Sword in the Desert ** (1949, Dana Andrews, Märta Torén, Stephen McNally, Jeff Chandler) – Classic Movie Review 11,243

Director George Sherman’s 1949 controversial American black and white historical war action drama Sword in the Desert is notable for being the first American film to deal with the 1947–1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine, for the controversy it caused especially in the UK, and now for its historical interest. When the Americans knew it would cause controversy they went ahead anyway, and when they knew it would cause offence they still went ahead anyway.

Dana Andrews stars as American freighter owner and captain Mike Dillon, who reluctantly smuggles Jewish immigrants ashore into Palestine under the nose of the British authorities, only doing it for the money, and is later forced to join the Jews in their flight for freedom. Jeff Chandler has his first significant role as the Jewish leader David Vogel.

Production took place on Universal Pictures’ backlot, with location work at Monterey, California, the San Fernando Valley and Victorville in the Mojave Desert.

The screenplay is based on a short story by producer Robert Buckner, who had the idea after a visit to Palestine in 1934.

The film was controversial because it shows Jewish settlers fighting the British and not Arabs. Universal Pictures barred the press from the set during the last week of shooting after London newspapers carried adverse reports on the film. The Evening Standard said it was ‘not for the eyes of Britons’ and The Daily Telegraph said Britons would be surprised to see how harshly the British troops treated Jewish civilians in the film.

When the film opened at the New Gallery cinema, in Regent Street, London, on 2 February 1950 there were demonstrations and disturbances outside, and pamphlets supporting Oswald Mosley’s fascist Union Movement were distributed to people wanting to see it. The cinema received a bomb threat and Mosley also threatened to picket other cinemas showing the film.

Five days later, the Public Control Committee of London Country Council followed the advice of the Home Office and prohibited further public showings to prevent any more trouble from fascist elements. It ignored a protest from the National Council for Civil Liberties, claiming the action constituted a ban on free speech.

The film was screened in Australia after cuts, but its controversial content stopped it being shown in Tasmania.

Central Hall of the New Gallery.

The New Gallery Cinema, originally an art gallery from 1888 to 1910, operated from 1913 to 1953. Enlargements and modifications were made to the cinema in 1925, including the installation of a Wurlitzer organ, which has remained in place and is restored to its original condition. It was a Seventh-day Adventist Church from 1953 to 1992, then a Habitat furniture store from 2006 to 2011, and since September 2012 it is a flagship store for Burberry.

Andrews and Torén reunited for Assignment – Paris (1952).

The cast are Dana Andrews as Mike Dillon, Märta Torén as Sabra, Stephen McNally as David Vogel, Jeff Chandler as Kurta, Philip Friend as Lieutenant Ellerton, Hugh French as Major Sorrell, Liam Redmond as Jerry McCarthy, Lowell Gilmore as Major Stephens, Stanley Logan as Colonel Bruce Evans, Hayden Rorke as Captain Beaumont, George Tyne as Dov, Peter Coe as Tarn, Paul Marion as Jeno, Marten Lamont as Captain Fletcher, and David Bauer [David Wolfe] as Gershon.

Swedish star Märta Torén appeared in 11 American films, including Casbah (1948), One Way Street (1950), Spy Hunt [Panther’s Moon] (1950), Sirocco (1951), The Man Who Watched Trains Go By (1952) and Assignment – Paris (1952), but died from a cerebral haemorrhage, aged only 31, on 19 February 1957.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,243

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com