Yankee Pasha (1954) DVD-R

Starring Jeff Chandler, Rhonda Fleming, Mamie Van Doren, Lee J. Cobb, Hal March, Rex
Reason
Directed by Joseph Pevney

Print: color
Runtime: 84 min.
Genre: adventure
Print Quality: B

Salem, Massachusetts, 1800. Mountaineer Jason Starbuck rides into town with furs to sell
and dreams to fulfill. He falls in love with Roxana, who breaks her previous engagement and
leaves for France to await Jason. Roxana's ship is attacked by pirates and she is sold into
slavery in Morocco. Jason follows her to Morocco and must win the support of the sultan in
order to continue his efforts to locate and rescue her.
 

The movie Yankee Pasha is based on the historical novel written by Edison Marshall and was published in 1947. This book is one of the best works of the writer and very popular as well. The movie Yankee Pasha was made in 1954 by Universal Pictures and starred the movie actors Jeff Chandler and Rhonda Fleming, and also featured Mamie Van Doren. The movie is a costume drama set in the 1800s. Initially, it is shown that Jason Starbuck, a trapper who arrives in Salem, Massachusetts. He impresses everyone with his expert shooting skills. He is soon challenged to win a horse race. He wins the horse race with the help of Roxana, who is engaged to someone else. Since she refuses to marry him, he returns to the wilderness. She soon breaks her engagement in favor of Jason but is unable to find him. She decides to sail to Marseilles with her father who has found a new job. A few days later, Jason learns that Roxana has broken her engagement and sailed to Marseilles. She has also left a note to him saying that he must come in search of her. Jason sails to Marseilles and later finds that Roxana’s ship was attacked by pirates and she was captured by them and taken to Morocco.

Jason travels to Morocco where he is identified as an American. With the help of the American consulate in Morocco, he manages to win the Sultan’s trust. He is appreciated for his amazing shooting skills and is hired to teach the infantry. He is also given a female slave, Lillith who cares for him but constantly annoys him due to her talkative nature. She introduces him to a slave seller, who informs him that Roxana has been sold to Omar, the head of the Janissaries, pirates who are rivals of the Sultan. Soon, Jason convinces the Sultan to hold a hunting competition between his men and the Janissaries. Here, he sees Roxana as Omar’s groom. He insults Omar and challenges him to a duel, where in the winner would get the rifle and the slave of the other competitor. Jason wins the duel as well as Roxana also. Lillith sees them together and becomes jealous. When Jason leaves to book passage on another ship in the harbor, she informs Omar of Jason’s plan and quarrels with Roxana. Roxana is later abducted by the guards and Lillith realizes her mistake and plans to rescue Roxana.

She sneaks into Roxana’s cell and lets her free. Soon, Jason and Roxana try to escape, but he is caught and imprisoned. Roxana seeks the help of Hassan, the head of the Sultan’s infantry and the American sailors to help her. In the meantime, Jason and the other prisoners manage to escape. At this time, Omar and his troops attack the palace, but Jason is successful in killing him. Later, Hassan and Lillith are brought before the Sultan where Hassan is accused of treachery and he is given Lillith as a slave as punishment. Jason and Roxana later board a ship and are together at last.

The movie Yankee Pasha can be viewed in Technicolor and runs for the duration of 83 minutes. The movie was directed by Joseph Pevney and the ensemble cast was played by the following actors. They are:

• Jeff Chandler……Jason Starbuck
• Rhonda Fleming……Roxana Reil
• Mamie Van Doren……Lillith
• Hal March……Hassan Serdar
• Lee J. Cobb……Sultan
• Bart Roberts……Omar Id-Din
• Tudor Owen……Elias Derby
• Arthur Space……Richard O’Brien
• Benny Rubin……Zimil
• Phil Van Zandt……Baidu Sa’id
• Harry Lauter……Dick Bailey
• John Day……First mate Miller