Wayne Morris plans Ford Smith, a cowboy who’s been prospecting in the desert for four years trying to raise enough money to marry sweetheart Betsy Blake, who lives in the nearby town of San Bernadino.
Then he finds out his partner (Leatherface) got drunk in Carson City and blabbed about his gold discovery to an Arab named Hassan. Now three Arabs on camels are after Ford’s gold. His only option, make a trek across the desert with his gold to sweep Betsy off her feet, get married, settle down and buy a ranch.
Just then Mary Smith (Virginia Grey) rides into camp. She’s heading to San Bernadino, too, so the two Smiths decide to travel together. At camp the first night out, Mary breaks the bad news to Ford — Betsy got married to the owner of the hardware store.
Ford’s broken heart mends quickly. In no time flat, he’s laying kisses on Mary. That is, of course, when the twosome isn’t fleeing those dastardly Arabs on camels.
Review:
From concept to acting, a horrendous film. The three Arabs come off as incompetent cowards, hardly a fierce adversary.
You never get the sense out heroes are in danger, partly because the Arabs spend most of the film throwing knives at people hundreds of yards away, partly because Wayne Morris never seems very harried or harassed during an uninspired, one-note performance.
In one laughable scene, Mary and Ford find themselves in an Indian encampment on Christmas eve. The former Mission Indians organize a Catholic service. Then the three Arabs show up. And they’re mistaken for the three wise men!
Directed by:
George Blair
Cast:
Wayne Morris .. Ford Smith
Virginia Grey … Mary Smith
Anthony Caruso … Hassan
George Tobias … Ghazili
Emmett Lynn … Leatherface Bates
John Doucette … Kafan
Billy Wilkerson … Indian ceremony leader
Robert Bice … Tomaso
Gloria Talbott … Indian girl
Frank Lackteen … Indian bodyguard
Runtime: 71 min.
Memorable lines:
Leatherface: “You gotta get out of here, boy. You gotta get out of here.”
Ford Smith: “Why?”
Leatherface: “Because the camels are coming. Three of the ugliest, most flee-bitten critters you ever set your eyes on.”
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