Desert Legion
Desert Legion is a 1953 American adventure film directed by Joseph Pevney and starring Alan Ladd.
| Desert Legion | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Joseph Pevney |
| Screenplay by | Irving Wallace Lewis Meltzer |
| Based on | novel The Demon Caravan by Georges Surdez |
| Produced by | Ted Richmond |
| Starring | Alan Ladd |
| Cinematography | John F. Seitz |
| Edited by | Frank Gross |
| Music by | Frank Skinner |
| Color process | Technicolor |
Production company | Universal Pictures |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1,650,000 (US)[1] |
Plot
Ladd stars as a soldier in the French Foreign Legion who stumbles across a lost city in the desert mountains of Algeria in North Africa.
Cast
- Alan Ladd as Paul Lartal
- Richard Conte as Crito
- Arlene Dahl as Morjana
- Akim Tamiroff as Pvt. Plevko
- Oscar Beregi as Khalil (as Oscar Berefi)
- Leon Askin as Major Vasil
- Anthony Caruso as Lt. Messaoud
- George J. Lewis as Lt. Lopez
- Sujata Rubener as Dancer (as Sujata)
- Asoka Rubener as Dancer (as Asoka)
Production
The film was made by Universal Pictures, and based on a 1927 novel The Demon Caravan by Georges Arthur Surdez.
It was Alan Ladd's first film for Universal since becoming a star. It was a one-picture deal and gave Ladd a percentage of the profits, a relatively novel thing at the time.[2][3] (He split profits with the studio 50–50.[4]) Joseph Pevney was assigned to direct.[5]
Ladd had broken his hand during a fight scene towards the end of his most recent film The Iron Mistress, but recovered to begin work on Desert Legion on 7 July 1952.[6]
Akim Tamiroff joined the support cast. It was his first Hollywood film in three years.[7]
References
- ^ 'The Top Box Office Hits of 1953', Variety, January 13, 1954
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (May 2, 1952). "Kramer Will Film Story of Airplane Pioneers; Ladd in 'Desert Legion'". Los Angeles Times. p. B9.
- ^ THOMAS M. PRYOR (May 2, 1952). "KRAMER WILL FILM STORY OF WRIGHTS: Producer Buys Book by Fred Kelly About Air Pioneers as Basis for New Movie". New York Times. p. 21.
- ^ J. D. SPIRO HOLLYWOOD. (July 20, 1952). "HOLLYWOOD REPORT: Plan to Aid Smeared Scenarists Is Voted Down by the Writers Guild -- Addenda". New York Times. p. X5.
- ^ THOMAS M. PRYOR (May 31, 1952). "CHARLES LAUGHTON SIGNS FOR 'SALOME': Arrives in England but Will Return Soon to Play Herod Opposite Rita Hayworth". New York Times. p. 13.
- ^ "Ladd Ready to Go in 'Desert Legion'". Los Angeles Times. June 15, 1952. p. D2.
- ^ THOMAS M. PRYOR (June 17, 1952). "TV COMEDY STARS SIGNING FOR FILM: Lucille Ball and Her Husband, Desi Arnaz, May Do Sequence in Billy Rose's Picture". New York Times. p. 23.
External links
- Desert Legion at IMDb
- Desert Legion at the American Film Institute Catalog
- Desert Legion at the TCM Movie Database