# The Steel Lady > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Steel_Lady > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Steel_Lady.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Steel_Lady > Source revision: 1339380774 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1953 American adventure film directed by Ewald André Dupont The Steel Lady Directed by Ewald André Dupont Screenplay by Richard Schayer Story by Aubrey Wisberg Produced by Grant Whytock Starring Rod Cameron Tab Hunter Cinematography Floyd Crosby Edited by Grant Whytock Music by Arthur Lange Emil Newman Production companies Edward Small Productions World Films Distributed by United Artists Release date October 9, 1953 (1953-10-09) (United States) Running time 84 minutes Country United States Language English ***The Steel Lady*** (also known as ***Treasure of Kalifa***) is a 1953 American [action film](/source/Action_film) directed by [Ewald André Dupont](/source/Ewald_Andr%C3%A9_Dupont) starring [Rod Cameron](/source/Rod_Cameron_(actor)) and [Tab Hunter](/source/Tab_Hunter).[1] In the film, four Americans are stranded in the deserts of [North Africa](/source/North_Africa). They discover a buried German tank dating to [World War II](/source/World_War_II), and they attempt to cross the desert with it. But they are attacked by [Bedouins](/source/Bedouins), who want to retrieve stolen jewels from the tank. ## Plot Four American oil company employees—boss/pilot Mike Monahan, alcoholic detection expert Syd Barlow, mechanic Jim Evans and radio man Billy Larsen—make very promising readings from the air in the [Sahara Desert](/source/Sahara), but are told by company manager Sanderson that the local sheik is hostile to outsiders. While flying back, a [sandstorm](/source/Dust_storm) forces them to crash-land. They have little water, the radio transmitter is broken, and the plane's motors are clogged with sand. Monahan spots an antenna sticking out of the sand. Digging down, they discover a German [Afrika Korps](/source/Afrika_Korps) tank from World War II, complete with two mummified crewmen. Painted on the turret is "*Eiserne jungfrau*", which translates to "Steel Lady" (actually "Iron Maiden"). Larsen works all night trying to repair the transmitter with parts from the tank, and falls asleep during his turn on watch the next morning. A search plane flies overhead. Monahan wakes and lights a signal fire, but it does not see it. Larsen repairs the transmitter and contacts Sanderson, but it breaks for good before he can give their [latitude](/source/Latitude). They dig out the tank, fix the engine, and transfer gasoline from the plane. Armed with a [Luger pistol](/source/Luger_pistol), Barlow tries to strike out on his own with his share of the water, but Larsen disarms him. They need most of their water for the tank's radiator. Looking for somewhere to hide his liquor bottle, Barlow discovers a storage bay which contains jewels. He does not tell the others. They set out for a [French Foreign Legion](/source/French_Foreign_Legion) post over a hundred miles away. En route, they are spotted by Bedouin horsemen. One of them, Mustapha El Malek, recognizes the tank. Years before, he had guided a German detachment which raided a rival tribe and stole the jewels; the tank crew then killed their comrades and drove off. Wanting the jewels, El Malek and his cousin, Sheik Taras, trade horses, a camel and supplies for the tank. Before leaving, Barlow retrieves the jewels, but drops one. The Bedouins search the tank and find it. They demand the rest of them. Monahan does not know about Barlow's find. When El Malek insists on searching the visitors, Barlow punches him, and the Americans flee in the tank, though Larsen is wounded. When Barlow gets drunk again, Monahan finds the jewels while looking for his bottle. Furious, he orders Barlow out of the tank. Barlow fights him, but Monahan wins and drives off. Barlow runs after him. Larsen persuades him to take Barlow back. They come across an injured "Corps d'Afrique" soldier named Zagora; he claims his detachment was wiped out by [Tuaregs](/source/Tuareg_people). He guides them to a well 10 km (6.2 mi). However, he is a turncoat working for El Malek and leading them into an ambush. When the three healthy Americans leave to get water, Zagora finds the jewels, but Larsen fights him and fires the machine gun. Monahan and the others hear the gunfire and return. The Bedouins open fire, but the Americans drive off. One Bedouin jumps aboard and fires into the engine before being killed; the radiator is punctured and water leaks out, eventually disabling the tank. The Americans are trapped inside, surrounded by the enemy. Monahan tells the others he had planned to return the jewels to their rightful owner, the hostile sheik, in exchange for oil rights. That night, Monahan takes Barlow to steal water for Larsen, while Larsen converts the tank's receiver into a transmitter. They succeed, but Barlow is shot in the leg. Monahan transmits a [mayday](/source/Mayday), and a company plane lands nearby. While Larsen and Evans get aboard, Monahan holds the enemy off with the machine gun. Then he tries to pull Barlow out of the tank. However, Barlow pushes Monahan away and locks himself in. He then provides covering fire for Monahan's escape. After the plane takes off, Barlow runs out of bullets, and the Bedouins rush onto the tank. ## Cast - [Rod Cameron](/source/Rod_Cameron_(actor)) as Mike Monahan - [Tab Hunter](/source/Tab_Hunter) as Billy Larsen - [John Dehner](/source/John_Dehner) as Syd Barlow - [Richard Erdman](/source/Richard_Erdman) as Jim Evans - [John Abbott](/source/John_Abbott_(actor)) as Mustapha El Melek - [Frank Puglia](/source/Frank_Puglia) as Sheik Taras - [Anthony Caruso](/source/Anthony_Caruso_(actor)) as Zagora - [Christopher Dark](/source/Christopher_Dark) as Ibrahim - Dick Rich as Sanderson - Charles Victor as Sanderson's radio man - Carmen D'Antonio as dancing girl - [Suzanne Ridgway](/source/Suzanne_Ridgway) as Bedouin servant girl ## Production Tab Hunter made the film under a two picture deal with producer Edward Small. (The other film was *Gun Belt*.) Filming started in December 1952.[2] The German tank is a US [M24 Chaffee](/source/M24_Chaffee), somewhat disguised to appear like a [Panzer IV](/source/Panzer_IV). ## Release The film was released on a double bill with *[Captain John Smith and Pocahontas](/source/Captain_John_Smith_and_Pocahontas)*.[3] *Variety* said "plot idea has some novelty to help the action and the picture will drive its purpose as a dualer."[4] ## See also - *[Assault on a Queen](/source/Assault_on_a_Queen)* (1966) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [*The Steel Lady*](https://web.archive.org/web/1/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/91381/enwp) at the [TCM Movie Database](/source/Turner_Classic_Movies#TCMdb) (archived) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Schallert, Edwin (November 18, 1952). "Perilous Voyage' Will Star Ralston and Brady; Cameron Desert Battler". *Los Angeles Times*. p. B7. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** "Adventure Keynotes Two-Feature Program". *Los Angeles Times*. November 18, 1953. p. A9. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["The Steel Lady"](https://archive.org/details/variety192-1953-10/page/n85/mode/1up?q=%22steel+lady%22+%22tab+hunter%22). *Variety*. October 14, 1953. p. 6. ## External links - [*The Steel Lady*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046368/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) - [The Steel Lady](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-steel-lady/) at Letterbox DVD v t e Films produced by Edward Small 1910-20s Who's Your Neighbor? (1917) The Sporting Lover (1926) The Cohens and Kellys (1926) The Gorilla (1927) McFadden's Flats (1927) Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath (1928) The Cohens and the Kellys in Paris (1928) My Man (1928) Companionate Marriage (1928) Song of Love (1929) 1930s Clancy in Wall Street (1930) Igloo (1932) I Cover the Waterfront (1933) Palooka (1933) The Count of Monte Cristo (1934) Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round (1934) Let 'Em Have It (1935) Red Salute (1935) The Melody Lingers On (1935) The Last of the Mohicans (1936) The Bride Walks Out (1936) We Who Are About to Die (1937) Sea Devils (1937) New Faces of 1937 (1937) Super-Sleuth (1937) The Toast of New York (1937) The Duke of West Point (1938) King of the Turf (1939) The Man in the Iron Mask (1939) 1940s My Son, My Son! (1940) The Son of Monte Cristo (1940) South of Pago Pago (1940) Kit Carson (1940) International Lady (1941) The Corsican Brothers (1941) A Gentleman After Dark (1942) Twin Beds (1942) Miss Annie Rooney (1942) Friendly Enemies (1942) Up in Mabel's Room (1944) Abroad with Two Yanks (1944) Brewster's Millions (1945) Getting Gertie's Garter (1945) Temptation (1946) The Return of Monte Cristo (1946) T-Men (1947) The Black Arrow (1948) The Fuller Brush Man (1948) Raw Deal (1948) Walk a Crooked Mile (1948) Black Magic (1949) 1950s Davy Crockett, Indian Scout (1950) The Iroquois Trail (1950) Valentino (1951) Lorna Doone (1951) The Texas Rangers (1951) Indian Uprising (1952) Scandal Sheet (1952) The Brigand (1952) Cripple Creek (1952) Kansas City Confidential (1952) The Bandits of Corsica (1953) Captain John Smith and Pocahontas (1953) Dragon's Gold (1953) Gun Belt (1953) The Neanderthal Man (1953) 99 River Street (1953) Raiders of the Seven Seas (1953) Sabre Jet (1953) The Steel Lady (1953) Wicked Woman (1953) Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl (1954) Khyber Patrol (1954) The Lone Gun (1954) Overland Pacific (1954) Return to Treasure Island (1954) Southwest Passage (1954) Down Three Dark Streets (1954) New York Confidential (1955) The Naked Street (1955) Top Gun (1955) Comanche (1955) Gun Brothers (1956) UFO (1956) Chicago Confidential (1957) 5 Steps to Danger (1957) Gun Duel in Durango (1957) The Iron Sheriff (1957) Monkey on My Back (1957) Curse of the Faceless Man (1958) Hong Kong Confidential (1958) It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958) Toughest Gun in Tombstone (1958) Witness for the Prosecution (1958) The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake (1959) Guns, Girls and Gangsters (1959) Inside the Mafia (1959) Invisible Invaders (1959) Pier 5, Havana (1959) Riot in Juvenile Prison (1959) Solomon and Sheba (1959) Timbuktu (1959) (had name removed from credits) Vice Raid (1959) 1960s Cage of Evil (1960) A Dog's Best Friend (1960) Gunfighters of Abilene (1960) The Music Box Kid (1960) Noose for a Gunman (1960) Oklahoma Territory (1960) Three Came to Kill (1960) The Walking Target (1960) Boy Who Caught a Crook (1961) The Cat Burglar (1961) Doctor Blood's Coffin (1961) Frontier Uprising (1961) Five Guns to Tombstone (1961) The Flight That Disappeared (1961) The Gambler Wore a Gun (1961) Gun Fight (1961) Mary Had a Little... (1961) Operation Bottleneck (1961) Police Dog Story (1961) Secret of Deep Harbor (1961) The Snake Woman (1961) Three on a Spree (1961) When the Clock Strikes (1961) You Have to Run Fast (1961) The Greengage Summer (1961) Beauty and the Beast (1962) The Clown and the Kid (1962) Deadly Duo (1962) Gun Street (1962) Incident in an Alley (1962) Jack the Giant Killer (1962) Saintly Sinners (1962) Tower of London (1962) Diary of a Madman (1963) Twice Told Tales (1963) I'll Take Sweden (1965) Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number! (1966) Frankie and Johnny (1966) The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz (1968) The File of the Golden Goose (1969) The Christine Jorgensen Story (1970) v t e Films directed by E. A. Dupont Europe, General Delivery (1918) Midnight (1918) The Devil (1918) The Japanese Woman (1919) The Secret of the American Docks (1919) The Mask (1919) The Spies (1919) The Apache of Marseilles (1919) The Derby (1919) Alkohol (1919) World by the Throat (1920) The Grand Babylon Hotel (1920) The White Peacock (1920) Whitechapel (1920) Hearts Are Trumps (1920) Murder Without Cause (1921) The Vulture Wally (1921) Children of Darkness (1921) She and the Three (1922) The Green Manuela (1923) The Ancient Law (1923) The Humble Man and the Chanteuse (1925) Variety (1925) Love Me and the World Is Mine (1927) Moulin Rouge (1928) Piccadilly (1929) Atlantic (1929) Atlantik (1929) Atlantis (1930) Two Worlds (1930, UK) Two Worlds (1930, Germany) Les deux mondes (1930) Menschen im Käfig (1930) Le cap perdu (1931) Cape Forlorn (1931) Salto Mortale (1931) Salto Mortale (1931) Peter Voss, Thief of Millions (1932) The Marathon Runner (1933) Ladies Must Love (1933) The Bishop Misbehaves (1935) Forgotten Faces (1936) A Son Comes Home (1936) Night of Mystery (1937) On Such a Night (1937) Love on Toast (1937) Hell's Kitchen (1939) The Scarf (1951) Pictura: An Adventure in Art (1951, co-director) Problem Girls (1953) The Neanderthal Man (1953) The Steel Lady (1953) Return to Treasure Island (1954) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Steel Lady](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Steel_Lady) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Steel_Lady?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.