Comments on: “The Desert Song”: A Glorious Technicolor Version on DVD for the First Time

By: Kurt Gänzl

Kurt Gänzl — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 02:58:08 +0000

DESERT SONG, I repeat, must NOT be taken ‘seriously’. All this stuff about ‘based on fact’? Bunkum. It’s a simple Valentino meets Elinor Glyn rip off, and all the better for it! If it were truly ‘for real’ I would instantly withdraw my judgement of it as the best of its time and place. All that quasi-historical bumpf is no more convincing than the dancing Murderess in ROSE MARIE, and so many others of the time.I saw it on stage in the 1950s and even then the director had got the tone right! PS My further opinion? The Eastern and Western love sequence is one of Romberg’s greatest works. I can, but won’t, go on for an hour …

By: geerd heinsen

geerd heinsen — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 15:18:17 +0000

und als kleiner nachtrag zu romberg – ein muss ist “deep in my heart” mit der Traubel, hier ein kleiner appetithappen bei youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tZOuRRgde4

By: Kurt Gänzl

Kurt Gänzl — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 15:10:17 +0000

Delighted to read such a grand article … and one that confirms that The Red Shadow is based not on some historical Moroccan rebel, but fairly and squarely on the hugely saleable Mr Valentino! I agree with myself! This is the best of the American 1920s romantic musicals: best book, best score … and there’s nothing wrong with K Grayson, either!!!!!

By: geerd heinsen

geerd heinsen — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 14:51:12 +0000

was für ein schöner artikel – danke und auch danke für den tip, die dvd gibts im moment nur in den usa und kann von dort (laut warner) nicht exportiert werden. aber mann kennt ja menschen dort, die´s besorgen können… g