Sword in the Desert

Sword in the Desert is a 1949 American war film directed by George Sherman. It was the first American film to deal with the 19471948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine and marked the first significant feature film role for Jeff Chandler.

The screenplay was based on a short story by Robert Buckner, who came up with the idea after a visit to Palestine in 1934. Bucker later expanded this into a short story about Christmas in Palestine as experienced by a visiting American. In the 1940s he expanded this into a novel, then a screenplay, originally called Night Watch, then later Desert Legion.Stephen McNally was originally supposed to play the American pilot, while Paul Christian was to play an Israeli leader. However Christian had to drop out due to an eye infection, McNally took over his role, and Dana Andrews played McNallys part. Dick Powell had also been discussed for the role of the American. Ann Blyth was intended to play the female lead. Bucker was originally announced as director but George Sherman took over that task. Blyth was reassigned by Universal to Come Be My Love and the female lead given instead to Marta Toren. ........

Source: Wikipedia