Road to Morocco
Encyclopedia
Road to Morocco is an 1942 American comedy film
about two fast-talking guys tossed up on a desert shore and sold into slavery
to a beautiful princess. The movie is the third of the "Road to...
" films starring Bing Crosby
, Bob Hope
, and Dorothy Lamour
, and also features Anthony Quinn
and Dona Drake
.
The film was written by Frank Butler
and Don Hartman and directed by David Butler for Paramount Pictures
.
The picture received Academy Award nominations for Best Sound Recording (Loren Ryder) and Best Writing, Original Screenplay
. In 1996, Road to Morocco was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry
by the Library of Congress
as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
In an NPR interview, Middle East expert Dr. Jack Shaheen
of Southern Illinois University
cites Road To Morocco as "one of the most stereotypical films ever to come out of Hollywood."
The film was topical as American troops landed in Morocco
on 8 November 1942 during Operation Torch
.
Jeff Peters (Bing Crosby
) and Orville 'Turkey' Jackson (Bob Hope
) are then seen floating at sea aboard a pile of wreckage. Apparently it was Jeff's idea to stow away on the boat, but it was Orville 'smoking in the powder room' that caused the explosion. As the two start off joking about eating one another to survive, they fortunately spot land in the distance.
As they sit on the beach, Orville reminds Jeff of his promise to Aunt Lucy, to always take care of him. Jeff reminds him that Aunt Lucy died before he could actually agree. They are comically interrupted by a convenient camel, and they hitch a ride to Morocco.
Once in the city, they are nearly run over by a bunch of Arabs shooting guns, led by the sheik Mullay Kasim (Anthony Quinn
). Jeff and Orville learn the sheik is pursuing the princess for marriage. Orville is approached by a group of bearers carrying someone in a veiled box. A beautiful hand takes his and then leaves, with Orville in pure bliss. Later in a restaurant, Jeff and Orville eat heartily, while trying to figure out how to get past the knife-wielding owner without paying. A man (Dan Seymour
) takes Jeff aside and after a brief conversation hands over a great deal of money. Orville is happy to be able to pay for the meal, until he learns that Jeff 'sold' him. Orville is furious, especially since neither of them know why the man bought him. Jeff calms him down and tells Orville he'll buy him back, eventually; and two men throw a hood over Orville and carry him off.
A week later, Jeff is woken by a vision of Aunt Lucy (played by a harp-wielding Bob Hope) who shames him for his act. Jeff says he tried to buy Orville back, but learned he was re-sold to someone else. Aunt Lucy tells him he has to find Orville, and recommends singing Orville's favorite song.
Jeff walks through the street singing, (accompanied by Aunt Lucy's ghost) until a note, with Orville's locket is tossed at him from the palace window. The note, written by Orville, says he's being tortured and warns Jeff of danger and to stay away. Jeff, thinking Orville is really in trouble, scales the palace wall. Hearing a female voice singing, Jeff sneaks into the palace and see a lot of beautiful girls dancing for someone. Turns out that someone is the beautiful Princess Shalmar (Dorothy Lamour
) singing to a very relaxed, and richly dressed Orville at her side.
Jeff storms in angrily and is grabbed by the palace guards. Orville feigns ignorance and tries to send him away. The princess dismisses everyone, except for Jeff. Orville finally admits the truth, but it's clear he's still mad at Jeff for selling him. He also says he and the princess are to be married. Jeff is surprised, but the princess says her wise man, Hyder Kahn read the stars and told her to marry Orville. She was the one that passed Orville in the veiled box, and also the one that purchased him. As she plants a passionate kiss on Orville, Jeff decides to stick around; a decision that almost brings him and Orville to blows, but the princess invites Jeff to stay.
As Orville is waited on by numerous beautiful girls, he learns from one of them, Mihirmah, the princess was supposed to marry Kasim, but also tells Orville she loves him too. Jeff breaks up the party and confronts Orville, who doesn't want Jeff to muscle in and has him thrown out.
Jeff wanders the palace singing, an act that attracts the princess and they go on a moonlit walk. Mihirmah tells Orville and tries to get him to run away with her. Jeff tries to tell the princess that HE was the one sold and should be marrying her, but he is interrupted by a sword wielding Orville.
The next morning an angry Kasim confronts Princess Shalmar for marrying someone else instead of him. He is prepared to kill Orville but the princess takes him to the wise man Hyder Kahn. Hyder Khan said he had read the stars and found that Princess Shalmar's first husband is destined to die a violent death within a week of the marriage, and the second husband would be blessed with long life and happiness. The princess tells Kasim that Orville is the first husband, and when he dies, she'll happily marry Kasim and they will live in happiness. Kasim finally understands and embraces the princess.
Orville eventually finds out about the prophecy and frantically runs to Jeff and convinces him that the princess actually loves him and he's going to run off with Mihirmah. Later that night, Orville is visited and shamed by Aunt Lucy's spirit, but Orville refuses to tell Jeff the truth. Meanwhile, the wise man realizes that he had been misreading the stars due to fireflies in his telescope and therefore his prophecies are incorrect.
Princess Shalmar refuses to marry Jeff, even though Orville is eager to get out of the marriage. The princess sends Orville away to get ready for the wedding. The wise man runs in and tells the princess and Jeff of the incorrect prophecy. The princess is happy and tells Jeff now she can marry him and not Kasim. Jeff realizes why Orville was so eager to get out of the marriage, but decides not to tell him. Instead he says the princess changed her mind, and Orville is only too eager to accept. Meanwhile the wise man's assistant tells Kasim, who rallies his men.
The Princess and Jeff decide to get married in the United States, accompanied by Orville and Mirhamah but they are confronted by Kasim, who takes the princess and gives Mihirmah to one of his men. Jeff and Orville try to use their 'patty-cake' routine on Kasim, but it backfires. They escape into the palace with the girls but are eventually found and captured.
Kasim takes the women and strands Jeff and Orville in the desert. They wander aimlessly, seeing a diner but are devastated to find it's a mirage. They see a vision of a singing Princess Shalmar, which spurs them onward. They find an oasis which happens to be near Kasim's camp. They try to sneak in, but are captured. They see another set of horsemen and learn its an enemy sheik who was invited as a token of peace. Later, they manage to escape and set the two sheiks against each other as a distraction. In the chaos Jeff and Orville grab the girls and make their escape.
Later, on a boat home, Orville sneaks into the powder room for a cigarette. There is an explosion and then we see all four afloat a pile of wreckage. Fortunately, they are shown to be near New York harbor.
All lyrics by Johnny Burke
, and music by Jimmy Van Heusen.
Renewal was filed by EMKA, Ltd.
, holder of the rights to Paramount's pre-1950 library, and now part of NBC Universal Television Distribution
. This makes Universal Studios the film's distributor for all media. The copyright is now scheduled to run until 95 years after the publication date (2037). The film has not lapsed into the public domain
.
recognition
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
about two fast-talking guys tossed up on a desert shore and sold into slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
to a beautiful princess. The movie is the third of the "Road to...
Road to...
Road to ... refers to a series of seven comedy films starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour. They are also often referred to as the "Road" pictures or the "Road" series. The movies were a combination of adventure, comedy, romance, and music...
" films starring Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
, Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
, and Dorothy Lamour
Dorothy Lamour
Dorothy Lamour was an American film actress. She is best remembered for appearing in the Road to... movies, a series of successful comedies starring Bing Crosby and Bob Hope .-Early life:Lamour was born Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton in New Orleans, Louisiana, the daughter of Carmen Louise Dorothy...
, and also features Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Antonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer...
and Dona Drake
Dona Drake
Dona Drake was an American singer, dancer and film actress in the 1930s and 1940s. She was born Eunice Westmoreland in Miami, Florida, in 1914. Entering show business in the 1930s, she used the names Una Velon, Rita Rio and Rita Shaw. She settled on the stage name Dona Drake in the early 1940s...
.
The film was written by Frank Butler
Frank Butler (writer)
Frank Butler was an American film and theatre actor; he was also a screenwriter.-Theatre:His theatre career included two appearances in Broadway-theatre productions in New York City, New York....
and Don Hartman and directed by David Butler for Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
.
The picture received Academy Award nominations for Best Sound Recording (Loren Ryder) and Best Writing, Original Screenplay
Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay)
The Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay is the Academy Award for the best script not based upon previously published material. Before 1940, there was an Academy Award for Best Story for writing. For 1940, it and the award in this article were separated into two awards. Beginning with the...
. In 1996, Road to Morocco was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry
National Film Registry
The National Film Registry is the United States National Film Preservation Board's selection of films for preservation in the Library of Congress. The Board, established by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988, was reauthorized by acts of Congress in 1992, 1996, 2005, and again in October 2008...
by the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
In an NPR interview, Middle East expert Dr. Jack Shaheen
Jack Shaheen
Jack G. Shaheen is Professor Emeritus of Mass Communication at Southern Illinois University. He was also a consultant on Middle East affairs for CBS News....
of Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
cites Road To Morocco as "one of the most stereotypical films ever to come out of Hollywood."
The film was topical as American troops landed in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
on 8 November 1942 during Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
.
Plot
The film opens with a freighter at sea exploding and news announcements around the world. The cause of the explosion is a mystery, with all crew accounted for with the exception of two unidentified stowaways.Jeff Peters (Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
) and Orville 'Turkey' Jackson (Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
) are then seen floating at sea aboard a pile of wreckage. Apparently it was Jeff's idea to stow away on the boat, but it was Orville 'smoking in the powder room' that caused the explosion. As the two start off joking about eating one another to survive, they fortunately spot land in the distance.
As they sit on the beach, Orville reminds Jeff of his promise to Aunt Lucy, to always take care of him. Jeff reminds him that Aunt Lucy died before he could actually agree. They are comically interrupted by a convenient camel, and they hitch a ride to Morocco.
Once in the city, they are nearly run over by a bunch of Arabs shooting guns, led by the sheik Mullay Kasim (Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Antonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer...
). Jeff and Orville learn the sheik is pursuing the princess for marriage. Orville is approached by a group of bearers carrying someone in a veiled box. A beautiful hand takes his and then leaves, with Orville in pure bliss. Later in a restaurant, Jeff and Orville eat heartily, while trying to figure out how to get past the knife-wielding owner without paying. A man (Dan Seymour
Dan Seymour
Dan Seymour was a character actor who frequently played villains in Warner Bros. films. He appeared in several Humphrey Bogart films, including Casablanca, Key Largo, and To Have and Have Not....
) takes Jeff aside and after a brief conversation hands over a great deal of money. Orville is happy to be able to pay for the meal, until he learns that Jeff 'sold' him. Orville is furious, especially since neither of them know why the man bought him. Jeff calms him down and tells Orville he'll buy him back, eventually; and two men throw a hood over Orville and carry him off.
A week later, Jeff is woken by a vision of Aunt Lucy (played by a harp-wielding Bob Hope) who shames him for his act. Jeff says he tried to buy Orville back, but learned he was re-sold to someone else. Aunt Lucy tells him he has to find Orville, and recommends singing Orville's favorite song.
Jeff walks through the street singing, (accompanied by Aunt Lucy's ghost) until a note, with Orville's locket is tossed at him from the palace window. The note, written by Orville, says he's being tortured and warns Jeff of danger and to stay away. Jeff, thinking Orville is really in trouble, scales the palace wall. Hearing a female voice singing, Jeff sneaks into the palace and see a lot of beautiful girls dancing for someone. Turns out that someone is the beautiful Princess Shalmar (Dorothy Lamour
Dorothy Lamour
Dorothy Lamour was an American film actress. She is best remembered for appearing in the Road to... movies, a series of successful comedies starring Bing Crosby and Bob Hope .-Early life:Lamour was born Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton in New Orleans, Louisiana, the daughter of Carmen Louise Dorothy...
) singing to a very relaxed, and richly dressed Orville at her side.
Jeff storms in angrily and is grabbed by the palace guards. Orville feigns ignorance and tries to send him away. The princess dismisses everyone, except for Jeff. Orville finally admits the truth, but it's clear he's still mad at Jeff for selling him. He also says he and the princess are to be married. Jeff is surprised, but the princess says her wise man, Hyder Kahn read the stars and told her to marry Orville. She was the one that passed Orville in the veiled box, and also the one that purchased him. As she plants a passionate kiss on Orville, Jeff decides to stick around; a decision that almost brings him and Orville to blows, but the princess invites Jeff to stay.
As Orville is waited on by numerous beautiful girls, he learns from one of them, Mihirmah, the princess was supposed to marry Kasim, but also tells Orville she loves him too. Jeff breaks up the party and confronts Orville, who doesn't want Jeff to muscle in and has him thrown out.
Jeff wanders the palace singing, an act that attracts the princess and they go on a moonlit walk. Mihirmah tells Orville and tries to get him to run away with her. Jeff tries to tell the princess that HE was the one sold and should be marrying her, but he is interrupted by a sword wielding Orville.
The next morning an angry Kasim confronts Princess Shalmar for marrying someone else instead of him. He is prepared to kill Orville but the princess takes him to the wise man Hyder Kahn. Hyder Khan said he had read the stars and found that Princess Shalmar's first husband is destined to die a violent death within a week of the marriage, and the second husband would be blessed with long life and happiness. The princess tells Kasim that Orville is the first husband, and when he dies, she'll happily marry Kasim and they will live in happiness. Kasim finally understands and embraces the princess.
Orville eventually finds out about the prophecy and frantically runs to Jeff and convinces him that the princess actually loves him and he's going to run off with Mihirmah. Later that night, Orville is visited and shamed by Aunt Lucy's spirit, but Orville refuses to tell Jeff the truth. Meanwhile, the wise man realizes that he had been misreading the stars due to fireflies in his telescope and therefore his prophecies are incorrect.
Princess Shalmar refuses to marry Jeff, even though Orville is eager to get out of the marriage. The princess sends Orville away to get ready for the wedding. The wise man runs in and tells the princess and Jeff of the incorrect prophecy. The princess is happy and tells Jeff now she can marry him and not Kasim. Jeff realizes why Orville was so eager to get out of the marriage, but decides not to tell him. Instead he says the princess changed her mind, and Orville is only too eager to accept. Meanwhile the wise man's assistant tells Kasim, who rallies his men.
The Princess and Jeff decide to get married in the United States, accompanied by Orville and Mirhamah but they are confronted by Kasim, who takes the princess and gives Mihirmah to one of his men. Jeff and Orville try to use their 'patty-cake' routine on Kasim, but it backfires. They escape into the palace with the girls but are eventually found and captured.
Kasim takes the women and strands Jeff and Orville in the desert. They wander aimlessly, seeing a diner but are devastated to find it's a mirage. They see a vision of a singing Princess Shalmar, which spurs them onward. They find an oasis which happens to be near Kasim's camp. They try to sneak in, but are captured. They see another set of horsemen and learn its an enemy sheik who was invited as a token of peace. Later, they manage to escape and set the two sheiks against each other as a distraction. In the chaos Jeff and Orville grab the girls and make their escape.
Later, on a boat home, Orville sneaks into the powder room for a cigarette. There is an explosion and then we see all four afloat a pile of wreckage. Fortunately, they are shown to be near New York harbor.
Cast
- Bing CrosbyBing CrosbyHarry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
... Jeff Peters - Bob HopeBob HopeBob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
... Orville 'Turkey' Jackson/Aunt Lucy - Dorothy LamourDorothy LamourDorothy Lamour was an American film actress. She is best remembered for appearing in the Road to... movies, a series of successful comedies starring Bing Crosby and Bob Hope .-Early life:Lamour was born Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton in New Orleans, Louisiana, the daughter of Carmen Louise Dorothy...
... Princess Shalmar - Anthony QuinnAnthony QuinnAntonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer...
... Mullay Kasim - Dona DrakeDona DrakeDona Drake was an American singer, dancer and film actress in the 1930s and 1940s. She was born Eunice Westmoreland in Miami, Florida, in 1914. Entering show business in the 1930s, she used the names Una Velon, Rita Rio and Rita Shaw. She settled on the stage name Dona Drake in the early 1940s...
... Mihirmah - Vladimir SokoloffVladimir Sokoloff-Biography:Sokoloff was born in Moscow, Russia. He became an actor and assistant director with the Moscow Art Theatre, before emigrating to Berlin in 1923...
... Hyder Khan - Mikhail RasumnyMikhail RasumnyMikhail Rasumny was a Soviet/American film actor.-External links:...
... Ahmed Fey - George Givot ... Neb Jolla
Songs
- "(We're off on the) Road to Morocco", performed by Bing Crosby and Bob Hope
- "Ain't Got a Dime to My Name", by Bing Crosby
- "Constantly", Dorothy Lamour
- "Moonlight Becomes YouMoonlight Becomes You*"Moonlight Becomes You" , a 1942 popular song by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke*Moonlight Becomes You , a 1994 album by Willie Nelson*Moonlight Becomes You , a 1998 TV-movie starring Donna Mills...
", Bing Crosby, and later by Lamour, Hope, and Crosby
All lyrics by Johnny Burke
Johnny Burke (lyricist)
Johnny Burke was a lyricist, widely regarded as one of the finest writers of popular songs in America between the 1920s and 1950s.-Biography:...
, and music by Jimmy Van Heusen.
Copyright
The film's copyright was renewed in a timely manner by the company which had acquired it. Originally registered for copyright as LP11703 with a declared publication date of October 1, 1942, the continuation of copyright was contingent upon renewal between the 27th and 28th anniversaries of that date. Renewal occurred November 7, 1969, number R472317.Renewal was filed by EMKA, Ltd.
EMKA, Ltd.
EMKA, Ltd. is an in-name-only division of Universal Studios' television unit whose sole function is overseeing Paramount Pictures' pre-1950 sound feature film library. EMKA was formed by MCA in 1957 .In the aftermath of the landmark 1948 United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc...
, holder of the rights to Paramount's pre-1950 library, and now part of NBC Universal Television Distribution
NBC Universal Television Distribution
NBCUniversal Television Distribution is the television distribution arm of the NBCUniversal Television Group in the United States, and is a subsidiary of General Electric...
. This makes Universal Studios the film's distributor for all media. The copyright is now scheduled to run until 95 years after the publication date (2037). The film has not lapsed into the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
.
Recognition
American Film InstituteAmerican Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
recognition
- 2000: AFI's 100 Years... 100 LaughsAFI's 100 Years... 100 LaughsPart of the AFI 100 Years… series, AFI's 100 Years…100 Laughs is a list of the top 100 funniest movies in American cinema. A wide variety of comedies were nominated for the distinction that included slapstick comedy, screwball comedy, romantic comedy, satire, black comedy, musical comedy, comedy of...
#78 - 2004: AFI's 100 Years... 100 SongsAFI's 100 Years... 100 SongsPart of the AFI 100 Years… series, AFI's 100 Years…100 Songs is a list of the top 100 songs in American cinema. The list was unveiled by the American Film Institute June 22, 2004 in a CBS special hosted by John Travolta, who appeared in two films honored by the list, Saturday Night Fever and...
#95 for "(We're off on the) Road to Morocco"