When "Wrong Way Goldfarb", former college football player noted for running a touchdown for the other team, becomes an American U2 pilot, he, naturally has problems with his plane during a top secret mission. When he eventually crashes, its not in the U.S.S.R. of course, but the Kingdom of Fawzia (rhymes with "Saudia"). Taken "prisoner" he soon meets Jenny Ericson, undercover Strife magazine newspaperwoman, posing undercover as a Harem-girl in the King's household, to get the "low down" on Harem life for American readers.
The antics in the Fawzian household with the King (Ustinov), Goldfarb (Crenna) and Jenny (MacLaine) are a kick providing opportunities for many double entendres and sexual innuendo. Half of the movie, after all, does take place inside a harem! But, the real entertainment is watching the floundering US bureaucrats deal with this delicate situation. The bickering in the state department offices about how to resolve the mess of a U2 pilot crashing inside a foreign country (when the US insists it doesn't own such planes, and if it did, they wouldn't fly over foreign countries)is outrageously funny. At one point, a "pin" is added to the crisis map of the world as part of their tracking method for "hot spots" and... but, I don't want to spoil it for you! Viewed in 2006, the 60's humor is clever and jabs fun unmercifully at ethnicity, religion, looks, race, and patriotic fervor. This is not a movie for those who cannot laugh at themselves, or others. Goldfarb's Jewishness, Jenny's iceberg sexuality, the King's sexual proclivities and toys, Harem humor, national pride - its all there.
Crenna mostly plays exasperated, but, delivers with effective physical humor. MacLaine is so energized she sometimes makes you tired to watch her move; but, delivers her lines so snappily you just go with the flow while you watch her. Ustinov is his usual droll self, but, it works. Henry Morgan and Jim Backus add the most depth to the movie with their earnest yearning to do the right thing, but saddled with idiots at home and in the field (Fred Clark and Jerome Cowan). And the Fawzians in spite of still having Harems, are NOT dopes - guards make extremely astute observations on the American ambassadors (lack of )knowledge about Fawzian culture that will crack you up.
The script is what holds the movie together. Its clever. Its funny. Its not politically correct. Too bad its so hard to find.
The antics in the Fawzian household with the King (Ustinov), Goldfarb (Crenna) and Jenny (MacLaine) are a kick providing opportunities for many double entendres and sexual innuendo. Half of the movie, after all, does take place inside a harem! But, the real entertainment is watching the floundering US bureaucrats deal with this delicate situation. The bickering in the state department offices about how to resolve the mess of a U2 pilot crashing inside a foreign country (when the US insists it doesn't own such planes, and if it did, they wouldn't fly over foreign countries)is outrageously funny. At one point, a "pin" is added to the crisis map of the world as part of their tracking method for "hot spots" and... but, I don't want to spoil it for you! Viewed in 2006, the 60's humor is clever and jabs fun unmercifully at ethnicity, religion, looks, race, and patriotic fervor. This is not a movie for those who cannot laugh at themselves, or others. Goldfarb's Jewishness, Jenny's iceberg sexuality, the King's sexual proclivities and toys, Harem humor, national pride - its all there.
Crenna mostly plays exasperated, but, delivers with effective physical humor. MacLaine is so energized she sometimes makes you tired to watch her move; but, delivers her lines so snappily you just go with the flow while you watch her. Ustinov is his usual droll self, but, it works. Henry Morgan and Jim Backus add the most depth to the movie with their earnest yearning to do the right thing, but saddled with idiots at home and in the field (Fred Clark and Jerome Cowan). And the Fawzians in spite of still having Harems, are NOT dopes - guards make extremely astute observations on the American ambassadors (lack of )knowledge about Fawzian culture that will crack you up.
The script is what holds the movie together. Its clever. Its funny. Its not politically correct. Too bad its so hard to find.