Sword in the Desert

Those interested in the pre-1948 history of Israel will find this movie interesting and entertaining.

It reminded me in some ways of an early version of Otto Preminger's Exodus.

I think that they could have done more with Dana Andrews' part, but still worth watching.

In the Hollywood history, there were not so many pictures speaking of the Israel state birth: the was EXODUS (Otto Preminger), CAST A GIANT SHADOW (Melville Shavelson) and SWORD IN THE DESERT- this very one. I don't know any other film, but after all, maybe there are some existing. But this early one, produced in 1949, is really gritty, accurate, faithful to actual events and an early performance of Jeff Chandler, justifies to watch this underrated film, maybe one of the best from director George Sherman, rather specialized in westerns. It is actually directed like a western, with the same camera movements. Good film, solid script.

Recently discovered this film on TCM-and watched with great interest. Firstly, this appears to be the first Hollywood film addressing the subject of the new state of Israel shortly after these actual events took place so the creative efforts into the making of this film were very raw and very little opportunity for revisionist plotlines are in evidence. The most noticeable portion of the story is how the British are portrayed essentially as transitional occupiers and keepers of the peace just waiting until they leave the region on the verge of war.....not a very positive portrayal but perhaps it was very accurate for the time....The Dana Andrews character is somewhat curious in retrospect since the Zionist organization had its share of more than willing collaborators who believed in the cause.....The film now seeing this in 2021 for myself has been overshadowed but countless screenings of the 1960 film Exodus which goes into far greater detail given its length...All in all, this film does serve as a dated curiosity piece for film lovers of historical subjects.

This tidy little Universal "B" about the Israeli fight for independence would be interesting if just for the subject matter alone--there were few, if any, contemporary Hollywood pictures that dealt with that particular struggle--but this isn't a bad picture in and of itself. Dana Andrews plays a ship captain who smuggles Jews into Israel purely, at first, for the money, but finds himself being caught up in the cause his "cargo" is fighting for--and also falling for an Israeli girl (the exotic beauty Marta Toren, who, although she looks like she just stepped out of an Arabian Nights tale, is actually Swedish). Director George Sherman was an expert at turning out tight, energetic little actioners, and continues that tradition here. The Andrews/Toren romance slows things down a bit, but not enough to do any fatal damage. A neat little picture with an interesting perspective on a subject not often touched upon, with a capable cast, good pacing and quick bursts of action that all combine to hold your interest. Check it out.

This is an anti-British film, and apparently the British attempted to limit the distribution.

Directed by George Sherman, the film stars Dana Andrews, Stephen McNally, Jeff Chandler, and Marta Toren. Andrews plays a freighter captain who has agreed to let his ship be used to smuggle Jewish refugees ashore in Palestine. He plans on taking his money and leaving, but things don't work out that way. He's very angry to find himself embroiled in the conflict as the British seek to round up the immigrants and arrest the organizers.

In most films, I think, the Andrews character might have been impressed with the commitment of the McNally, Chandler, and Toren characters and agreed to help them. But this guy not only betrays them once because all he cares about is his ship, but he almost betrays them again. He does come to some understanding and admiration for Kurta (Chandler), but it takes a while.

The beautiful Marta Toren, alas, died at the age of 30, about eight years after this film. Such a shame. She married an Italian director in 1952 and worked in Italy, doing better roles.

Very good movie with an emotional and quite beautiful ending. According to what I heard during a discussion of the film, the British and the Jews never actually fought in battle as they do here, but director Sherman wanted to show that there was indeed a conflict.

The Middle East remains a powder keg, and Israel still has lots of problems. This was pre-Israel Palestine, with the Jews seeking a place where they could be safe. Given what's going on in the world today, I wonder now if anyone can ever be truly safe.