La caravane du désert

The peculiarity of this cute western is that there is question of camels - yes, camels - in the Arizona - or New Mexico or Utah - desert. There are some unusual westerns like this; for instance Russel Rouse' THUNDER IN THE SUN where half of the characters were French Basques !!!! So, yes, this western made by the specialist Ray Nazarro definitely deserves to be seen, at least for this good reason. Besides the camels element, if you are a western goer, it is also for you, certainly a good time waster and not a lousy one. I always feel happy when I watch such an old fifties western. Rod Cameron was rather directed by Joseph Kane rather ay Nazarro.

As you watch "Southwest Passage", you can see that it was originally a 3D movie. All too often, folks strike at the camera with whips or pitchforks in a cheesy way to thrill the audience....a common cliche 3D filmmakers often put into their films.

When the story begins, three folks are running from the law. Soon one of them is shot and the remaining two (John Ireland and Joanne Dru) make their way to a caravan heading to California. The folks they meet up with turn out to be Cavalry folks escorting some Muslim men and their camels, as apparently the military is considering importing camels because of their ability to live in the desert. Unfortunately, while this seems like an interesting idea, the film seems to have forgotten this plot about midway through the film. The rest is mostly cliches...with the usual Indian attacks and and ending that really made little sense. It could have been worse...but should have been a lot better.

A routine western with a hook-it's based on tests the Army conducted using camels in the Southwest desert. Cameron, Ireland and Dru(Irelands' wife at the time)handle the acting chores competently, and the action runs smoothly.

Making the film must have taken great effort with location shooting in Utah. I would like seeing it in 3-D; the colour is vivid, well saturated. Director Ray Nazzaro knew his business; writer Harry Essex was not as skillful. The plot works but the dialogue often sounds silly.

The cast with beautiful Joanne Dru, her husband John Ireland, and Ron Cameron, along with excellent stock actors make watching this movie fun. You realise that actors like John Dehner, Darryl Hickman, and Stuart Randall enriched many films and television programs we enjoy.

I almost forgot about the camels while watching the movie. The hook works, I suppose, but that is not what makes it work. The fine cast, good direction, interesting photography, crisp editing, and great location do.

I enjoyed watching this movie.

Rod Cameron and the then married team of Joanne Dru and John Ireland star in Southwest Passage about an expedition to test the feasibility of using camels in the American Southwest. Purportedly after the experiment was eventually dropped and the camels turned loose on the Arizona desert descendants of them even now can be spotted to this day every now and then.

Rod Cameron plays the real life character of western explorer Edward Beale who in his life also had naval service and eventually got to be Ambassador to the Hapsburg Empire. I think his life would make one fascinating movie myself, the real story.

But here he's on a surveying party with camels, mules, and horse and the human participants are soldier, muleskinners and a few Arabs. Add to them a fugitive John Ireland posing as a doctor and his girlfriend Joanne Dru as someone they rescue in the desert you've got quite a mix facing the Apaches who eventually turn hostile.

Ireland has just robbed a bank and bottom feeding muleskinner John Dehner recognizes him. He also recognizes he's got needs when he sees Joanne Dru. She takes a liking to Cameron. The real Beale was a married man so there's no hint of reciprocation. But Ireland is not a happy camper.

There's a nice desert shootout with the Apaches which must have been something in the original 3-D this was shot in.

Southwest Passage is a nice action packed most adult western where the camel experiment is just a side note. Nothing whatever to do with the really fascinating career of Edward Fitzgerald Beale.