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IMDbPro

Arabesque

  • 1966
  • Approved
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
8.7K
YOUR RATING
Sophia Loren and Gregory Peck in Arabesque (1966)
Story of international intrigue involving a university professor, an Arab prime minister, a ruthless businessman, a beautiful spy, and hieroglyphics.
Play trailer1:23
1 Video
99+ Photos
Screwball ComedySpyActionAdventureComedyCrimeDramaMysteryRomanceThriller

International intrigue in London, involving an American university professor, an Arab prime minister, a ruthless businessman, a beautiful spy, and hieroglyphics.International intrigue in London, involving an American university professor, an Arab prime minister, a ruthless businessman, a beautiful spy, and hieroglyphics.International intrigue in London, involving an American university professor, an Arab prime minister, a ruthless businessman, a beautiful spy, and hieroglyphics.

  • Director
    • Stanley Donen
  • Writers
    • Julian Mitchell
    • Stanley Price
    • Peter Stone
  • Stars
    • Gregory Peck
    • Sophia Loren
    • Alan Badel
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    8.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Stanley Donen
    • Writers
      • Julian Mitchell
      • Stanley Price
      • Peter Stone
    • Stars
      • Gregory Peck
      • Sophia Loren
      • Alan Badel
    • 111User reviews
    • 42Critic reviews
    • 69Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award
      • 2 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:23
    Trailer

    Photos109

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    Top cast45

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    Gregory Peck
    Gregory Peck
    • Prof. David Pollock
    Sophia Loren
    Sophia Loren
    • Yasmin Azir
    Alan Badel
    Alan Badel
    • Beshraavi
    Kieron Moore
    Kieron Moore
    • Yussef Kasim
    Carl Duering
    Carl Duering
    • Hassan Jena
    John Merivale
    John Merivale
    • Maj. Sylvester Pennington Sloane
    Duncan Lamont
    Duncan Lamont
    • Webster
    George Coulouris
    George Coulouris
    • Ragheeb
    Ernest Clark
    Ernest Clark
    • Beauchamp
    Harold Kasket
    • Mohammed Lufti
    Lewis Alexander
    • Racegoer
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Armstrong
    • Ascot Racegoer
    • (uncredited)
    Peter Avella
    • Henchman
    • (uncredited)
    Roy Beck
    • Reporter at Press Conference
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Beradi
    • Ascot Racegoer
    • (uncredited)
    Michael Bilton
    • Scientific Equipment Store Owner
    • (uncredited)
    Ernest Blyth
    • Man at Gatwick Airport
    • (uncredited)
    George Curtis
    • Man in Crowd
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Stanley Donen
    • Writers
      • Julian Mitchell
      • Stanley Price
      • Peter Stone
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews111

    6.48.6K
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    Featured reviews

    TJBNYC

    "If I were standing stark naked in front of Mr. Pollack, he'd probably yawn!"

    As has been duly noted before, "Arabesque" is essentially an update of Stanley Donen's own "Charade." This time, however, the plot twists are more convoluted, the camerwork is decidedly more "mod" (shooting through chandeliers, reflections in sunglass lenses, etc.) and there is an even greater emphasis on the female star's wardrobe. If the story is more confusing and less compelling than "Charade," it certainly isn't at the expense of entertainment. Its derivative nature (it not only incorporates parts of "Charade," but also the drunk and cropdusting scenes from "North by Northwest") prevents "Arabesque" from entering the elevated realm of its predecessor, but it's a delight, nevertheless. Its strongest selling point, really, is the utterly delectable Sophia Loren as Yasmin, the side-switching enigma. It is a strong statement to declare that the glorious Miss Loren has never appeared more beautiful, before or since, than in this film--but I'm willing to take the risk. Her huge, almond, almost Egyptian eyes; tawny, caramel-colored skin; lustrous hair; and world-famous curves have never been seen to better advantage. (Her stunning Christian Dior costumes certainly add to her already formidable allure.) She also displays a very nice light comedic touch; it wouldn't be difficult to dislike someone so supernaturally gorgeous, but instead, Loren's natural warmth and humor shine through. Gregory Peck, on the other hand, looks more than a little ragged around the edges; Cary Grant obviously didn't lend Peck any of his age-defying secrets. His performance isn't nearly as bad or hammy as some other reviews have indicated, but where Loren's charisma and beauty aid her in creating a completely different character than Audrey Hepburn's in "Charade," Peck comes off as an unfortunately blurred carbon coby of Grant in that earlier film. Having said that, "Arabesque" still stands on its own merits as a cracking good comedy-thriller; the final few scenes are terrifically suspenseful. Alan Badel makes a wonderfully oily villain (love the shades!), and Kieron Moore adds a healthy shot of dated humor as a jive-talking Arabian (!). Although the twists and turns might be confusing for some, just sit back and bask in the glory that is Sophia Loren. You know the good guys will win in the end, anyway.
    7rspress

    Good Film but a bit dated.

    This film is a bit dated (1966) but the plot twists and turns keep you watching. With Gregory Peck knocking off one liners and Sophia Loren for eye candy, this film is a good one to catch if you have never seen it before...The villains in the film are a bit over the top and a tad campy but this only adds to the charm of the film.
    7perfectbond

    Entertaining Romantic Thriller

    This movie is reminiscent of Charade in that it is a thriller that is lighthearted in places. Highlights of Arabesque are Gregory Peck playing the somewhat bumbling type, Sophia Loren's exotic beauty, and some memorable humorous situations like Pollack hiding in the shower with Jasmin while being questioned and later the two of them trailing the guy who drops the candy wrappers. The ending action sequence with the press conference, the horse chase, and the helicopter were also well done. All in all, very good entertainment, 7/10.
    5cherold

    Silly fun at first, but loses momentum

    Arabesque is a very '60s movie that tries to be both a suspense film and a spy spoof, but doesn't entirely succeed at either.

    Director Stanley Donen knew Arabesque's story didn't make a lick of sense (seriously, this is not so much a story full of holes as it is a hole with some story sprinkled in it), so he went for razzle dazzle. The memorable opening scene is heavily influenced by German Expressionism, the scene in the zoo has a Wellesian quality, and the influence of Hitchcock pops up periodically.

    In the beginning this works pretty well. But all the most notable scenes, like zoo chase or the silly shower sequence, happen in the first half. After that, the movie is a series of unlikely plot twists, general confusion, and Sophia Loren wardrobe changes. And at the end, any attempt to make sense of the story will only cause you to realize it makes even less sense than you thought.

    Even at it's best, this is a pretty cheesy movie. But if it had managed to stay at that cheesy best all the way through, it would have been a far more enjoyable one.
    6whpratt1

    Sophia Loren was so Beautiful

    Gregory Peck, (Professor David Pollack), "Old Gringo", plays a professor who is kidnapped for a brief period and is told to reveal the secrets of an Arabic writing which is his specialty. He is shot at, hit on the head and thrown out of a truck and meets up with Sophia Loren, (Yasmin Azir), "The Black Orchid", who runs into him all the time and decides to help him escape from his captives. However, Yasmin tells so many lies that David does not believe her and begins to think she is working against him. There is plenty of comedy, drama, romance and action. This is not exactly an easy film to just sit back and relax, it keeps you wondering just what is really Going ON

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      As many critics noted (not always approvingly), Stanley Donen filmed this thriller in an uncharacteristically flamboyant style, using bizarre camera angles and eccentric visual compositions throughout. He later admitted that he had never felt that the screenplay was quite right (Many writers worked on it, and it was rumored to be still being reworked during shooting). So, he had given the film an unusual look to disguise its shortcomings. He had had to start filming before he was ready, in order to accommodate the busy schedules of Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren.
    • Goofs
      The chase through the London Zoo takes place at night. However the insert shots of various animals were clearly shot in broad daylight.
    • Quotes

      David Pollock: Follow that car!

      Taxi Driver: All my life I have waited for somebody to say that!

    • Alternate versions
      For the UK theatrical release, the BBFC removed a few seconds of the drowning in the aquarium and the sight of a man being bloodily shot in the face in order to obtain an 'A' rating (the equivalent of today's 'PG'). All later releases have been uncut and rated '12.'
    • Connections
      Featured in Biography: Sophia Loren: Actress Italian Style (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      We've Loved Before (Yasmin's Theme)
      Written by Henry Mancini, Jay Livingston and Ray Evans

      Conducted by Henry Mancini

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    FAQ

    • How long is Arabesque?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 18, 1966 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Stanley Donen's Arabesque
    • Filming locations
      • Crumlin Viaduct, Crumlin, Caerphilly, Wales, UK
    • Production companies
      • Stanley Donen Films
      • Stanley Donen Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $4,800,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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