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Harum Scarum, 2 - 2
Elvis' nineteenth film was "Harum Scarum". It featured a movie
within a movie. Elvis' character Johnny Tyronne is an American actor
visiting the Middle East for the premiere of his latest film, "Sands
of the Desert". Tyronne is kidnapped, which leads to a series of
adventures in the fictitious Arabian kingdom of Lunarkand. The thin
plot and the economical production with a short shooting schedule
brought Elvis more disappointment and frustration over the state of
his film career.
The film was released for Thanksgiving weekend on November 24,
1965 and reached #11 on the following week's "Variety Box Office
Survey", the fortieth-highest grossing film for 1965. The soundtrack
album, which contained a souvenir picture of Elvis in one of his
costumes from the film, had a 23-week stay on the Billboard LP
chart, peaking at #8.
Philip Reed played King Toranshah and father to Princess Shalimar,
played by lieading lady Mary Ann Mobley. Born in 1908,
Mr. Reed began his career as a handsome leading man on stage. His
movie career began in 1933 and he appeared in movies such as
"Female", "Affairs of a Gentleman", "The Last of the Mohicans",
"Madame X" and "Girl In the Red Velvet Swing". "Harum Scarum" was
his last film before retiring.
This was also the last movie for Larry Chance, who played Captain
Heart. He had numerous TV roles in the 50's and 60's, as well as
roles in such films as "Against All Flags", "The Rose Tattoo" and
"Al Capone" . In the Elvis film "Flaming Star" he played an Indian
chief.
Barbara Werle played Leilah, servant to Princess Shalimar. Ms. Werle
had a number of roles on various TV adventure series in the 1960's.
She also played in movies such as "Battle of the Bulge", "The Rare
Breed", "Krakatoa, East of Java" , along with the Elvis films
"Tickle Me" and "Charro!".
Theodore Marcuse played the evil villain Sinan. He was known for his
sinister presence and often played such roles both on TV and om
films such as "Star Trek", "The Wild, Wild West"and "The Glass
Bottom Boat".
Jay Novello played Zacha, the leader of the thieves that Elvis'
character befriends. Mr. Novello had a distinguished career as a
character actor from the 1930's to the 1970's. His hundreds of
credits can't be listed here, but some highlights are: his role of
Captain Sam Sabaaya on CBS Radio's "Rocky Jordan" from 1948 1953,
his role as Juan Greco in the long running TV series "Zorro", and
roles in the films "Boys Town", "The Great Train Robbery", "Captain
America", "The Robe" and "Pocketful of Miracles".
The famed "little person" Billy Barty played the mute pickpocket
Baba. Mr. Barty was a prolific actor beginning his career at the age
of three. A successful activist for the rights of persons of small
stature, he founded The Little People Of America Inc. in 1957 and
The Billy Barty Foundation in 1975. He was quoted as saying, "The
general public thinks all little people are in circuses or
sideshows. We have doctors, nurses, just about every field covered."
Barty's acting credits are many and include a role in the Elvis film
"Roustabout".
Julna the drummer was played by Jack Costanza, also known as "Mr.
Bongo". He was a dancer from Chicago who developed an interest in
bongos while visiting Africa. He worked in the 1950's with Stan
Kenton's jazz band and eventually played percussion on hundreds of
jazz, big band, and Latin recordings.
The dancing girls were Sapphire, Amethyst and Emerald were played,
respectively, by Gail Gilmore, Wilda Taylor and Brenda Benet. Ms.
Gilmore did not continue in movies. Ms. Taylor had dancing roles the
Elvis films "Roustabout" and "Frankie and Johnny". Ms. Benet was a
dancer and actress probably best recognized for her role of Lee
DuMonde on the TV show "Days Of Our Lives". She was married for a
time to actor Paul Petersen and then to actor Bill Bixby, who
co-starred with Elvis in two films -"Speedway" and "Clambake".
Tragically, Ms. Benet committed suicide in 1982 due to grief over
the sudden death of her six-year-old son Christopher Bixby.
Although the production of "Harum Scarum" had its flaws, one saving
grace was the exceptional sets and set decoration designed by the
award nominated team of George W. Davis, McClure Capps, Henry Grace
and Don Greenwood Jr. George W. Davis was nominated seventeen times
for Academy Awards, winning two. Henry Grace was nominated thirteen
times winning one. Don Greenwood was nominated once. They have
worked on films such as "How The West Was Won", The Blackboard
Jungle", "All About Eve", "Gigi", "The Robe", "Cimarron", "The Diary
of Anne Frank", "Mutiny On The Bounty", "The Wonderful World of the
Brothers Grimm", "Patch of Blue", "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", "Mr.
Buddwing" and "The Shoes of the Fisherman" , among others. It was
while filming "Harum Scarum" that Elvis began in earnest to pursue
his spiritual studies.
When the film wrapped, Elvis presented the cast and crew with
watches that he had Harry Levitch, one of his favorite jewelers,
design. It featured both a cross and a Star of David and symbolized
for Elvis "universal brotherhood". |
