The Desert Hawk (serial)
The Desert Hawk (1944) is a Columbia film serial. It was the 23rd serial produced by Columbia. Gilbert Roland played a dual role in this serial, that of Kasim, The Desert Hawk and also Hassan, his own evil twin brother. Co-stars included serial regulars Charles Middleton, Frank Lackteen and I. Stanford Jolley.
| The Desert Hawk | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | B. Reeves Eason |
| Produced by | Rudolph C. Flothow |
| Written by | Sherman L. Lowe Leslie Swabacker Jack Stanley Leighton Brill |
| Starring | Gilbert Roland Mona Maris Ben Welden Kenneth MacDonald Frank Lackteen I. Stanford Jolley Charles Middleton |
| Music by | Lee Zahler |
| Cinematography | James S. Brown Jr. |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date | 7 July 1944 |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
The sinister Hassan starts plotting against the recently crowned Caliph, his twin brother Kasim. The evil twin engages the help of Faud who sends his man to the palace to kidnap the Caliph and murder him. These henchmen enter the palace and wound Kasim who manages to escape. A beggar named Omar finds him and cares for him until his health is restored. By the time the wounded Kasim recovers his brother has taken over the throne and plans to marry Princess Azala the daughter of the Emir of Telif who does not know that the current Caliph is an impostor. Kasim decides to fight for the throne and the princess after he finds a suit of chainmail displaying a hawk on the front.[1]
Cast
- Gilbert Roland - Kasim, The Desert Hawk and Hassan, his Evil Twin Brother
- Mona Maris - Princess Azala
- Ben Welden - Omar, the Beggar
- Kenneth MacDonald - Akbar
- Frank Lackteen - Faud, the Chief Chamberlain
- I. Stanford Jolley - Saladin
- Charles Middleton - Koda Bey
- Egon Brecher - Grey Wizard
- Georges Renavent - Emil of Telif (as George Renavent)
- Margia Dean - Wizard's Daughter
- Forrest Taylor - Akrad, the money-lender
Production
The Desert Hawk is a "western" set in the Middle East with swashbuckling elements.[2]
Critical reception
According to reviewer William Cline, Gilbert Roland was "superbly convincing as the dashing Hawk, and made memorable an otherwise routine thriller."[2]
Chapter titles
- The Twin Brothers
- The Evil Eye
- The Mark of the Scimitar
- A Caliph's Treachery
- The Secret of the Palace
- The Feast of the Beggars
- Double Jeopardy
- The Slave Traders
- The Underground River
- The Fateful Wheel
- The Mystery of the Mosque
- The Hand of Vengeance
- Swords of Fate
- The Wizard's Story
- The Triumph of Kasim
Source:[3]
References
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036754/plotsummary/
- Cline, William C. (1984). "3. The Six Faces of Adventure". In the Nick of Time. McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 29. ISBN 0-7864-0471-X.
- Cline, William C. (1984). "Filmography". In the Nick of Time. McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 238. ISBN 0-7864-0471-X.
External links
| Preceded by The Phantom (1943) |
Columbia Serial The Desert Hawk (1944) |
Succeeded by Black Arrow (1944) |