John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! ** (1965, Shirley MacLaine, Peter Ustinov, Richard Crenna) – Classic Movie Review 8667

Director J Lee Thompson’s 1965 John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! Is an off-target, iffy, campy and very silly Sixties satirical comedy from writer William Peter Blatty, the man who wrote The Exorcist.

Richard Crenna plays pilot John Goldfarb, who crash-lands in an Arab country ruled by King Fawz (Ustinov), who then wants Goldfarb (Crenna) to stay and coach his team at football. US newswoman Jenny Ericson (MacLaine) rushes around to avoid Fawz (Ustinov)’s clutches when she pretends to belong to his harem to get the story.

It is saved by its high spirits and utter conviction in what it is doing so foolishly, and especially by the typically infectiously jolly performances from Shirley MacLaine and Peter Ustinov, plus some admirable character actors.

Also in the cast are Fred Clark, Wilfrid Hyde White, Jim Backus, Scott Brady, Harry Morgan, Richard Deacon, Jerome Cowan, Leon Askin, David Lewis, Milton Frome, Charles Lane, Jerry Orbach, Jackie Coogan., Telly Savalas, Angela Douglas, Richard Wilson and Barbara Bouchet.

With some legendary character players aboard, it is one of those movies that might well be worth while just for the cast.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8667

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