The Desert Hawk

Once again Universal getting out of those sets that they created for Maria Montez and her films creates The Desert Hawk with romantic bandit leader Richard Greene romancing the Princess Scherazade played by Yvonne DeCarlo.. Fortunately Greene has two villains to contend with George MacReady and evil prince and Carl Esmond leader of a cult of assassins who work at cross purposes.

To keep DeCarlo from marrying MacReady in an arranged marriage Greene pretends to be MacReady and he has a clergyman in his gang marry them. These days we'd go to court for an annulment, but back then this is a beheading offense.

The film also has Jackie Gleason and Joe Besser playing Aladdin and Sinbad. Not those two legends from Arabian Night but a pair of burlesque comedians of those times who look jarringly out of place. Gleason looks like he crash dieted for this film, God only knows why.

Rock Hudson plays one of MacReady's henchmen and he was up and coming over at Universal at the time. Lucky this was early in his career or within two years he would have had the lead and this would be remembered as a Hudson picture.

Definitely one of Universal's lesser homages to the Arabian Nights.

It's a fairy tale like out of Arabian Nights and very much romanticised and Hollywoodised but with above all spectacular clothing and fencing scenes. It's a comedy like out of the days of Douglas Fairbanks and Rudolph Valentino and set in the same kind of fantasy world of highly romantic splendour but totally drowned in superficiality. Richard Greene as the Desert Hawk is just a dashing adventurer like any pirate, and Yvonne de Carlo as the princess is also kept down on a very basically superficial level - she is not allowed to do much dancing. The other characters are amusing enough with their tricks, while the most impressing character actually is George Macready as one of his many suave and very wicked crooks excelling in foul play. The colours are also magnificent throughout, this is a dashing costume drama of great swashbuckling and a dazzling extravagance of costumes all the way, while Frank Skinner's music isn't too bad either. To sum it up, it's good enough as entertainment but not much more.

The beautiful Princess Scheherazade (Yvonne DeCarlo) is betrothed to Prince Murad (George Macready). Unfortunately for her, Prince Murad is a bit of a tyrant, and his tax collectors have been oppressing the common people. Challenging his tyranny is the man known as the Desert Hawk. His real identity is under wraps, and when not fighting injustice he's a humble blacksmith under the name of Omar.

Richard Greene plays the Desert Hawk in this sprightly Arabian Nights adventure ( minus the fantasy elements) and he's a Robin Hood figure. It's nothing new, but that doesn't mean it isn't entertaining. There's a lot to enjoy like scimitars clashing, riders in the desert landscape, diabolical plots, and some nice twists and turn. It was quite enjoyable.

Both stars - Yvonne DeCarlo and Richard Greene- enliven this film further, with Decarlo's haughty princess adding some spice, and Greene's dashing acting. He really swordfights well.

It's got the typical Hollywood's exaggerated version of Arabia with harems and poetic language. But it's harmless fun that had me cheering the hero.

Established by mutual agreement, even by third parties. Like the deceitful marriage between the two protagonists. The princesses, although against a marriage arranged by her father, is won over by the boldness and noble motivations of the deception. The disguise also serves to fight the tyrannical power of the prince, for the freedom of his starving people.

Princess Scheherazade (Yvonne de Carlo) agrees to marry Prince Murad, arranged by the caliph, her father. In reality she marries the bandit Omar (Richard Greene), nicknamed the Desert hawk, accompanied by his attendant Aladdin (Jackie Gleason) and his gang. When the real Prince Murad (George McCready) arrives at the camp protected by the garrison of Captain Ras (Rock Hudson), he reveals the deception.

Director Frederick de Cordova (6.0) gives a good adventurous pace to the film; the screenplay (6.0) is linear and fluid enough to flow quickly; from a technical point of view (5.5) one can appreciate Russel Metty's elegant photographic work; the acting (5.5) of the secondary roles is just sufficient, including Greene and Gleason, who work well within their comfort zone, while de Carlo's work in a complex and multifaceted role, an assertive and fascinating heroine, is more in-depth.

Best moments: in the casbah you can find excellent deals, obviously knowing how to judge the merchandise well: "Strong hair, thick skull... well-shaped ear. Clean, without warts... Show me your teeth". A must-see for fans of cloak and dagger and exotic settings.

A remarkably decent cast fail to enliven this rather verbose and dull Arabian Nights adventure based around the legendary character of "Scheherazade". This time she (Yvonne de Carlo) is the daughter of the Caliph who is tricked into marrying "Omar" (Richard Greene) in the belief that he is the Prince "Murad" (George Macready). Nobody is very impressed by this arrangement, the Princess demands the head of "Omar" and off we go on some colourful desert shenanigans during which the Princess realises that she might just have backed the wrong horse! Sadly, though, it is all just descends quickly into a routine sand and scimitar story as the men vie for her affections whilst pursuing wealth and power at the same time. It looks quite good, but the dialogue is pretty stilted and even with Jackie Gleason and a bit-part from Rock Hudson, it never really flows - indeed, much of the time it is just too meandering and lacklustre. Pity, though - better writing and direction could have made more of it.