Harum Scarum

American movie star Johnny Tyrone, Elvis Presley, travels to the Middle East to premiere his latest picture in the fictional town of Bar Esalaam. There he meets the captivating Aishah, Fran Jeffries, who seduces him, and soon afterward is kidnapped by Sinan, Theo Marcuse, who wants Johnny to help orchestrate the king’s murder in Bar Esalaam. Johnny escapes the palace with the help of Shalimar, the king’s daughter, Princess Shalimar Mary Ann Mobley, and they flee the halls of power.

Back in the open, Johnny confesses to Shalimar that he was brought to the Middle East to assassinate the king, a revelation that terrifies her and makes her run away. Johnny then reunites with another escapee, Zacha, Jay Novello, and they hatch a plan to foil the assassination by joining a traveling troupe of musicians who are set to entertain the people of Bar Esalaam on the last day of Ramadan. Johnny quickly wins the troupe’s friendship, but that night the group is betrayed when Aishah and her men ambush them, and Zacha’s duplicity is revealed. Aishah forces Johnny to proceed with the killing, threatening the musicians and their children in the process.

Meanwhile, Shalimar cannot shake her growing feelings for Johnny. On the day of the festival, Johnny reluctantly steps into the role of assassin, yet Shalimar’s love and loyalty cause him to hesitate, and the attempt is thwarted. The musicians and the children are condemned to death, but Baba, a dwarf ally of the troupe, arrives to rescue them, sparing the group from execution. With bold resolve, Johnny infiltrates the King’s chamber, convinces him that Sinan has manipulated the situation, and confesses his love for Shalimar. The King believes Johnny and assists in infiltrating Sinan’s lair, where the plot’s mastermind is finally revealed: the King’s own brother, Prince Dragna, Michael Ansara.

Johnny overpowers Sinan, but learns that Dragna has already enlarged his army and seized control of the town. A united front—Johnny, the King, Shalimar, the musicians, and Zacha—gathers loyalists to reclaim Bar Esalaam and confront Dragna’s forces. The climactic struggle leads to a dramatic chess-game victory for the King over Dragna, who is banished rather than sent to the United States. With order restored, Johnny and his royal bride, Shalimar, honeymoon in Las Vegas, accompanied by a handful of her dancing girls, celebrating a hard-won peace and a newfound life together.

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 09:10