Moviecut—Desert Pursuit

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source: Desert Pursuit

Desert Pursuit

The US Camel Corps imported dromedary camels from the Middle-East. This flop of a movie uses bactrian camels from Mongolia.

Wayne Morris and Virginia Grey star in Desert Pursuit which was mostly shot in desert country in Southern California. He's a prospector who struck it rich. she's a fired faro dealer and they travel together as man and wife for conveince sake and to observe the proprieties. Some Arabs who have imported camels are threatening to take Wayne's gold. The three are Anthony Caruso, George Tobias, and John Doucette. The bulk of the film is taken up with their pursuit with animals more adapted to the desert than horses. Clearly these are not camels that Jefferson Davis imported when he hoped to start a camel corps. Still they are hardy desert animals. Our Arab villains are a scurvy trio as ever assembled. Nice location shooting in the desert and a no frills story with a cast that delivers.

It kept me interested and entertained. Now watching it on TCM.

...only for the Alabama Hills location shots. And it is a singularly unique plot, because it's the only in the imagination of a screen scenario where you could find Arab henchmen in Death Valley.

I'm pretty sure that if you look up the word 'hokum' in the dictionary, you'll find a picture of a Desert Pursuit promotional poster. The set-up is so preposterous and outre that the film can't help but be entertaining: three camel-riding Arabs from Smyrna are chasing Wayne Morris and Virginia Grey across Death Valley and will go to any lengths to steal their gold before they can get to San Berdoo. The fact that the Arabs are portrayed as a trio of lunkheads not far removed from the Three Stooges lessens the apparent threat! The gentle, unassuming Morris and feisty Grey work well together, and the desert locations look great. In short, if you put your brain on hold you'll enjoy this absurd and decidedly unusual western.

Wayne Morris appeared in many fine, lesser known films before and after his stellar career as a decorated WWII fighter ace. This film, though poorly budgeted, was a unique and fun twist on the standard western programmer of the era. Morris portrays a rambler with a cache of gold, being pursued by a trio of Arabs interested in his tempting treasure. The prolific character actors George Tobias and John Doucette are great as the star's greedy enemies. The unusual plot, fine scenery and charisma of the under-appreciated Wayne Morris make this a western well worth watching. As he demonstrated in Paths of Glory, Morris was the rare cowboy star who had some real acting chops....... Enjoy !!