Shiek Yousseff, poses as a friend of the French while secretly plotting to overthrow them. Apposing Yousseff are the Riffs, whose secret leader, The Red Shadow, is Paul Bonnard, a professor who is studying the desert, and whose attacks on the supply trains intended for Yousseff keep the Riff villages in food. Foreign Legion General Birabeau arrives to conduct an investigation, accompanied by his daughter, Margot. Birabeau hires Bonnard to tutor her, and she is attracted to a Legionaire captain, Claud Fontaine. While the general, Bonnard and Fontaine pay a visit to Yousseff, an American newspaper man, Benji Kidd, discovers a secret way in and out of Yousseff's palace, with the aid of Azuri, a dancing girl in love with Bonnard. The latter is forced to resume his role as the Riffs leader, and kidnap Margot until he can convince her of Yousseff's treachery. But Yousseff's men attack the Riff camp and take Margot prisoner.
Kathryn Grayson
as Margot Birabeau
Gordon MacRae
as El Khobar / Paul Bonnard
Steve Cochran
as Captain Claude Fontaine
Raymond Massey
as Sheik Yousseff
Dick Wesson
as Benjamin 'Benjy' Kidd
Allyn Ann McLerie
as Azuri
Ray Collins
as Gen. Birabeau
Paul Picerni
as Hassan
Frank De Kova
as Mindar
William Conrad
as Lachmed
Trevor Bardette
as Neri
Mark Dana
as Lt. Duvalle
