Náufragos do Deserto

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 !!

"In 1856 Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War, organised the American Camel Corps of the United States Army, which mapped the southern route across the plains and deserts from Texas to California. The building of the trans-continental railroad ended the usefulness of the Camel Corps, and the animals were sold to private enterprise or escaped into the south-western desert where camels were still seen by lonely prospectors more than a decade later."

Quite what filmic significance that opening statement has to how Desert Pursuit pans out is anybody's guess, but it's there and clearly the pic was meant to be more thematically telling than the odd ball piece it is.

Out of Monogram, it's directed by George Blair and adapted to screenplay by W. Scott Darling from the novel written by Kenneth Perkins. It stars Wayne Morris and Virginia Grey, William Sickner photographs it out of Death Valley and the Sierra Mountains, and music is by Edward J. Kay. Plot pitches Morris and Grey on a journey through the desert trying to avoid three Arabian men who are up to no good. There's gold, camels, a burgeoning romance, oh and it's Christmas time as well, handy since there is three not so wise men on the scene and Grey's character is called Mary...

It's actually a harmless movie, a decent time waster. The musical score blends Oater strains with Arabian flavours, the locations gorgeous, while Morris and Grey are a likable coupling. There's the odd dummy flung about the place, the fist fights scarcely believable, and you know how this is ultimately going to end, but it's a fun enough dromedary ride regardless. 6/10

Camels in western will be used later, in 1954, by Ray Nazarro's SOUTHWEST PASSAGE, starring Rod Cameron, a very unusual topic and always interesting to watch. This western may be rather ambitious for a George Blair, who usually showed us a tepid work for Republic Pictures, the most prestigious of Poverty Row companies. This movie is helped by Wayne Morris presence. Yes, yes, yes, I am surprised by the quality of this George Blair's western, as I would have been with for instance Philip Ford, Blair's fellow colleague director at Republic Pictures, both directors representing the bottom of the barrel in terms of grade Z quality. Here, that looks like a Jo Kane's film, or at best Ray Nazzaro. A good little surprise.

Gold miner ford smith (wayne morris) has hit it big, so he and new traveling friend mary (virginia grey) are heading back to town. But three camel drivers are chasing after them, hoping to steal the treasure away from smith. The military really did experiment using camels to get around, but camels weren't much use once the railroads were built. An interesting tale! Keep an eye out for george tobias... in addition to playing abner on bewitched, he was the character actor in so many other films, sometimes with an accent. It's pretty short, at 71 minutes. Filmed at olancha and alabama hills, near lone pine. Which is where there's an awesome western movie museum. Hopefully, they still show rare, zane gray films on the weekends. The film is pretty good! Ford and mary start out as strangers, but fall in love along the way. If they can just get away from the bandits. Film directed by george blair. Story by kenneth perkins. Sadly, morris died so young at 45. Was a military hero during world war II.

In the American southwest deserts, camels have been left by previous expeditions. Miner Ford Smith (Wayne Morris) encounters wild local Leatherface Bates who claims that three Arabs on camels are looking to steal his gold. Mary Smith (Virginia Grey) joins Ford on his journey while the suspicious Arabs keep hanging around.

It would help if Wayne Morris gets a little dirty and dusty. This traffics in the clean-cut American couple being hounded by those dirty Arabs. This story only works if the Arabs start out without a gun. There is too little shooting and little tension. By the time that they really start shooting, the audience stops caring.