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Projecting a positive image
Officially recognised by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc
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HARUM
SCARUM U.K. Title HAREM HOLIDAY (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1966) |
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| In early 1965 Elvis began filming Harum Scarum (Harem Holiday) for MGM Studios. This was certainly a departure in terms of location, the story being set entirely in the Middle East. In what must have been a very comfortable role, Elvis was cast as a movie star singer - an area that should have come relatively easy to him. Having just turned thirty years of age, Elvis was ready for more dramatic material but movie contracts were still providing him with lightweight, musical romps. This period of course was the time of the weaker stories and accompanying soundtracks, and Harum Scarum was no exception. Many people regard the film as Elvis's lowest ever cinematic point. It is difficult to compare this production with films such as King Creole or Wild in the Country, for example. The movie was directed by former song-and-dance man Gene Nelson and produced by Sam Katzman - the same team who were responsible for the earlier MGM Elvis vehicle, Kissin' Cousins. The screenplay was written by Gerald Drayson Adams, who had also been involved as screenwriter on Kissin' Cousins and had written earlier 'Eastern' Hollywood films such as The Son of Ali Baba (1952) starring Tony Curtis. In the lead female role was Mary Ann Mobley, playing in her second Elvis movie (the first being Girl Happy). There were no strong co-stars in the production, which gave Elvis the task of carrying a weakly-scripted film pretty much on his own - a rather difficult position really. Elvis cut a very dashing figure in this movie, appearing very bronzed throughout much of the production. He certainly got to wear some rather unusual clothes and headgear to suit the setting of the story. As a karate-expert entertainer, kidnapped whilst on a Middle East promotional tour and tasked with assassinating a ruling king, the role perhaps stretched credibility, but the mid-60's was rife with lightweight, escapist films and Harum Scarum certainly fitted into that particular category. The music
for the film was recorded, surprisingly, not in Hollywood but in Nashville - with
Elvis's regular musicians providing the accompaniment. The songs were certainly
tailored for the production but did not stand too strongly away from soundtrack
support. There was no single release from the album, but it did include two songs
- Animal Instinct and Wisdom of the Ages - listed as 'bonus' songs,
not featured in the film. Several reports have informed us that these two songs
are in fact featured in prints of the film in certain countries, but this has
never been confirmed. Having highlighted this point, it is interesting to note
that when the film was re-issued on video in 1997 (along with others for the 20"'
Anniversary period) it included an extended scene of a conversation between Elvis
and actor Jay Novello. This information was produced by the Elvis Presley Film Society in September 2003 |
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