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 Bernardino, 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.
Wayne Morris as Ford Smith, trying to make his way to San Bernardino with gold and a girl in Desert Pursuit (1952)
Virginia Grey as Mary Smith, the woman who stumbles upon Ford Smith’s camp and becomes his traveling companion in Desert Pursuit (1952)
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 on their camels. They’re immediately mistaken for the three wise men!
Anthony Caruso as Hassan, leader of the Arabs chasing Ford Smith in Desert Pursuit (1952)
George Tobias as Ghazili, aboard his camel, asking Ford Smith for water in Desert Pursuit (1952)
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.
John Doucette as Kafan, one of the three Arabs on Ford Smith’s trail in Desert Pursuit (1952)
Emmett Lynn as Leatherface, the old-timer who blabbed about the gold Ford Smith found in Desert Pursuit (1952)
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.”
Ford Smith: “I knew I was stuck with you the minute you stumbled into camp here yesterday. I’m not gonna let you cross that desert by yourself.”
Mary Smith: “You’re not stuck with me, Mr. Smith.”
Ford Smith: “Yes, I am, Miss Smith.”
Mary Smtih: “Look, it’s just like I told you yesterday. I never figured on picking up any company going across the desert. I stumbled into you two quite by accident. I can do it. And I can do it alone.”
Ford Smith: “Mary, you’d never reach San Bernardino alive. Some day somebody will stumble across a pile of white bones out there in the desert. Yours.”
Robert Bice as Tomaso, the man who promises Ford Smith safe passage across the desert in Desert Pursuit (1952)
Billy Wilkerson as leader of the Indian camp Ford and Mary Smith stumble upon in Desert Pursuit (1952)
Ford Smith, deciding he should walk to give his horse a break because it’s carrying a heavy load of gold.
Mary Smith: “What you me won’t do for that yellow stuff.”
Ford Smith: “Of course, you’re talking about the Arabs.”
Mary Smith, smirking: “Of course.”
Ford Smith: “Mary, in case anything should happen up there, I want you to have the gold. Divvy it up between the widows and orphans.”
Ford Smith, when the Arabs show up on camels in the middle of a Christmas eve service and are mistaken for the three wise men: “We’ll never be able to convince these Indians that they’re bandits now.”
The Arabs — Kafan (John Doucette), Ghazili (George Tobias) and Hassan (Anthony Caruso) — on their camels in Desert Pursuit (1952)
Wayne Morris as Ford Smith and Virginia Grey as Mary Smith, trying to explain the plight they’re facing to an Indian leader in Desert Pursuit (1952)
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