Harum Scarum (Harem Holiday) (1965)

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(2,030 ratings)

Elvis Presley plays singer/actor Johnny Tyronne in this formulated quickie directed by Gene Nelson. While on a promotional tour of Pakistan, Johnny is drugged, kidnapped, and whisked away to a mythical Middle East country. Jay Novello plays the scheming Zacha who vows (for a price) to help Johnny in… More Elvis Presley plays singer/actor Johnny Tyronne in this formulated quickie directed by Gene Nelson. While on a promotional tour of Pakistan, Johnny is drugged, kidnapped, and whisked away to a mythical Middle East country. Jay Novello plays the scheming Zacha who vows (for a price) to help Johnny in a world that is 2,000 years behind the times and sealed off from the outside world. With the help of Baba (Billy Barty), they hope to get Johnny back to the comforts of the modern world. Elvis shows off some neat karate moves, but he looks bored and resigned to the fact no one in Hollywood (or Colonel Tom Parker) will give him a serious screen role. Filmed on sets that were originally used for Kismet (1944) and Cecile B. DeMille's silent classic The Ten Commandments. As for the songs, only Mirage and Hey Little Girl are memorable. The generous Presley, perhaps feeling nostalgic, donated $50,000 to the motion picture relief fund after completing the film. On hand at the celebrity press conference were such luminaries as Frank Sinatra, Bud Abbott, and silent-screen veteran Chester Conklin. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Gene Nelson
Written By: Gerald Drayson Adams
Genres: Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 24, 1965 Wide
On DVD: Aug 3, 2004
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
MGM provides lush sets, bosomy gals, colorful costumes, and Elvis, which is probably all it needs to get the throng of Elvis fans into the theaters.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Dumb junk is a perfect illustration of why Elvis' movie career ended up being a joke. While any movie with him singing has some value and Mary Ann Mobley was an incredibly beautiful woman the songs in this are inane, the direction lackluster and most if not all the acting… More
Dumb junk is a perfect illustration of why Elvis' movie career ended up being a joke. While any movie with him singing has some value and Mary Ann Mobley was an incredibly beautiful woman the songs in this are inane, the direction lackluster and most if not all the acting amateurish. Elvis' charm is in full view but even it can not save a turkey like this.

Cast

            Elvis Presley as Johnny Tyronne

            Mary Ann Mobley as Princess Shalimar

            Fran Jeffries as Aishah

            Michael Ansara as Prince Dragna

            Jay Novello as Zacha

            Theo Marcuse as Sinan

            Billy Barty as Baba

            Dirk Harvey as Makar

            Larry Chance as Capt. Herat

            Barbara Werle as Leilah

            Brenda Benet as Emerald

            Gale Gilmore as Sapphire

            Wilda Taylor as Amethyst

            Vicki Malkin as Sari

            Ryck Rydon as Mustapha

            Richard Reeves as Scarred Bedouin

            Joey Russo as Yussef

            Carolyn Carter as Heroine of Film

            Jack Constanza as Julna

            Suzanna Covington as Naja

            Robert Larmont as President

            Ralph Lee as Noble

            Phillip Reed as King Toranshah

            Maja Stewart as Princess

            Theodore Marcuse
            
            Philip Reed
            
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