali, Caid of the Riff tribes. It is here that the Red Shadow declares his love for Margot, and where Margot falls in love with the Red Shadow, despite not knowing who he really is.

When the Red Shadow refuses to fight a duel with General Birabeau, he loses the respect of his men and is banished to the desert, with only a broken sword to defend himself.

Later, the Red Shadow's true identity is revealed to the General and Margot, and all ends happily.

Cast members

  • Nelson Eddy (lyric baritone) as Pierre Birabeau / Red Shadow, fearless leader of the Riffs
  • Gale Sherwood (soprano) as Margot Bonvalet
  • Otto Kruger as General Birabeau
  • John Conte (baritone) as Captain Paul Fontaine
  • Earl William (tenor) as Hassi (the Red Shadow's second in command)
  • Salvatore Baccaloni (bass) as Ali Ben Ali, Caid of the Riff tribes{{Cite web |title=The Desert Song - The Guide to Musical Theatre |url=https://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_d/desert_song.htm}}{{Cite web |title=Merriam-Webster Dictionary - Caid |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caid}}
  • Viola Essen as Azuri, an Arabian dancing girl
  • Bambi Linn and Rod Alexander as the dancers in "The Desert Song" ballet
  • Felisa Conde as a Castagnette Dancer
  • Lee Bowman, the announcer who gives information about the operetta, immediately following the opening credits of the telecast

Music

=Act I=

  1. Overture
  2. Sound Test - Nelson Eddy singing the end of The Desert Song, accompanied by the orchestra
  3. Ho! Bold Men of Morocco — Red Shadow, Hassi, Riffs
  4. The Riff Song — Red Shadow, Hassi, Riffs
  5. * Arabian dance - woman dancer (title of music unknown)
  6. Why Did We Marry Soldiers? — soldiers' wives
  7. * French dance - wives or girlfriends, Moroccan men (title of music unknown)
  8. French Military Marching Song — soldiers, wives
  9. O! Pretty Maid of France / Margot — Paul, Margot, soldiers
  10. Romance — Margot, women's ensemble
  11. Soft as a Pigeon Lights Upon the Sand — Hassi, chorus
  12. * Azuri's Dance - Azuri, dancers (music: "Soft as a Pigeon Lights Upon the Sand")
  13. Then You Will Know — Pierre, Margot
  14. Romance (reprise - last part of song, only) — Margot
  15. The Desert Song — Red Shadow, Margot
  16. * The Desert Song Ballet - Pas de deux by Rod Alexander & Bambi Linn, as the Red Shadow & Margot (music: "The Desert Song")

=Act II=

  1. My Little Castagnette - women's chorus (sung off-stage, accompanying the "Spanish Dance") - Castagnette dancer, dancers
  2. Let Love Go — Ali Ben Ali
  3. One Flower Grows Alone In Your Garden — Hassi
  4. One Alone — Red Shadow, Hassi, Ali Ben Ali
  5. One Flower Grows Alone in Your Garden (music only)
  6. The Sabre Song — Margot
  7. Farewell / One Alone (reprise) — Red Shadow
  8. French Military Marching Song (reprise) — Paul, soldiers and wives
  9. * Arabian dance - Azuri, chorus and dancers (music: "One Flower Grows Alone In Your Garden" (small part only)
  10. The Desert Song (reprise) — Pierre, Margot
  11. One Alone (reprise) — sung by the entire company during the closing credits

Broadcast

The live operetta was originally telecast on May 7, 1955 on NBC.{{Cite web |title=The Desert Song |url=https://www.filmedlivemusicals.com/the-desert-song.html |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=FILMED LIVE MUSICALS |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=kevin |date=2010-06-23 |title=THE DESERT SONG Musical play in 3 acts |url=http://operetta-research-center.org/desert-song-musical-play-3-acts/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Operetta Research Center |language=en-US}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.esan.tv/titles/205168/the-desert-song#google_vignette |title=The Desert Song (1955) - ESAN.tv™ |language=en |access-date=2024-09-21 |via=www.esan.tv}}{{Cite web |title=Summary |url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?item=B:22926#:~:text=This%20episode%20presents%20a%20televised,further%20conflict,%20blowing%20up%20French |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=www.paleycenter.org}}

Home media

A DVD-version was published by Video Artists International.

A complete CD soundtrack of the telecast, which includes the added feature of an interview with Gale Sherwood (who starred as Margot in the live telecast), was also published by Video Artists International.

The photo, shown on the front cover of both the DVD and CD, was courtesy of Gale Sherwood, according to VAI Music (Video Artists International), who published both the DVD and CD. A comment about this is mentioned on an insert of the DVD when bought from VAI Music.

Reception

A retrospective review wrote, "The picture is a kinescope (a camera filming a television screen) and the sound is obviously not up to today's standards. But it is such fun and a must for lovers of the old romantic times when Romberg gave the people what they wanted."{{Cite web |title=CD and DVD Reviews |url=https://www.arttimesjournal.com/music/Dec_12_Frank_Behrens/cd_reviews.html |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=www.arttimesjournal.com}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{cite web|url=http://www.dandugan.com/maytime/dsrtsong.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060320052715/http://www.dandugan.com/maytime/dsrtsong.htm |archivedate=2006-03-20|title= The Desert Song|website=dandugan.com}} (includes photos and an interview about the operetta with Earl William, who played Hassi in the live telecast)
  • {{IMDb episode|0241363}}
  • [https://www.allmusic.com/composition/the-desert-song-operetta-mc0002367181/ The Desert Song] at AllMusic
  • [https://www.vaimusic.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=4534 The Desert Song] DVD and CD soundtrack recording of the operetta at VAI Music - Video Artists International. The soundtrack includes an added feature of an interview with Gale Sherwood, who played Margot in the live telecast
  • [https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-desert-song-operetta-in-two-acts/838969312 CD soundtrack recording of the operetta], at Apple Music
  • [https://searchworks-lb.stanford.edu/view/10457323 A listing of tracks on the soundtrack recording of the operetta], Stanford University Library
  • [https://castalbums.org/recordings/The-Desert-Song-1955-TV-Cast/18382/ CastAlbums - 'The Desert Song > (TV)]
  • [https://ovrtur.com/production/2901418 Detailed cast] on Ovrtur
  • [https://cultcritic.co/boxoffice/titles/226077/the-desert-song The Desert Song] at CultCritic
  • [https://ctva.biz/US/Anthology/MaxLiebmanPresents_01_%281954-55%29.htm#google_vignette The Desert Song] at CTVA
  • [https://letterboxd.com/film/the-desert-song-1955/ The Desert Song] at Letterbox
  • [https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/nelson-eddy/ Nelson Eddy - includes mention of the live telecast of The Desert Song] at Los Angeles Times - Hollywood Star Walk

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Category:1955 American television episodes

Category:English-language operettas

Category:Max Liebman Presents

Category:Musical theatre television specials

Category:Musicals by Oscar Hammerstein II

Category:Musicals by Otto Harbach

Category:Musicals by Sigmund Romberg

Category:Musicals inspired by real-life events