this is often cited as elvis's worst movie. i'm thinking he even said it was his least favorite. while it definitely was not great, i thought it was more cheesy than awful. i got the feeling i was watching a really long episode of 'the monkees' (which i've always enjoyed - it's just that there was a reason those episodes were only half an hour). coulda been worse.
shareI hadn't thought "Monkees" until you mentioned it, but I think you're right. It's an ok movie, as long as you don't take it too seriously. Definitely not his best. I did like the song he sang in prison, though.
shareThe song he sang in the prison scene is called So close, yet so far(from paradise)The best part of the whole movie and a fantastic song.
shareI just commented on this song in another post. I loved this song and agree its the best scene in the movie especially how Elvis conveys the song in his intense facial expressions while singing it. Ive heard that said too about it being the worst but I was just on the "Kissin COusins" page and most are saying that one is the worst. I have to say I liked Harum SCarum better than Kissin COusin. IVe not seen Charro but heard it was awful too. Harum Scarum I can sit thru without falling asleep for i like the music and the color and the costumes and theme of it. Kissin COusins I tend to wander. I dont think ive sat thru that whole movie. And Charro just sounds kind of boring to me.
I just now remembered "Stay Away Joe" isnt that another movie that wasnt so good. I dont remember it well.
As I posted to someone else, I like the song too. I just saw HS advertised on TCM. If you had mentioned the movie to movie, the only thing I would have remembered was So Close.
shareWell I am 5 years late, but I like the song too. I just saw HS advertised on TCM. If you had mentioned the movie to movie, the only thing I would have remembered was So Close.
shareThis is ELVIS' worst , and to top it of ELVIS' manager Col Parker wanted to have a camel that talks in it ?? lucky for us the director said 'NO WAY '' the problem with this film is the script..Elvis did a great job with the bad script he was forced to work with.. the movie drags on and on..the BEST thing is the songs,such as the tune KISMIT ..! the sets used were left overs from another film shot on the MGM lot ..so the films budget was saved from having to built new sets...over all this film is just hard to sit thru for 90 mins ..
share........Didn't they sort of remake this movie twenty years later? I think the called it "Ishtar". LOL
I'm not Spartacus. The dude over there in the sandals who looks like Kirk Douglas is.
My Mom is a HUGE Elvis fan so I sorta grew up on all of these movies.
I really like the music in this one, especially "Go East Young Man" has some really nice chord changes. It's not that great a movie by Elvis movie standards - I actually have two classifications for bad Elvis movies. The ones that are bad, but really fun or over the top dumb (Easy Come, Easy Go), and then the ones that are just boring (Paradise, Hawaiin Style).
I enjoy most of his movies, but I ADORE Spinout, Clambake and Blue Hawaii - which I think all have the perfect balance of fun and good music.
"Oooooh, Chocoblock! GIMMEE!" Bucky
The plot is kind of interesting, and in a way reminds me of the parody TOP SECRET. I think it may have been a little better if it wasn't a tacky musical.
http://www.freewebs.com/demonictoys/
Many say it’s Elvis' worst, but it’s not. It’s a tuneful frolic and sendup of Middle Eastern swashbucklers, like Sinbad or even Conan, but more amusing, cheaper and without the sorcery & monsters. You’re supposed to roll with it and have fun, not take it seriously. For a ballpark parallel, think Star Trek’s “Plato’s Stepchildren” but with a comedic flair and songs.
Speaking of the original Star Trek, Michael Ansara is on hand as the king’s brother; he of course played the Klingon Kang in “Day of the Dove.” The colorful cast also includes Jay Novello as little person Zacha. Aside from winsome Mary Ann Mobley, the feminine department features the stunning Fran Jeffries and several other beauties.
I’m glad “Harum Scarum” is in Elvis’ oeuvre. It’s fun and not the same-old, same-old.
It was shot on the set of Cecil B. DeMille’s 1925 version of “King of Kings” at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios in Culver City, as well as location shooting at Iverson Ranch, Los Angeles; and some scenes done at Earl Carroll Theatre in Hollywood.