HARUM SCARUM (1965) **1/2 Elvis is kidnapped in the Middle East, in a place that I think they called Babelstan, so that sort of thing did happen before any Bush was president. I understand how anyone who first encountered Elvis in the '50s, before he went into the military-when he must have seemed to be the only man alive, as best described by Waylon Jennings in his autobiography-must feel betrayed by stuff like this. Elvis had greatness in him, he was full of it in fact, and to see him standing there in this schlocky film singing music too daft and bereft of passion for any decent Frank Sinatra wannabe... But Elvis was the king, and he did what he wanted, and if he wanted to do this... Within that framework-and again, I understand why you might declare it all grotesque-this is one of the better ones. At least he appears to have some sense that he is Elvis, and he endows such lines as "I'm inclined to believe it," (spoken) and "a Persian carpet to endow your floor" (sung) with mysteries and nuance beyond the ability of mere mortals to communicate. He also exhibits a generous assortment of pouts, self obsessed flash contemplation, and erected eyebrows. The plot involves the Assassins, but doesn't go particularly deeply into that esoteric order, other than to suggest that the sales pitch probably includes some powerful arguments along the lines of Mary Ann Mobley, Fran Jeffries, and Gail Gilmore. Yes, while it must be said that the producers skimped on exotic locales, they went all out on harem girls. Just in case that's not enough, Gene Nelson doesn't allow too many frames to pass without livening things up with dwarves, pickpocket unions, and machine guns. Ok, so, assassins, thieves and liars, intrigue, fortunes won and lost, the deception of the people, deceit between brothers...how could this all be? The film says it was over oil.
back to Brilliant Observations on 1776 Films page, or Index
go back home, or send me email
Reviews won't do it any more! I need sustained brilliance! I want to buy your novel!