5.5
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
The Desert Song (1929)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Center
Viewer Rating
Rating: 5.5
Overview
French General Birabeau has been sent to Morocco to root out and destroy the Riffs, a band of Arab rebels, who threaten the safety of the French outpost in the Moroccan desert. Their dashing, daredevil leader is the mysterious "Red Shadow". Margot Bonvalet, a lovely, sassy French girl, is soon to be married at the fort to Birabeau's right-hand man, Captain Fontaine. Birabeau's son Pierre, in reality the Red Shadow, loves Margot, but pretends to be a milksop to preserve his secret identity. Margot tells Pierre that she secretly yearns to be swept into the arms of some bold, dashing sheik, perhaps even the Red Shadow himself. Pierre, as the Red Shadow, kidnaps Margot and declares his love for her.
Starring Cast
Bias Dimensions
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Low
Race Swap: Yes
Islam: Positive
Overview
French General Birabeau has been sent to Morocco to root out and destroy the Riffs, a band of Arab rebels, who threaten the safety of the French outpost in the Moroccan desert. Their dashing, daredevil leader is the mysterious "Red Shadow". Margot Bonvalet, a lovely, sassy French girl, is soon to be married at the fort to Birabeau's right-hand man, Captain Fontaine. Birabeau's son Pierre, in reality the Red Shadow, loves Margot, but pretends to be a milksop to preserve his secret identity. Margot tells Pierre that she secretly yearns to be swept into the arms of some bold, dashing sheik, perhaps even the Red Shadow himself. Pierre, as the Red Shadow, kidnaps Margot and declares his love for her.
Starring Cast
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Center
Primary
The film's central conflict, portraying a masked rebel leader fighting against French colonial rule in Morocco, establishes a clear anti-colonial and pro-self-determination stance, aligning with left-leaning critiques of imperialism.
The movie features traditional casting for its era, with predominantly white actors in all significant roles, including those representing North African characters. The narrative focuses on romantic adventure and does not explicitly critique traditional identities or colonial themes, maintaining a neutral to positive portrayal of its main characters.
Secondary
The character Azuri, canonically a North African 'native dancer' in the source operetta, is portrayed by Myrna Loy, a white actress, constituting a race swap.
The film portrays the Riff rebels, implicitly an Islamic people, as noble freedom fighters against French colonial oppression. The narrative romanticizes their struggle and positions their leader, the Red Shadow, as a heroic figure, aligning audience sympathy with their cause.
The film "The Desert Song" (1929) does not feature any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes. The narrative focuses on a heterosexual romance and adventure set in North Africa, with no elements pertaining to queer identity or experiences within its plot or character arcs.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
The 1929 film is an adaptation of the 1926 operetta. All major characters, such as The Red Shadow, Margot Bonvalet, and General Birabeau, maintain their established genders from the original source material.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
6.5
4.5
Critic Ratings
N/A
N/A
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