1942: Conway, a renegade American, is running guns to the Arabs in North Africa. But when Colonel Dufort, the new commander in Timbuktu, and his beautiful wife Natalie arrive, Conway agrees to work for the French cause.
Victor Mature plays an American adventurer who plays both sides of the fence by selling guns to the Arab rebels yet spying on the rebels for the Foreign Legion. A real chess player. It's an interesting characterisation amidst the familiar desert adventure with skirmishes, double cross, gunrunning, men impaled like shish kebabs in the hot sun, the colonel who is obsessed with his job and neglects his wife and the wife falls for the hero ( Victor Mature). Still enjoyable, especially if you accept it for what it is -an old-fashioned yet thoroughly decent and efficiently made dessert action adventure. After all, it is directed by the great Jacques Tournier. He keeps things ticking with plenty of action - there's an exciting shoot out at its conclusion- and a nifty plot. Just wish it was in colour. Despite John Dehner being rather miscast as the emir, he does well as the villain who has a penchant of using creep crawlies as torture devices. Yvonne DeCarlo sizzles like always. There's a nice quip by Victor Mature when the holy man says "May Allah's blessing be with you." Victor's reply: "Hope they are bullet proof."
Victor Mature plays an American adventurer who plays both sides of the fence by selling guns to the Arab rebels yet spying on the rebels for the Foreign Legion. A real chess player. It's an interesting characterisation amidst the familiar desert adventure with skirmishes, double cross, gunrunning, men impaled like shish kebabs in the hot sun, the colonel who is obsessed with his job and neglects his wife and the wife falls for the hero ( Victor Mature). Still enjoyable, especially if you accept it for what it is -an old-fashioned yet thoroughly decent and efficiently made dessert action adventure. After all, it is directed by the great Jacques Tournier. He keeps things ticking with plenty of action - there's an exciting shoot out at its conclusion- and a nifty plot. Just wish it was in colour. Despite John Dehner being rather miscast as the emir, he does well as the villain who has a penchant of using creep crawlies as torture devices. Yvonne DeCarlo sizzles like always. There's a nice quip by Victor Mature when the holy man says "May Allah's blessing be with you." Victor's reply: "Hope they are bullet proof."