Harum Scarum Blu-ray Review
Warner Archive Collection
Score: 74
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
Harum Scarum may be a critically dubious Elvis film, but Warner Archive's Blu-ray boasts top-tier A/V quality and fun extras, appealing to niche fans.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 86
Warner Archive delivers an impressively colorful 1080p transfer of 'Harum Scarum,' sourced from a recent 4K scan of the original camera negative. Boasting excellent saturation, fine detail, and depth, the presentation faithfully respects the film’s 1.85:1 aspect ratio and offers solid AVC encoding with minimal black crush and macro-blocking.
Audio: 91
The DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix provides clean, crisp dialogue and a well-balanced foreground and background, with excellent fidelity and dynamic range in live performances, pushing the boundaries of what 60-year-old films can sound like. This flawless restoration ranks among Warner Archive's best audio presentations.
Extra: 36
The Harum Scarum Blu-ray extras provide an engaging mix of well-restored 1965 Tom and Jerry shorts, a nostalgic theatrical trailer, and convenient access to key musical moments from the film, encapsulating both vintage charm and entertainment value for fans.
Movie: 46
"Harum Scarum isn't Elvis Presley's finest work, hindered by a nonsensical plot and lackluster performances, yet its kitschy, campy charm and vibrant visual presentation make it a fun, if not artistically stellar, guilty pleasure. The Blu-ray boasts exceptional A/V quality that elevates this otherwise forgettable adventure-comedy."
Video: 86
Warner Archive has delivered an impressively attractive 1080p transfer of "Harum Scarum," sourced from a recent 4K scan of the original camera negative. This results in an extremely colorful presentation, with excellent saturation and fine detail that significantly outshines the storyline. The restored film's rich palette, stemming from its numerous recycled sets originally used in "King of Kings," is impressively maintained. The disc encoding is solid, with only minor traces of black crush and no apparent issues such as macro-blocking or posterization. Constantly running in the mid-30Mbps bitrate range, the transfer successfully showcases both close-ups and wide shots with equally high quality, reinforcing Warner Archive's reputation for providing dependable releases.
The Blu-ray faithfully adheres to the film's original 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio, utilizing the AVC codec for its 1080p presentation. The Metrocolor process is managed well, delivering sharp images throughout the movie with believable skin tones. However, there are occasional soft shots likely due to camera operator errors and some instances of shallow focus where one out of two individuals in a frame might appear sharper than the other. Divided into 25 chapters, the disc offers a visually engaging experience, marred only slightly by these infrequent issues—testaments to an otherwise meticulous restoration that brings the vibrant aesthetics of "Harum Scarum" vividly back to life.
Audio: 91
The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mix on the Blu-ray release of "Harum Scarum" is a commendable example of high-fidelity audio restoration, staying true to its one-channel source material while offering a clean and crisp dialogue. Despite occasional discrepancies in synchronization, especially noticeable in certain post-synched performances like Jay Novello's, the overall quality maintains a seamless blend. The foreground and background effects are well-balanced and rarely conflict, providing an immersive audio experience that seldom betrays its age.
A particularly impressive aspect is the treatment of the film's musical elements. Given its music-driven nature, the live performances and background scores boast excellent overall fidelity with a rich dynamic range. This meticulous restoration work pushes the boundaries of what one would expect from 60-year old films, making it one of the standout catalog titles in terms of sound quality. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included, providing clear lyrics for all songs, thus enhancing accessibility for all viewers.
Extra: 36
The Blu-Ray release of "Harum Scarum" offers a commendable selection of extras that enrich the viewing experience. The inclusion of vintage Tom and Jerry cartoons adds a nostalgic touch, though they might not be from the franchise's peak years, their quality restoration in high definition offers delightful viewing. Additionally, the theatrical trailer, despite its condition, provides a charmingly over-the-top promotional glimpse into the film's original marketing. The Song Selection feature offers convenient access to key musical pieces from the film, enhancing usability and viewer enjoyment.
Extras included in this disc:
- Animated Shorts: Two classic Tom and Jerry cartoons from 1965 and 1966.
- Theatrical Trailer: A vintage trailer that captures the film's essence.
- Song Selection Menu: Instant access to eleven musical moments in the movie.
Movie: 46
Gene Nelson's Harum Scarum, although not highly regarded within Elvis Presley's filmography, offers a unique slice of mid-60s cinematic nostalgia. The film, which follows American movie star Johnny Tyronne (Presley) on a convoluted adventure in the Middle East, is characterized by an absurd plot inspired in part by the antics of "Tropic Thunder." Tyronne is taken hostage by Sinan (Theo Marcuse), a chief assassin who tasks him with assassinating King Toranshah (Philip Reed) using his karate skills. The involvement of various characters like Princess Shalimar (Mary Ann Mobley) and Prince Dragna (Michael Ansara) makes for a campy and haphazard storyline that, while lacking in depth and coherence, provides a certain guilty pleasure.
The attempts at portraying Middle Eastern culture are simplistic and often cringe-worthy by today's standards. Harum Scarum drifts somewhere between parody and pastiche, cranking up the cheese factor as Elvis serenades his way through numerous musical interludes – some of which are more memorable than others. The standout scenes include the opening musical number "Harum Holiday" and a charming duet with street urchin Vicki Malkin on "Hey, Little Girl." However, despite these fleeting moments of enjoyment, many of the film's songs are forgettable. Unsurprisingly, the production remains studio-bound, failing to authentically replicate Middle Eastern locales, but succeeding in providing an adventurous albeit fantastical escape.
Supporting performances range from earnest to over-the-top, with notable contributions from Jay Novello as the master thief Zacha, Billy Barty as the crafty scamp Baba, and Michael Ansara who delivers a solid portrayal of the conniving Prince Dragna. The cast’s collective effort creates an entertaining if not artistically profound experience. In conclusion, despite its narrative and cultural shortcomings, Harum Scarum’s lively spirit and nostalgic charm render it an enjoyable, campy watch.
Total: 74
Gene Nelson's "Harum Scarum" remains a polarizing entry in Elvis Presley's filmography, often ranking low among his cinematic endeavors. Despite its shortcomings, some argue its charm lies in its sheer campiness and over-the-top nature. The film, rife with questionable acting, flamboyant musical numbers, and an absurd storyline, transcends conventional critique by veering into so-bad-it's-good territory. This inadvertently transforms the viewing experience into something memorable for fans of cult cinema.
Warner Archive's Blu-ray release of "Harum Scarum" caters well to both devotees and curious newcomers. The high-definition transfer highlights the borrowed, yet impressively utilized, sets and vibrant costumes, enhancing the film's overall visual appeal. Additionally, the audio quality has been given due attention, preserving the clarity and vibrancy of Elvis's performance tracks. While the bonus features may not be exhaustive, they do offer some entertaining insights, adding value to the package.
In conclusion, "Harum Scarum" is far from being a quintessential Elvis film but finds its niche as a delightfully campy piece of entertainment. Warner Archive’s Blu-ray elevates the viewing experience with top-tier audio-visual execution and worthwhile extras. Recommended for those who appreciate the idiosyncratic allure of cinematic oddities.
Blu-ray.com review by Randy Miller IIIRead review here
Video: 90
Disc encoding is very solid with only trace amounts of black crush but no obvious signs of macro-blocking, posterization, or other eyesores, with the bulk of this main feature running in the mid-30Mbps...
Audio: 100
Not surprisingly given its music-driven plot, the "live" performances are studio-grade with excellent overall fidelity and a rich dynamic range, very much pushing the boundaries of what 60-year old films...
Extras: 40
This rough-looking but watchable vintage promo piece is framed at 1.78:1 and does an appropriately over-the-top job of selling the film and accompanying soundtrack LP....
Movie: 60
The purely American attempt at Middle Eastern character portrayals is not unlike most pre-1969 attempts to accurately depict outer space (2001 notwithstanding, of course); in other words, it's laughably...
Total: 70
Questionably acted with impressive borrowed sets, over-the-top songs, and a ridiculous story, Harum Scarum is too campy to take seriously...
Home Theater Forum review by Matt HoughRead review here
Video: 90
At its best (which is most of the time), the picture is sharp and immensely colorful with the Metrocolor process under complete control offering believable skin tones and lots of varied hues that are a...
Audio: 90
The songs and background score and sound effects have certainly been combined with great effectiveness, and there are no age-related problems with hiss or other aural anomalies....
Extras: 40
Animated Shorts (HD): Tom and Jerry in 1966’s The Cat’s Me-Ouch (6:05) and 1965’s Of Feline Bondage (6:24) Theatrical Trailer (2:05, SD)...
Movie: 40
He’s momentarily rescued by master thief Zacha (Jay Novello) and his merry band of street-smart entertainers, but Zacha, always in the market for a payday, allows Johnny to be captured again and thus finding...
Total: 40
Gene Nelson’s Harum Scarum is a forgettable musical adventure-comedy trapping the talented Elvis Presley once again in a project that doesn’t begin to tap into his gifts as a performer of note....
Director: Gene Nelson
Actors: Elvis Presley, Mary Ann Mobley, Fran Jeffries
PlotAmerican singer Johnny Tyrone visits the Middle East to promote his latest film, only to get embroiled in a plot to assassinate a king. Kidnapped by a group of rebels who recognize him from his action-packed movies, Johnny is coerced into using his fighting skills to fulfill their violent agenda. As he navigates the unfamiliar and treacherous terrain, Johnny's initial disdain for the situation gives way to a deep sense of responsibility. He decides to thwart the assassination attempt and protect the king, discovering along the way that things are not as straightforward as they seem.
Guided by Princess Shalimar, a beautiful and courageous royal who believes in Johnny's innocence, he delves deeper into the political intrigue that threatens to destabilize the kingdom. Throughout his journey, Johnny employs his charisma and resourcefulness to win over allies and outwit adversaries. The power struggles and mysterious alliances challenge him at every turn, pushing him to draw on reserves of bravery he never knew he had. As danger mounts, Johnny's mission becomes more complex and perilous, revealing hidden depths to both his character and the convoluted world he finds himself in.
Writers: Gerald Drayson Adams
Release Date: 15 Dec 1965
Runtime: 95 min
Rating: Approved
Country: United States
Language: English