Elvis of Arabia: Harum Scarum

HARUM SCARUM (US, 1965)

Alternate title: Harem Holiday (UK)

Filming date:

March - May 1965

Release date:

November 24, 1965

Running time:

85min

Production company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Budget:

US$ 2,4 million

Box office:

US$ 3,1 million

Main cast:

Elvis Presley

Mary Ann Mobley

Fran Jeffries

Michael Ansara

Soundtrack:

"Harum Scarum" (LP)
(November 3, 1965)
"Harum Scarum" (CD)
(FTD - November 12, 2003)

Harum Scarum is Elvis' nineteenth film. This time he plays Johnny Tyrone, an American actor who goes to the Middle East to promote his new film and ends up getting into trouble before marrying the girl.

This would be the basic synopsis, with a few very minor modifications, of many of his films from then on. They were a waste of time and talent that Elvis hated, as we all know today, and that the Colonel loved because they gave him easy money.

The studio itself knew about the lack of quality in the productions, and this one stood out so much that an MGM executive even said that "we don't need to put titles on Elvis' films, we just need to number them." Surprisingly, the Colonel was also disappointed with the script, even suggesting a talking camel so that the audience would think it was a comedy.

Elvis was inconsolable during the filming. He had agreed to do more films if the scripts were dramatic and well-written, but he ended up getting a subspecies of suspense, action and bad taste. At this point there is a big discussion in several parts of the world due to a scene considered inappropriate. Elvis sings "Shake That Tambourine" (with "tambourine" having the obvious double meaning) to a girl of about 8 years old.

But the production had its good points. Gene Nelson designed Elvis' costumes, which he really liked - so much so that he took them home to wear. The sets used were the same ones seen in Cecil B. DeMille's "The King of Kings" (1927), and the script was based on "The Sheik" (1921), with Rudolph Valentino. Some aspects of the film are really interesting and there is even some action, but unfortunately nothing can make up for all the bad things.

The gross of US$ 3.1 million, just US$ 700 thousand over budget, shows the level of the production - for comparison, "Tickle Me" (1965), which was not great, grossed US$ 5 million. And if there are no major awards given to this production, it is at least listed as one of the "100 Best Worst Movies Ever Made" by the Golden Raspberry Awards.

SOUNDTRACK

Although 1965 was a year of releases of old recordings with the LP "Elvis For Everyone!", which featured songs from the period 1954-1964, Elvis recorded 11 songs for the soundtrack of this film.

As with "Roustabout" (1964), none of the tracks were released as singles. Of the 11 songs, only 9 are in the film - the two omitted were "Animal Instinct" and "Wisdom of the Ages". The 11 songs went straight to an LP that is now known, but not very celebrated.

With no commercial appeal, the album was not reissued until 2003, when FTD released its version with several outtakes.

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SUPPORTING CAST

MARY ANN MOBLEY

Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, on February 17, 1937, Mary Ann became famous at an early age. First in the beauty world, winning Miss America 1959 - the first win for a model from the Magnolia State. She then began an extensive television career in 1963 with appearances in "Burke's Law" (1963-1965).

Mobley also appeared in several episodes of "Perry Mason" (1957-1966). This earned her a 5-year contract with MGM, which cast her in its second production to star opposite the King of Rock in "Girl Happy" and soon after in "Harum Scarum". Her contract ended in 1968 and also marked her last film appearance with "For Singles Only".

Mary Ann became a recurring cast member on several series from the 1970s to the 1990s, including "The Virginian", "Gallery of Terror", "Mission: Impossible", "Fantasy Island", "The Love Boat", "Arnold" and "Sabrina: The Teenage Witch".

The actress retired in 1999 due to complications from Crohn's disease. In 2009, she underwent emergency surgery to remove a breast cancer. Mary Ann Mobley passed away on December 9, 2014, at the age of 77, due to the return of her cancer.

FRAN JEFFRIES

Frances Ann Makris was born on May 18, 1937 in Palo Alto, California. She made small appearances in five films, the best known being "Harum Scarum". As a singer, she released three albums between 1964 and 2000.

Jeffries managed to pose for Playboy twice despite being an unusually old woman. Her first photoshoot was in 1971, when she was 33 years old, and was titled "Frantastic!". Eleven years later, in 1982 and at the age of 45, she did a new photoshoot titled "Still Frantastic!".

She retired in 2000, was married three times and had only one daughter from her first marriage in 1958 to actor Dick Haymes. Her last marriage lasted only two years and ended in 1973.

The actress and singer passed away on December 15, 2016, at the age of 79, due to a cancer that she had been treating for years.

MICHAEL ANSARA

Born April 15, 1922 in Syria, Michael George Ansara was brought to the United States by his parents in 1925. His initial interest was medicine, but he eventually chose acting after falling in love with the art.

In the 1950s, he appeared as a supporting actor in "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "The Lone Ranger", catching the attention of the ABC television network, which hired him and gave him a major role: Cochise, in the series "Broken Arrow". This led to productions such as "Batman", "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea", "Perry Mason", "Lost in Space" and "Daniel Boone". Ansara also made extensive appearances in "I Dream of Jeannie", with his then-wife Barbara Eden.

In the following decades, he became an important name in science fiction due to his memorable characters in series such as "Buck Rogers", "Babylon 5" and "Star Trek". In the 1990s, he lent his voice to some characters in the Batman animated series.

The actor retired in 2001, after one of his sons overdosed on cocaine. Ansara passed away on July 31, 2013, at the age of 91.