Three men on camels chase a couple carrying gold through Death Valley.
In the mid-late 1800's camels were imported to various regions of the American southwestern deserts as pack animals and natives from the middle eastern countries came along as drivers and tenders, which is why there are three designated-as "Arab" villains in this American western: Prospector Ford Smith has hit it big and is leaving Nevada for California with his packs of gold. In Carson City, Nevada he meets Mary who has been fired from her job as a blackjack dealer, and she joins him posing as his wife. From the moment Ford and the girl start their journey they are often threatened by three following Arabs, Hassan, Kafan and Ghazili. Ford and Mary manage to outwit and elude them and finally reach a settlement of California Mission Indians during a Christmas Eve religious ceremony. When the three trailing Arabs arrive, they are received by the awe-struck Indians as reincarnations of the three Bibical wise men. The Arabs quickly take advantage of the situation and try to force Ford to hand over his gold to them as a "gift" offering. Ford, instead, makes a gift of a handful of gold to an old Indian conducting the ceremony. In gratitude the old Indian provides Ford and his "squaw" with a bodyguard for the rest of their journey. The next day, the Arabs try to close in on Ford, Mary and their guard, and the Arabs are killed. When Ford and Mary reach California, they plan to make their marriage arrangement legal.—Les Adams <[email protected]>
Outside Death Valley, prospector Leatherface Bates (Emmett Lynn) reveals to his partner, Ford Smith (Wayne Morris), that he recently spotted three Arab men on camels and drunkenly informed them about Ford's recent gold strike. Ford, who gathered the gold solely to woo his girlfriend, Betsy Blake, is happy to use this as an excuse to return to his hometown of San Bernardino, California to see her. Before he leaves the camp, however, the prospectors receive a visitor, Mary Smith (Virginia Grey), a former blackjack dealer who is returning to San Bernardino after being falsely accused of cheating in Carson City. Although Ford is at first reluctant to travel with a woman, he eventually insists that she join him for her own safety. Immediately after they leave camp, the Arabs --- Hassan (Anthony Caruso), Ghazili (George Tobias) and Kafan (John Doucette) --- kill Leatherface while searching for the gold. Finding none, they follow Ford and Mary's tracks into the desert, heedless of the fact that they are out of ammunition. That night, Mary impresses Ford with her ability to start a fire and cook appetizing camp food. When Ford mentions his girlfriend, Mary hesitantly informs him that she grew up with Betsy and recently attended her wedding. Ford hides his grief and they retire to bed. By morning, the Arabs catch up with them and Kafan offers to sell them his camel. Ford and Mary run, but Ford is soon slowed by 0-100his horse, which is overburdened by gold. Ford then walks alongside the horse, which slows them enough to allow the Arabs to continually catch and torment them, although with no bullets, the thieves are not seriously threatening. At a watering hole, Kafan grabs Mary's unloaded pistol, but as they flee, Hassan drops his rifle and Ford takes it. When Ford and Mary stop for the night, they kiss before going to sleep. The next day, Ford is forced to put his horse down. They trudge across the desert for days, hallucinating about water until they finally find an actual water source. There, Ford notices camel tracks, and instructs Mary to continue on with the horse and gold while he diverts the Arabs on a separate path. The plan works, and when the thieves follow Ford into the mountains, he fights them off by throwing rocks and shooting at them. Along the way, however, Ford drops a handful of bullets, which Kafan uses to load his rifle. Ford eventually escapes over the mountain and meets a relieved Mary on the other side. Soon after, they stumble onto an Indian village. Although there is a language barrier, Mary sees the tribe holding a Catholic service and realizes it is Christmas Eve. The mass is interrupted by the Arabs on camels, whom the Indians mistake for the Three Wise Men. The next day, however, the chief brings back a brave who speaks English, and Ford explains his predicament. In exchange for some gold, the Indians send a brave to show Ford and Mary a shortcut to San Bernardino. On the way, the thieves track them down again and a gunfight breaks out. With the brave helping, Ford throws both Kafan and Hassan off the cliff, and Ghazili flees. The brave then leads them to the shortcut, and as Ford and Mary take off down the trail together, he remarks how lucky it is that she will not have to change her name when they marry.
