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Released August 01, 1950
Featuring Joe Besser (Solo)
Universal
74.33 min. (Feature Film)

Omar the Desert Hawk, a fugitive "robin hood," poses as Baghdad's evil Prince Murad in order to marry the Caliph of Tehran's daughter Princess Scheherazade (Yvonne DeCarlo). Murad and Scheherazade seek revenge for the deception, even though she has fallen in love with Omar. Murad had hoped to combine his army with the Caliph's through the marriage, and then assassinate him. But his new plan is to seek help from Lord Kibar and his murderess captain of the guard Samad (Marc Lawrence), for them to abduct the Princess and sell her into slavery, and then tell the Caliph that she was killed by the Desert Hawk. This will earn his revenge on the Hawk, and ingratiate him with the Caliph so that he can proceed with the assassination. But Kibar has ambitious plans of his own.

Comedy relief is provided by Omar's henchmen, played by Joe Besser and Jackie Gleason.

A reworking of ARABIAN NIGHTS (1942), Besser and Gleason assuming roles earlier played by Shemp Howard and Billy Gilbert... in a way, making THE DESERT HAWK the first time Joe replaced Shemp. Besser-bashers will like the scene where Kibar's soldiers torture him on the rack.

An early role for Rock Hudson, as 'Captain Ras.'

Directed by future Johnny Carson TONIGHT SHOW producer Fred DeCordova.

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Avg. Rating: [6.00/10]
 
DESERT HAWK, THE on IMDb

Yvonne DeCarlo
Scheherazade

Jeff Chandler
Opening narration

Rock Hudson
Captain Ras

Frank Puglia
Ahmed Bey

Richard Hale
Iman the Holy One

Jan Arvan
Merchant

Shirley Ballard
Naga, slave girl dancer

Wendy Waldron
Slave girl

Lucile Barnes
Girl in bathtub

Vonne Lester
Harem girl

Eileen Howe
Harem girl

Norma De Landa
Harem girl

Barbara Kelly
Harem girl

Marian Dennish
Harem girl

Hazel Shaw
Harem girl

Frank Lackteen
One-eyed Arab

Virginia Hunter
Slave girl dancer

Robert J. Wilke
Camel driver

Robert Filmer
Camel driver

Lane Bradford
Standard bearer

Dale Van Sickel
Kibar leader

George Bruggeman
Soldier, stunts


Russell Metty
Director of Photography

Otto Ludwig
Film Editor

Dan Nathan
Film Editor

Emrich Nicholson
Art Director

Bernard Herzbrun
Art Director

John Austin
Set Decoration

Russell A. Gausman
Set Decoration

Frank Skinner
Original Music

Harold Belfer
Choreography

Bill Thomas
Costumes

Joan St. Oegger
Hair Stylist

Olga Collings
Hair Stylist

Fred Frank
Assistant Director

Bernard McEveety
Production Manager

Philip Lathrop
Camera Operator

Dorothy Hughes
Script Supervisor

William Fritzsche
Technicolor Consultant

Mahmud Shaikhaly
Technical Advisor

Richard Walling
Still Photography


















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