Harum Scarum (1965)

User Rating:

4.5/10   

Director:

Gene Nelson

Writer:

Gerald Drayson Adams (written by)

Release Date:

24 November 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Musical

Tagline:

THE GOLDEN AGE OF ROMANCE AND SONG!

Plot:

American singer Johnny Tyrone is enlisted by sinister forces to assassinate an Arab king whose daughter he has fallen in love with.

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Arab | Assassination | Karate | Midget

Cast

Elvis Presley	...	Johnny Tyronne
Mary Ann Mobley	...	Princess Shalimar
Fran Jeffries	...	Aishah
Michael Ansara	...	Prince Dragna
Jay Novello	...	Zacha
Phillip Reed	...	King Toranshah (as Philip Reed)
Theodore Marcuse	...	Sinan (as Theo Marcuse)
Billy Barty	...	Baba
Dirk Harvey	...	Makar
Jack Costanzo	...	Julna
Larry Chance	...	Capt. Herat
Barbara Werle	...	Leilah
Brenda Benet	...	Emerald
Gail Gilmore	...	Sapphire
Wilda Taylor	...	Amethyst

Also Known As:

Harem Holiday
Harem Scarum (USA) (working title)
In My Harem (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11 | USA:Approved (PCA #20983)

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Four-Leaf Productions

Trivia:

Costumes were from Kismet (1944) and Elvis Presley's knife was from Lady of the Tropics (1939).

Goofs:

Continuity: In the climactic fight scene (set at night), the lighting shifts back and forth several times between torchlit darkness and broad daylight.

Quotes:

Johnny Tyronne: [Referring to the children that Sinan threatens to kill if Johnny does not assassinate the King] How can I be sure they won't be harmed?
Aishah: Assassinate King Toranshah and you have Sinan's promise that no harm will come to them. In a thousand years no leader of the assassins has ever violated a promise.
Johnny Tyronne: Well, it's nice to know you're doing business with such a reputable firm.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Into the Night (1985/I)

Soundtrack:

ANIMAL INSTINCT

Harum Scary

Harum Scarum is an unusual Presley vehicle set in the the mid-east with a special blend of the 1960's and some typical Presley music. As with most Presley movie's of that era, this movie lacks a good theme and script but Presley does manage to pull out some of his best music.

Presley has been kidnapped but manages to escape his takers, sing to everyone along the way and finds safety in the arms of Mary Ann Mobley.

This Presley outing is based in an unusual area but typical for Presley in script. Presley obviously appears to be in this movie only because he is under contract and unfortunately, it lacks supporting actors/ actresses that could have helped pull the movie out.

Not the best attempt in scripts but then if Presley had been given good material to work with things may have been different in his movie career.