Le Chant du Désert

Although Ms. Leander herself found this film to be "so bad", it has its moments for her loyal fans. She enters in an airplane that she pilots as her deep, rich voice is played on a record in the cockpit! And her songs can not be faulted, with the help of Bruno Balz. Most alluring is "Sagt dir eine schone Frau vielleicht" sung in an elegant atmosphere at the "Hotel Royal" as she is watched by various sinister types ( A reflection of a scene from La Habanera? ). The exotic setting of the film seems to work against its star in some ways: it is not the place for her to wear her trademark furs and jewels, although there is some glamour in spite of being at an outpost in the middle of nowhere. The plot contains some anti-British propaganda. Hitler attended opening night, but his opinion of the film remains unrecorded. It is easy to focus on Zarah Leander and forget the other, rather poor, aspects in this film. All in all, this is strictly for the fans of Ms. Leander.

Grace Collins (Zarah Leander), a beautiful singer with an astonishing alto-voice, comes to Rocky Camp (a far away place in Northern Africa). She meets a young (and not really beautiful) swedish engineer, who is building a copper-mine. They fall in love. But Graces stepfather (the bad character) needs to kill Brenton (her love)for some financial reason: His soldiers take him to prison. He will be executed, but help could be there within one hour. Can you imagine what happens now? No, it is impossible: She SINGS for the soldiers and saves him. Happy End! A boring movie, but Zarah Leander is wonderful and adorable as always: She sings "Fatme erzähl' mir ein Märchen" composed by Nico Dostal.