The Desert Song (Max Liebman Presents)
15th episode of the 1st season of Max Liebman Presents
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"The Desert Song" is the fifteenth episode of the American television musical variety series Max Liebman Presents,[1][2] adapted from the 1926 operetta The Desert Song, which was based on a true event - an uprising of the Riff tribes against French colonial rule in Morocco in 1925.
Episode 15
- William Friedberg
- Neil Simon
- Will Glickman
by Sigmund Romberg
| "The Desert Song" | |
|---|---|
| Max Liebman Presents episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 15 |
| Directed by | Max Liebman |
| Written by |
|
| Based on | The Desert Song by Sigmund Romberg |
| Featured music | Sigmund Romberg |
| Original air date | May 7, 1955 |
| Running time | 75 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
The music for the operetta was composed by Sigmund Romberg. The book and the lyrics were written by Oscar Hammerstein II, Otto Harbach, Frank Mandel, and Laurence Schwab. Writers for the television adaptation were William Friedberg, Will Glickman and Neil Simon. First telecast live in the United States on May 7, 1955, on NBC. The conductor for the production was Charles Sanford - while the choreographer for all of the dances and musical segments was Rod Alexander. Due to the time constraints for the live telecast, the television version had to be abridged and adapted and it is therefore slightly different from the original operetta. NBC broadcast the live telecast two years after the film version of The Desert Song with Gordon MacRae and Kathryn Grayson was made.
The television version features the only surviving footage of Nelson Eddy in a complete live musical.[3][1]
Plot
French efforts to turn Morocco into a modern colony are balked by a native Riff rebellion, led by the mysterious Red Shadow. Unknown to all, including his own father, the daring and fearless rebel leader is none other than Pierre, the unassuming son of the French commanding officer, General Birabeau. At the French military outpost, Pierre effectively conceals his Red Shadow identity by assuming a meek persona.
Pierre loves the lively and adventurous Margot. However Margot, who wants excitement in her life, only thinks of the likable, mild-mannered Pierre as a friend. So Pierre, in his disguise as the Red Shadow, kidnaps Margot and takes her to the desert fortress of his friend, Ali Ben Ali, Caid of the Riff tribe. It is here that the Red Shadow declares his love for Margot, and where Margot falls in love with the Red Shadow, despite not knowing who he really is.
When the Red Shadow refuses to fight a duel with General Birabeau, he loses the respect of his men and is banished to the desert without food, without a horse, and with only a broken sword to defend himself.
Later, when Pierre's secret identity as the Red Shadow is revealed to General Birabeau and Margot, all ends happily.
Cast members
- Nelson Eddy (lyric baritone) as Pierre Birabeau / Red Shadow, fearless leader of the Riffs
- Gale Sherwood (soprano) as Margot Bonvalet
- Otto Kruger as General Birabeau
- John Conte (baritone) as Captain Paul Fontaine
- Earl William (tenor) as Hassi (the Red Shadow's second in command)
- Salvatore Baccaloni (bass) as Ali Ben Ali, Caid of the Riff tribe[4][5]
- Viola Essen as Azuri, an Arabian dancing girl
- Bambi Linn and Rod Alexander as the dancers in "The Desert Song" ballet
- Felisa Conde as a Castagnette Dancer
- Lee Bowman, the announcer who gives information about the operetta, immediately following the opening credits of the telecast
Music
Act I
- Overture
- Sound Test - Nelson Eddy singing the end of The Desert Song, accompanied by the orchestra
- Ho! Bold Men of Morocco — Red Shadow, Riffs
- The Riff Song — Red Shadow, Riffs
- Arabian dance - woman dancer (title of music unknown)
- Why Did We Marry Soldiers? — soldiers' wives
- French dance - wives or girlfriends, Moroccan men (title of music unknown)
- French Military Marching Song — soldiers, wives
- O! Pretty Maid of France / Margot — Paul, Margot, soldiers
- Romance — Margot, women's ensemble
- Soft as a Pigeon Lights Upon the Sand — Hassi, chorus
- Azuri's Dance - Azuri, dancers (music: "Soft as a Pigeon Lights Upon the Sand")
- Then You Will Know — Pierre, Margot
- Romance (reprise - last part of song, only) — Margot
- The Desert Song — Red Shadow, Margot
- The Desert Song Ballet - Pas de deux by Rod Alexander & Bambi Linn, as the Red Shadow & Margot (music: "The Desert Song")
Act II
- My Little Castagnette - women's chorus (sung off-stage, accompanying the "Spanish Dance") - Castagnette dancers
- Let Love Go — Ali Ben Ali
- One Flower Grows Alone In Your Garden — Hassi
- One Alone — Red Shadow
- One Flower Grows Alone in Your Garden (music only)
- The Sabre Song — Margot
- Farewell / One Alone (reprise) — Red Shadow
- French Military Marching Song (reprise) — Paul, soldiers and wives
- Arabian dance - Azuri, chorus and dancers (music: "One Flower Grows Alone In Your Garden")
- The Desert Song (reprise) — Pierre, Margot
- One Alone (reprise) — sung by the entire company during the closing credits
Broadcast
Home media
A DVD-version was published by Video Artists International.[3]
A complete CD soundtrack of the telecast, which includes the added feature of an interview with Gale Sherwood (who starred as Margot in the live telecast), was also published by Video Artists International.[citation needed]
The photo, shown on the front cover of both the DVD and CD, was courtesy of Gale Sherwood, according to VAI Music (Video Artists International), who published both the DVD and CD. A comment about this is mentioned on an insert of the DVD when bought from VAI Music.[citation needed]