| Yankee Pasha | |
| Director: | Joseph Pevney |
| Producer: | Howard Christie |
| Screenplay: | Joseph Hoffman |
| Starring: | Jeff Chandler Rhonda Fleming Mamie Van Doren |
| Music: | Hans J. Salter |
| Editing: | Virgil Vogel |
| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Distributor: | Universal Pictures |
| Runtime: | 84 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Gross: | $1,250,000[1] |
| Language: | English |
Yankee Pasha is a 1954 American romantic adventure film directed by Joseph Pevney and starring Jeff Chandler, Rhonda Fleming and Mamie Van Doren.[2] Shot in technicolor, it was produced and distributed by Hollywood studio Universal Pictures. The film is based on the 1947 novel Yankee Pasha by Edison Marshall.[3] [4] [5]
Fur trapper Jason Starbuck (Jeff Chandler) arrives in Salem, Massachusetts in 1800. A general store owner challenges him to a horse race, but his rider's fiancée, Roxana Reil, gives a helpful tip to Starbuck on how to win the race.
A romantic attraction develops and Roxana's father advises her not to marry a man she doesn't love. Roxana sets sail for France, however, and her boat is attacked by pirates, who kill her father and take Roxana captive in Morocco, making her a slave.
Starbuck pursues her. He is introduced by a U.S. consul to the sultan, who is impressed with Starbuck's rifle marksmanship. He is offered a position with the sultan's infantry and given a slave of his own, Lilith.
Roxana has been sold to Omar Id-Din, who could be plotting against the sultan. Starbuck challenges Omar to a duel, with the winner acquiring the other's rifle and slave. Starbuck wins and intends to return home with Roxana, but they are betrayed by the jealous Lilith, who fights Roxana and tells Omar of their plans.
Starbuck is taken prisoner. Lilith has a change of heart, however, and changes clothes with Roxana to fool the guards. With the help of Hassan Sendar, one of the sultan's soldiers, they help rescue Starbuck, who leads the escape of other prisoners. He throws Omar from a roof. He and Roxana are free, and, as a reward, Hassan is given a new slave, Lilith.
The novel was a best seller and Universal bought the film rights as a vehicle for Jeff Chandler.[6] Chandler recorded the song I Should Care on Brunswick Records from the film.