Road to Morocco (1942)

Two carefree castaways on a desert shore find an Arabian Nights city, where they compete for the luscious Princess Shalmar.

Director:

David Butler

Writers:

Frank Butler (original screenplay), Don Hartman (original screenplay)

Stars:

Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bing Crosby	...	Jeff Peters
Bob Hope	...	Orville 'Turkey' Jackson / Aunt Lucy
Dorothy Lamour	...	Princess Shalmar
Anthony Quinn	...	Mullay Kasim
Dona Drake	...	Mihirmah
Vladimir Sokoloff	...	Hyder Khan
Mikhail Rasumny	...	Ahmed Fey
George Givot	...	Neb Jolla

Storyline

Jeff and Turkey, two wild and crazy guys adrift on a raft in the Mediterranean, are cast away on a desert shore and hop a convenient camel to an Arabian Nights city where Turkey soon finds himself sold as a slave...to luscious Princess Shalmar of Karameesh. Naturally, Jeff would like to rescue Turkey from this "dire" fate, even if it means taking his place! But they haven't figured on virile desert chieftain Mullay Kassim, who has designs on the princess himself...

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Plot Keywords:

national film registry | princess | desert | rescue | castaway | 

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Taglines:

You'll Shriek At These Shieks! . . . trying the double - Oh! on Sheikess Dorothy Lamour!

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 April 1943 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

A Sedução de Marrocos

Filming Locations:

Castle Dome Peak, Yuma, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,626,400, 20 January 1943

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min (DVD) 81 min (copyright length)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Included among the American Film Institute's 1998 list of the 400 movies nominated for the Top 100 Greatest American Movies.

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Goofs

Orville and Jeff are kissed by an amorous two-humped (Bactrian) camel. The camels in North Africa (Dromedaries) have only one hump. Bactrian camels are a much more the norm in Central Asia.

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Quotes

Male Camel: This is the screwiest picture I was ever in.

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Connections

Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997)

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Soundtracks

Moonlight Becomes You
(1942)
Written by Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Patially played during the opening credits
Performed by Bing Crosby
Reprised by Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour and Bob Hope in each other's voices

User Reviews

Very funny film

Easily the best Hope and Crosby film, "Road to Morocco" provides more laughs than most films I have seen. Most of the comedy in this film comes, naturally, from Bob Hope's superb comic delivery and amazing sense of humor. Bing Crosby also proves to be more than just a great singer. He can be a great actor and comedian as well. The material may be too over-the-top for some, such as Hope, Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour all singing synchronized to each others' voices. The film is just full of humor and does not greatly lack any fun or hilarious moments. In just about every scene there is something very funny to laugh at, from Crosby's dream seeing Hope dressed as his aunt to the talking camel, it's all just hysterical. Few comedies ever made, especially those from more recent years, can measure up to the greatness and hilarious nature of "Road to Morocco." Perhaps not absolutely perfect, as far as film-making goes, but very enjoyable and very, very funny.

***1/2 out of ****