Arabesque (1966)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Stanley Donen

Writers:

Gordon Cotler (novel)
Julian Mitchell (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

5 May 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Ultra mod, ultra mad, ultra mystery

Plot:

Story of international intrigue involving a university professor, an Arab prime minister, a ruthless businessman, a beautiful spy, and hieroglyphics.

Plot Keywords:

Professor | Code | Arab | Spy | Double

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Gregory Peck	...	Prof. David Pollock
Sophia Loren	...	Yasmin Azir
Alan Badel	...	Beshraavi
Kieron Moore	...	Yussef Kasim
Carl Duering	...	Hassan Jena
John Merivale	...	Maj. Sylvester Pennington Sloane
Duncan Lamont	...	Webster
George Coulouris	...	Ragheeb
Ernest Clark	...	Beauchamp
Harold Kasket	...	Mohammed Lufti
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Bilton	...	Camera Shop Owner (uncredited)
Windsor Davies	...	Policeman in Car Crash (uncredited)
Gordon Griffin	...	Fanshaw (uncredited)
Harry Locke	...	(uncredited)
Malya Nappi	...	Ragheeb's wife (uncredited)
James Payne	...	Driving the kidnap lorry (uncredited)
Robert Rowland	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Larry Taylor	...	Beshraavi's Henchman (uncredited)

Directed by
Stanley Donen

Writing credits
Gordon Cotler		(novel "The Cypher")
Julian Mitchell		(screenplay) &
Stanley Price		(screenplay) &
Peter Stone		(screenplay) (as Pierre Marton)

Produced by
Stanley Donen	....	producer
Denis Holt	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Henry Mancini

Cinematography by
Christopher Challis

Film Editing by
Frederick Wilson

Art Direction by
Reece Pemberton

Makeup Department
W.T. Partleton	....	makeup artist

Production Management
David W. Orton	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Jordan	....	second unit director (as John M. Jordan)
Eric Rattray	....	assistant director
Stuart Black	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Terence A. Clegg	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Bill Dennison	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Roy Dorman	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
C. Le Mesurier	....	sound mixer (as C. Le Messurier)
John W. Mitchell	....	sound mixer
Don Sharpe	....	dubbing editor
Archie Ludski	....	additional dubbing editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Charles Staffell	....	back projection (uncredited)

Stunts
Vic Armstrong	....	horse stunt double: Gregory Peck (uncredited)
Vic Armstrong	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jimmy Lodge	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Jimmy Lodge	....	stunt double: Gregory Peck (uncredited)
Jack Silk	....	stunt driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Austin Dempster	....	camera operator
Colin Corby	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Norman Gryspeerdt	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Thom Noble	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Douglas Gamley	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Maurice Binder	....	title designer: main titles
Arthur Carroll	....	production executive
Constance Willis	....	continuity
Jean Hall	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Maurice Landsberger	....	production accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Stanley Donen Films (as A Stanley Donen Production)
• Universal Pictures (presents) (as Universal)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1966) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1970) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)

Other Companies

• Christian Dior  Miss Sophia Loren's wardrobe specially created by

Also Known As:

Stanley Donen's Arabesque (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:A (1966) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 | USA:Unrated | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Ascot, Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

Stanley Donen Films

Trivia:

None of the actors featured in the movie are Arabic.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Peck/Loren are escaping from a helicopter, the filming crew is clear visible on the right side of a bridge (in the helicopters' POV)

Quotes:

David Pollock: If I could find my head, I'd go get it examined.

Movie Connections:

References The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

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.