Lost In A Harem (1944)

After being stranded in the Middle East, a comedy act (Bud Abbott, Lou Costello) and a girl singer (Marilyn Maxwell) are working in a local nightclub hoping to earn enough money to get back to the U.S. But after a nightclub brawl, they are all thrown into jail. A sheik (John Conte) offers to help them escape if they will help him in his plot to regain his throne which has been usurped by his wicked uncle (Douglass Dumbrille). Directed by Charles Riesner, this was one of three films the duo did at MGM rather than their home base at Universal. It's not all that different from what they were churning out at Universal though it has a more expensive look to it (it was filmed on the leftover sets from 1944's KISMET). Its wobbly plot is padded out with musical numbers and comedy sketches (including A&C's famous "slowly I turned" routine). Not one of their best films but not one of their worst either. Costello provides several laugh out loud moments. With Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra, Murray Leonard and Lottie Harrison.