''The Desert Hawk'' is a 1950 action

adventure film An adventure film is a form of adventure fiction, and is a genre of film. Subgenres of adventure films include swashbuckler films, pirate films, and survival films. Adventure films may also be combined with other film genres such as action, an ...

directed by

Frederick De Cordova Frederick Timmins de Cordova (October 27, 1910 – September 15, 2001) was an American stage, motion picture and television director and producer. He is best known for his work on '' The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson''. Early life De Cordov ...

starring

Yvonne De Carlo Margaret Yvonne Middleton (September 1, 1922January 8, 2007), known professionally as Yvonne De Carlo, was a Canadian-American actress, dancer and singer. She became a Hollywood film star in the 1940s and 1950s, made several recordings, and late ...

and Richard Greene.

Plot

arranged marriage Arranged marriage is a type of marital union where the bride and groom are primarily selected by individuals other than the couple themselves, particularly by family members such as the parents. In some cultures a professional matchmaker may be us ...

forces Arabian Princess Scheherazade to marry Prince Murad, a cruel ruler. A thief known as the Desert Hawk hears about the wedding, disguises himself as Murad in order to steal the wedding gifts. The next morning the real Murad shows up and finding the dowry gone orders his men to make it appear that the Desert Hawk has massacred the locals. When the princess learns she has been tricked she changes clothes with one of her maids, who is then mistaken for the princess and murdered. The servants, along with the disguised princess, are rounded up and sold into slavery. The Desert Hawk purchases her at the slave market. Meanwhile, Murad in a bid to consolidate his power stirs up trouble a neighbour, telling the princess's father that the neighbour has been aiding the Desert Hawk. The princess' father entrusts Murad to avenge his daughter and murdered people enabling him to pursue the Desert Hawk to try to get the Princess and power for himself.

Cast

as Princess Scheherazade * Richard Greene as Omar aka The Desert Hawk * Jackie Gleason as Aladdin * George Macready as Prince Murad * Rock Hudson as Captain Ras *

Carl Esmond Carl Esmond (born Karl Simon; June 14, 1902– December 4, 2004) was an Austrian-born American film and stage actor, born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary. Although his age was given as 33 in the passenger list when he arrived in the USA in January 19 ...

as Kibar * Joe Besser as Prince Sinbad
Anne P. Kramer
as Yasmin *

Marc Lawrence Marc Lawrence (born Max Goldsmith; February 17, 1910 – November 28, 2005) was an American character actor who specialized in underworld types. He has also been credited as F. A. Foss, Marc Laurence and Marc C. Lawrence. Early life Lawrence w ...

as Samad * Lois Andrews as Maznah * Frank Puglia as Ahmed Bey * Lucille Barkley as Undine * Donald Randolph as Caliph * Ian MacDonald as Yussef

Production

Universal bought the story in January 1950. The film was envisioned as a vehicle for Yvonne de Carlo. Douglas Fairbanks Jr was sought for the male lead. The role eventually went to Richard Greene, returning to Hollywood after two years in Britain. Jackie Gleason signed to play a comic support role. Universal contract player Rock Hudson, who had just impressed in '' Winchester 73'', was also cast. Director de Cordova said Greene was "everything a man or woman could want in a desert hero."

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Desert Hawk (1950 film), The 1950 films 1950s fantasy adventure films American fantasy adventure films Films directed by Frederick de Cordova Films set in the Middle East Universal Pictures films 1950s historical adventure films American historical adventure films Films scored by Frank Skinner 1950s historical fantasy films Films with screenplays by Aubrey Wisberg 1950s English-language films 1950s American films