''The Desert Hawk'' is a 1950

action Action may refer to: * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video game Film * Action film, a genre of film * ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford * ''Action'' (1980 fil ...

adventure film directed by Frederick De Cordova starring Yvonne De Carlo and

Richard Greene Richard Marius Joseph Greene (25 August 1918 – 1 June 1985) was a noted English film and television actor. A matinée idol who appeared in more than 40 films, he was perhaps best known for the lead role in the long-running British TV series ' ...

Plot

An arranged marriage 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 A dowry is a payment, such as property or money, paid by the bride's family to the groom or his family at the time of marriage. Dowry contrasts with the related concepts of bride price and dower. While bride price or bride service is a payment ...

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

* Yvonne De Carlo as Princess Scheherazade *

as Omar aka The Desert Hawk *

Jackie Gleason John Herbert Gleason (February 26, 1916June 24, 1987) was an American actor, comedian, writer, composer, and conductor known affectionately as "The Great One." Developing a style and characters from growing up in Brooklyn, New York, he was know ...

as Aladdin *

George Macready George Peabody Macready Jr. (August 29, 1899 – July 2, 1973) was an American stage, film, and television actor often cast in roles as polished villains. Early life Macready was born in Providence, Rhode Island on August 29, 1899. He graduated ...

as Prince Murad *

Rock Hudson Rock Hudson (born Roy Harold Scherer Jr.; November 17, 1925 – October 2, 1985) was an American actor. One of the most popular movie stars of his time, he had a screen career spanning more than three decades. A prominent heartthrob in the Golde ...

as Captain Ras * Carl Esmond as Kibar *

Joe Besser Joe Besser (August 12, 1907 – March 1, 1988) was an American actor, comedian and musician, known for his impish humor and wimpy characters. He is best known for his brief stint as a member of The Three Stooges in movie short subjects of 1957� ...

as Prince Sinbad
Anne P. Kramer
as Yasmin * Marc Lawrence as Samad * Lois Andrews as Maznah *

Frank Puglia Francesco Giuseppe "Frank" Puglia (9 March 1892 – 25 October 1975) was an Italian-American film actor. He had small, but memorable roles in films including ''Casablanca'' (a Moroccan rug merchant), ''Now, Voyager'' and ''The Jungle Book''. ...

as Ahmed Bey *

Lucille Barkley Lucille Barkley (born Lucille Oshinski, November 3, 1924 – March 19, 1979) was an American film actress. Early years The daughter of Florian and Verna Oshinski, Barkley was born in Pennsylvania but considered Rochester, New York, her hometow ...

as Undine *

Donald Randolph Donald Randolph (January 5, 1906 – March 16, 1993) was a film, television, and radio actor. The actor, who appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's ''Topaz'' (1969), acted in dozens of radio dramas, television programs and over thirty films. Randolph ...

as Caliph *

Ian MacDonald Ian MacCormick (known by the pseudonym Ian MacDonald; 3 October 1948 – 20 August 2003) was a British music critic and author, best known for both '' Revolution in the Head'', his critical history of the Beatles which borrowed techniques from ...

as Yussef

Production

Universal bought the story in January 1950. The film was envisioned as a vehicle for Yvonne de Carlo.

Douglas Fairbanks Jr Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr., (December 9, 1909 – May 7, 2000) was an American actor, producer and decorated naval officer of World War II. He is best known for starring in such films as ''The Prisoner of Zenda'' (1937), ''Gunga Din'' (1939) a ...

was sought for the male lead. The role eventually went to Richard Greene, returning to Hollywood after two years in Britain.

signed to play a comic support role. Universal contract player

, who had just impressed in ''

Winchester 73 ''Winchester '73'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart, Shelley Winters, Dan Duryea and Stephen McNally. Written by Borden Chase and Robert L. Richards, the film is about the journey of a prized ...

'', 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