Elvis takes the beat to Bagdad in Gene Nelson's "Harum Scarum" (MGM, 1965). Of course while in the Middle East to premiere his new desert-themed movie Hollywood filmstar Johnny Tyronne (Elvis) gets kidnapped, meets a princess, and falls in love. He's kidnapped by a gang of assassins who were impressed with his on-screen fighting skills and have a job for him.
But all ends well as we come to Hollywood for the final number, "Harem Holiday." We're at the Earl Carroll Theatre on Sunset Blvd., standing in for a fictitious Las Vegas hotel. Here we get a lobby shot with a few added slot machines for Las Vegas color. Note in the upper left we see a bit of the grid ceiling that was added in a 1950s lobby remodel. Below the grid is an Austrian drape that we'll see lowered for the production scene.
Elvis onstage at the Earl Carroll.
A shot from farther back.
Princess Shalimar (Mary Ann Mobley) and her father King Toranshaw (Philip Reed) came to Vegas to see the show. They look right at home. Oh, yes, along with them a are a couple of orphans Elvis rescued from peril.
Another lobby shot - with more draperies this time.
A closer view of the stage. The orchestra pit can be seen over on the right. The stairs are wider here than they were in 1938. And the two protrusions of the stage on either side of the original stairs have been removed.
Elvis finishes his song down in the house at the table of his guests.
Time to go home.
See the Los Angeles Theatres pages on the Earl Carroll Theatre for a history of the building and several hundred photos.
On IMDb: "Harum Scarum"
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