Lost in a Harem (1944)

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Movie Info

Lost in a Harem is arguably the best of Abbott & Costello's trio of MGM films; it's certainly the silliest, with any number of nonsensical plot twists and sidesplitting gags. This time, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello play Pete and Harvey, two American magicians stranded in a mythical Arabian Nights kingdom with songstress Hazel Moon (Marilyn Maxwell). Our heroes and heroine become involved with the trials and tribulations of Prince Ramo (John Conte), who hopes to rightfully reclaim his throne from his evil usurping uncle Nimativ (Douglas Dumbrille). Alas, the villain is armed with a pair of hypnotic rings with which he forces everyone to do his bidding: his most anti-social act is to kidnap and hypnotize the entire Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra! Pete, Harvey, Ramo and Hazel risk death at every turn to thwart Nimativ, encountering a giant guard (Lock Martin, later to play the robot Gort in The Day the Earth Stood Still), a gibbering lunatic (Murray Leonard) and a bevy of harem beauties along the way. The film's sets and costumes, as well as the more elaborate musical numbers, are "borrowed" from the recently completed MGM superproduction Kismet. While the plot is for the birds, Lost in a Harem is saved by the fast-and-furious antics of Abbott and Costello. And as a bonus, this is the film in which Bud and Lou, accompanied by Murray Leonard, perform those deathless burlesque classics "Slowly I Turned" and "Mike's Place."

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Cast

Bud Abbott
as Peter Johnson
Lou Costello
as Harvey Garvey
Marilyn Maxwell
as Hazel Moon
John Conte
as Prince Ramo
Douglas Dumbrille
as Nimativ
Lottie Harrison
as Teema
J. Lockard Martin
as Bobo
Murray Leonard
as The Derelict
Adia Kuznetzoff
as Chief Ghamu
Milton Parsons
as Crystal Gazer
Ralph Sanford
as Mr. Ormulu
Bud Wolfe
as Chase Guard
Carey Loftin
as Chase Guard
Harry Cording
as Police Chief
Eddie Abdo
as Native
Sammy Stein
as Native Jailor
Heinie Conklin
Duke York
as Jailor
Karin [Katharine] Booth
as Beautiful Girl
Jo Gilbert
as Native Laundry Woman
Frank Penny
as Bearded Vendor
Frank J. Scannell
as Fruit Vendor
Nick Thompson
as Native
Tor Johnson
as Majordomo
Jody Gilbert
as Native Laundry Woman
Paul Newlan
as Guard
Eddie Dunn
as Sentry
Sondra Rodgers
as Zaida, Maid
Richard Alexander
as Executioner
Tom Herbert
as Drunk
Toni LaRue
as Slave Girl
Frances Ramsden
as Slave Girl
Margaret Savage
as Slave Girl
Jan Bryant
as Slave Girl
Margaret Kelly
as Slave Girl
Jimmy Dorsey
as Himself
Elinor Troy
as Slave Girl
Symona Boniface
as Slave Girl
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Critic Reviews for Lost in a Harem

There are no critic reviews yet for Lost in a Harem. Keep checking Rotten Tomatoes for updates!

Audience Reviews for Lost in a Harem

½

Sometimes funny, mostly boring, and an awfully too silly movie, it's kind of sloppy.

Aj V
Aj V

Super Reviewer

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