The Desert Song (1943)

Unaware that this had been considered unavailable for many years, I had sought this out and for years only had a badly edited black and white version of this from some local TV station somewhere that looked as if it had been copied down half a dozen generations. That was horrible to try to watch even though I hung on to it just for the privilege of having. Nobody in the movie collecting business knew of any color prints available, and even the 1929 version appeared to have been locked away as well. The 1953 version did make its way to VHS, and a 20 minute short ("The Red Shadow") appeared on TCM in it's early days. Out of the blue this version from the war era came out on home video in all its colorful glory, but unfortunately, what I witnessed upon my discovery of the original print may not have been worth my search.The mixture of the glorious score (greatly cut) and the setting of World War II did not mesh in my opinion, and perhaps this is an operetta best left to recordings than stagings, having failed with Broadway revivals both in 1946 and 1973. It's silly and inappropriate as war propaganda, and reminded me more of a Maria Montez/Sabu adventure with songs. Dennis Morgan was fine as a romantic lead, but his singing after a while is grating. Irene Manning was fine as a B leading lady or the other woman but fails to impress in her one A lead. Bruce Cabot is serviceable as Manning's suitor, and Lynne Overman is a notch above the annoying Dick Wesson in the 1953 remake. The new songs aren't memorable in the least, but the original score does get a good recording from the Warner Brothers sound department. War musicals work better with real entertainers putting on a show, but mixing sword and sandal with Nazis and Sigmund Romberg sadly fails.

For years i was begging t.c.m. to get their boss,Time Warner, to work on the mysterious copy right problem that it had concerning one song that was not a part of the play.I Think it was."Fifi.where is my true love?It sounded like that.That song might have been the problem. It was in 2014 that I was contacting t.c.m. still to work on the copy rights .It was recently in 2016 I had learned that this classic was out on DVD for two years.I think the story is more real in this anti Nazi version.The songs come out more naturally.When Dennis Morgan is singing to Irene Manning,who was hired in 1938 to do the production,but, was delayed,with the title of the movie, You saw the rich Technicolor desert mountains all excellently photographed ,all shot in Arizona.The Native Girl Hajy,played by Faye Emerson, was under staged in this version.She barely spoke.I think Curt Bios ,who play the censor, for the news,was also possibly the originally gay character toned down.Bruce Cabot shows up as the colonel ,who doesn't suspect Victor France,Working for Hitler,to create that railroad ,Half of the film take place in a Morocco night club,where Morgan portrays a singer ,who disguises himself in secret s the El Khobar to help the riff to get free from Francen's oppression. The number about a Parisian was very good and showed Irene 's singing talents well.The music sounded like Max Steiner,but it wasn't his music.It's been out for a while and it's worth seeing,06/3/16

I fell in love with the Desert Song movie with Dennis Morgan & Irene Manning when I was young and years later I was a hairdresser and did Irene Manning's hair. She gave two of us operators a copy of the movie on a VHS tape and I have had it ever since. I am sure it would be illegal to copy it or sell it or anything else but when I see the comments of people who would love to see it again it frustrates me. It is not as clear as modern Technicolor but still a great movie and the music is wonderful;. I have no idea as to the added song or which one it was, but the film is still exciting to see and I am 78 years old. It is pure nostalgia and I with all of you would like to see it released to the public.......... Patricia

I saw the 1943 production when I was just a young boy and fell in love with the movie. I saw it several times and always enjoyed it. The production starring Gordon McRea lacked quality acting and the music was not as good as the one starring Dennis Morgan.Kathryn Grayson made some good musicals. Showboat was one of them, saw it many times also and have it in my video library. Irene Manning's soprano voice is much softer to the ear and much easier to listen to. Kathryn Grayson's voice is a very high pitched, sharp sounding voice. At times too sharp to listen to.I'm no movie critic but I do know what I like. I do hope that eventually the 1943 production of "The Desert Song" will be available on video or DVD for old timers like me to enjoy the nostaglia of watching and listening to one of the truly great musicals from the early days of Hollywood.