The Thief of the Desert (1916)

movie

Country: USA
Genres: Drama, Short
Release: 1916-05-05
Director: Lynn Reynolds
Writers: Lynn Reynolds
Language: None | English
Stars: Val Paul , Myrtle Gonzalez , Walter Belasco , Fred Church , William A. Crinley
Runtime: min
Awards: N/A
AKA: The Thief of the Desert , The Thief of the Desert (United States of America)
Plot: Ali Ben was on his annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Ali Ben is accompanied by his daughter, Zoradi, whom he expects to sell to a Turkish merchant at Mecca. This arrangement is not at all welcome to Zoradi, as she has met this merchant before, and found him to be a coarse, fat, old man. She remonstrates with her father for selling her, and in reply to her complaint he tells her that the merchant, being wealthy, can furnish her with the silks and fine clothes fitting to her beauty. Ali Ben and Zoradi camp near a water hole in the desert. In another part of the sandy waste two camel thieves are dividing their loot. One of them takes the larger share, and the two quarrel. Said Shrad thinks he has been tricked in the transaction and warns his partner, Enver Khan, that their next meeting will be a "fight to the death." Enver rides away disdainfully. Later that evening, as the girl goes to the water hole, she sees Enver riding by and is much taken with his manly bearing. She watches him in admiration and does not notice Said sneaking upon him. He tries to kill Enver, without success. Enver, in turn, disarms him and throws him into the water hole. As he turns around to leave, Enver discovers the girl watching him with admiration, but she hastily sets out for the camp. He pursues her, but as he reaches camp the girl's father comes out threatening to shoot and drives him away. That night, Zoradi dreams of her gallant cavalier, and offers up a prayer that she will be rescued from the marriage with the fat merchant. She wanders out on the desert, nearby. Enver, meanwhile, has slipped to the tent and discovers the girl is gone. Her father is peacefully snoring, and he decides to steal the camel. The girl sees him prowling around, and stealthily creeping up behind him, places the dagger against his face and tells him to let the camel alone. She then asks him why he would stoop to steal a camel when it was just as easy to steal herself. He takes her at her word and. placing her on his horse, makes haste to leave the vicinity. Ali Ben wakes at sunrise and discovers his daughter gone, and thinks that what has happened is the will of Allah. Enver Kahn and the girl ride into the brightening day, happy in each other's love.
IMDB:tt0327187