elvis facts, harum scarum 2 - 2


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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".

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