Mantan Leads The Troops

 

DRUMS IN THE DESERT-Monogram-1940-Lt. Paul Dumont (Ralph Byrd; already doing the Dick Tracy series) meets Mme. LaRoche (Lorna Gray) on a ship headed for Algiers. They seem to fall in love but when they dock she disappears. He has to train the Senegalese army troop to be paratroopers whose Sgt. Williams is played by Mantan Moreland! 

Unfortunately for Paul, LaRoche is engaged to his best friend (George Lynn). A local named Abdullah (George Castello) gets very upset when his wimpy brother is executed for murder. 

There isn't much to this Monogram production except Moreland's role which has some serious overtones and the fact his troops are very eager to become paratroopers and not some racist stereotypical cowards. It was co-written and directed by the underrated George Waggner, a year or so before making THE WOLFMAN and MAN MADE MONSTER.

Thanks for reading!