The Adventures of Hajji Baba
| The Adventures of Hajji Baba | |
|---|---|
20th Century Fox | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $816,813[1] |
| Box office | $2,019,100[1] |
The Adventures of Hajji Baba is a 1954 American CinemaScope adventure film directed by Don Weis and starring John Derek and Elaine Stewart. Made in Southern California, it was released on October 1, 1954. In the credits it states that the film is suggested by The Adventures of Hajji Baba of Ispahan by James Justinian Morier (3 vols., London, 1824).[2]
Plot
In
Cast
- John Derek as Hajji Baba
- Elaine Stewart as Princess Fawzia
- Amanda Blake as Banah
- Rosemarie Stack as Ayesha (as Rosemarie Bowe)
- Thomas Gomez as Osman Aga
- Paul Picerni as Nurel-Din
- Donald Randolph as Caliph
Production
The film is based on The Adventures of Hajji Baba of Ispahan by James Justinian Morier published in 1824. It was popular and remained in print for over a century.
In the early 1950s Walter Wanger produced four films with Allied Artists. They were happy with the results and signed a new contract with the producer, the first of which was to be Hajji Baba. It was a return to the type of film Wagner had previously made such as Arabian Nights (1942).[3]
Allied Artists had been shut down for three months but re-opened again with a slate of ten films starting with Hajji Baba. Elaine Stewart and Don Weis were borrowed from MGM. Filming started 12 April 1954.[4] Linda Christian was meant to play a role but dropped out and was replaced by Amanda Blake.[5][6][7]
Reception
The film was a hit and made a profit of $673,593.[1]
Home media
The film is occasionally shown on Turner Classic Movies. It was released on VHS, and again on Blu-ray from Twilight Time.
Soundtrack
- Hajji Baba (Persian Lament)
- Sung by Nat "King" Cole
- Music by Dimitri Tiomkin
- Lyrics by Ned Washington
- Arranged by Nelson Riddle
- Sung by
References
- ^ a b c Matthew Bernstein, Walter Wanger: Hollywood Independent, Minnesota Press, 2000 p445
- ^ electricpulp.com. "HAJJI BABA OF ISPAHAN – Encyclopaedia Iranica". www.iranicaonline.org.
- ^ Jane Greer Feminine Star of 'Big Mike' Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 11 Nov 1952: B6.
- ^ GOLDWYN LEADS IN BID FOR SHOW New York Times 5 Mar 1954: 15.
- ^ HUDSON TO PLAY IRISH ROBIN HOOD New York Times 10 Apr 1954: 10.
- ^ p. 55 Mirisch, Walter I Thought We Were Making Movies, Not History Univ. of Wisconsin Press, 10 Apr. 2008
- ^ FOX JOINS ALLIED TO MAKE 2 FILMS New York Times 15 Apr 1954: 35.
