Southwest Passage

1954

1h 15m

IMDb RATING

5.4/10

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Western

As the Cavalry tests the viability of bringing camels to US deserts, a surveyor, Arab drivers, and fugitive bank robbers confront Apaches and thirst. Originally filmed in 3-D

Directors

Ray Nazarro

Writers

Harry Essex(idea by)

Harry Essex(screenplay by)

Daniel Mainwaring(screenplay by)

Stars

Rod Cameron

John Ireland

Joanne Dru

See production, box office & company info

Top cast

Rod Cameron

Edward Fitzpatrick Beale

John Ireland

Clint McDonald

Joanne Dru

Lilly

Darryl Hickman

Jeb

Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams

Tall Tale

Matt Carroll

Toad Ellis

Dr. Stanton

Lt. Owens

Hi Jolly

Constable Bartlett

Sheriff Morgan

Barstow

Directors

Ray Nazarro

Writers

Harry Essex(idea by)

Harry Essex(screenplay by)

Daniel Mainwaring(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Camel Caravan! Southwest Passage (AKA: Camels West) is directed by Ray Nazarro and written by Harry Essex and Geoffrey Homes. It stars Rod Cameron, John Ireland, Joanne Dru, John Dehner and Guin Williams. Music is by Emil Newman and Arthur Lang and the Pathe Color photography is by Sam Leavitt. A robber and hid girl join a Camel Caravan to escape their pursuers. Originally filmed in 3-D, one might be surprised to find that as fanciful as the premise to this seems, it's very much grounded in facts. Edward Fitzgerald Beale (1822 - 1893) the character played by Cameron is a most fascinating person whose real life work is far more interesting than the film is! Further reading on the subject is recommended. This is all very routine as a group of various ethnicities and walks of life trek across the desert with camels in tow to test their usage for the U.S. Cavalry. Ireland (posing as a doctor) and Dru (gorgeous but looking like she just wandered in off of a Estée Lauder advertisement) are hiding out. So they are on the bluff which keeps the "will they get caught" factor simmering away. Naturally a rapscallion fellow (Dehner) figures things out and wants a share of the couple's stolen goods. To further complicate matters and up the peril quota, the water is running low. Add in the fact we are in Apache country and you get the drift of where the picture is heading. Cast make things watchable at least, while the location scenery out of Kanab, Utah, is a treat for the eyes. It all builds to a frantic finale, which is well staged and high on rapid gun fire, but once the "too tidy" resolution is reached it's a Western that quickly fades from memory. 5/10

John Chard18 Jan, 2019