Drums of the Desert (1940)

Drums of the Desert (1940). 1h 4m | Approved

“Ralph Byrd is really pretty poor here as u0026quot;Lt. Paul Dupontu0026quot;, an officer in the French Foreign Legion sent to Morocco to train an elite squadron of paratroopers. On his way across on the boat from France, he meets u0026quot;Helene Larocheu0026quot; (Lorna Gray) and they have a brief romance before they realise that she is engaged to his best friend George Lynn (u0026quot;Capt. Bridauxu0026quot;) who is also stationed at the same fort. When some local tribesmen attack the camp, and u0026quot;Bridauxu0026quot; is injured, their wedding is postponed and the ringleader of the attackers – the brother of the local Sheikh – is executed. Needless to say, that causes some resentment and the Sheikh vows to avenge the death of his brother. The star of the film is undoubtedly Mantan Moreland as u0026quot;Sgt. Williamsu0026quot; – he injects bags of charisma and some humour as his officers become just a bit too preoccupied with their love triangle. The ending is never in doubt, indeed the film seems to wrap up with an almost undue haste, but itu0026#39;s at the better end of these sandy action films that is just about worth the hour it takes to watch.”