The Desert Hawk (serial)

The Desert Hawk is a 1944 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 evil twin brother. Co-stars included serial regulars Charles Middleton, Frank Lackteen and I. Stanford Jolley.

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. Hassan 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.

Production
The Desert Hawk is a "western" set in the Middle East with swashbuckling elements.

Critical reception
According to reviewer William Cline, Gilbert Roland was "superbly convincing as the dashing Hawk, and made memorable an otherwise routine thriller."

Chapter titles
Source:
 * 1) The Twin Brothers
 * 2) The Evil Eye
 * 3) The Mark of the Scimitar
 * 4) A Caliph's Treachery
 * 5) The Secret of the Palace
 * 6) The Feast of the Beggars
 * 7) Double Jeopardy
 * 8) The Slave Traders
 * 9) The Underground River
 * 10) The Fateful Wheel
 * 11) The Mystery of the Mosque
 * 12) The Hand of Vengeance
 * 13) Swords of Fate
 * 14) The Wizard's Story
 * 15) The Triumph of Kasim