Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Harum Scarum

Play trailer Poster for Harum Scarum 1965 1h 35m Comedy Crime Drama Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
Tomatometer 2 Reviews 29% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Singer and movie star Johnny Tyronne (Elvis Presley) is promoting his newest film in the Middle East when he is kidnapped by a bumbling group of would-be assassins. They have mistaken Johnny's swashbuckling screen persona for the real thing and want him to use his powerful karate skills to kill their king. With the help of thief Zacha (Jay Novello) and his dwarf pal, Baba (Billy Barty), Johnny attempts to escape his captors while also wooing the beautiful Princess Shalimar (Mary Ann Mobley).
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Harum Scarum

Critics Reviews

View All (2) Critics Reviews
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Harum Scarum is particularly poor, with even Elvis appearing bored by all the soggy shenanigans. Rated: 1.5/4 Aug 25, 2024 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews MGM provides lush sets, bosomy gals, colorful costumes, and Elvis, which is probably all it needs to get the throng of Elvis fans into the theaters. Rated: C+ Jul 23, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (56) audience reviews
Gunnar Greatest movie ever ⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️ Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review steve d At least this one has a different plot and a cute idea. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member The least funny Elvis movie ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Bernard K Astounding, a Ray Milland movie, and it's really bad. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 06/22/21 Full Review james g "Isn't that the same wall over which Elvis is climbing that Robert Conrad as James West climbed in TV's "Wild Wild West" (And both in very tight pants, scene shot from same homoerotic angle, mid-60s?) "And isn't this color palette beautiful and clear, much like that in "Goldfinger" but with smaller scale and a tad less yellow/gold (again, mid-60s.)" I think so! This film does look great. Elvis and his gals look great in beautiful costumes. And Elvis lands in an ancient country that hasn't changed in 2000 years, as if Captain Kirk has been beemed down by Scotty to some odd intergalactic civilization. But the biggest problem here is the same problem that appeared in about every Elvis movie after "Jailhouse Rock": although his voice is fine, it's toned down (perhaps to match the gospel albums Elvis made at the time) and there is no sign of the infamous "Elvis Pelvis" - famously not shown on an "Ed Sullivan" TV appearance. This film is better than a number of Elvis's 60s films mostly because it's just sorta fun and pretty to watch. It's a shame there was never another raw and sexy "Jailhouse Rock" (okay, a few scenes/numbers with Ann Margaret in "Viva Las Vegas" take us back to the 50's Elvis). But it's Elvis, he can certainly carry a tune, and he's handsome (his close-ups are amazing): this film is worth a watch. But at about the same time, the Beatles magnificent blast of fresh air, "A Hard Days Night" may have been playing at the drive-in across town, and another kind of musical was born, 4 superstars ascending. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Unbelievably stupid. Lousy script, lousy acting, lousy and totally forgettable songs. A root canal would be more enjoyable. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Harum Scarum

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Singer and movie star Johnny Tyronne (Elvis Presley) is promoting his newest film in the Middle East when he is kidnapped by a bumbling group of would-be assassins. They have mistaken Johnny's swashbuckling screen persona for the real thing and want him to use his powerful karate skills to kill their king. With the help of thief Zacha (Jay Novello) and his dwarf pal, Baba (Billy Barty), Johnny attempts to escape his captors while also wooing the beautiful Princess Shalimar (Mary Ann Mobley).
Director
Gene Nelson
Producer
Sam Katzman
Screenwriter
Gerald Drayson Adams
Production Co
Four-Leaf Productions
Genre
Comedy, Crime, Drama, Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 35m
Most Popular at Home Now