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Arabesque

Play trailer Poster for Arabesque 1966 1h 45m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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74% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 53% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
When a plot against a prominent Middle Eastern politician is uncovered, David Pollock (Gregory Peck), a professor of ancient hieroglyphics at Oxford University, is recruited to help expose the scheme. Pollock must find information believed to be in hieroglyphic code and must also contend with a mysterious man called Beshraavi (Alan Badel). Meanwhile, Beshraavi's beautiful lover, Yasmin Azir (Sophia Loren), seems willing to aid Pollock -- but is she really on his side?

Critics Reviews

View All (19) Critics Reviews
TIME Magazine The cinematic busywork offers sporadic fun, but also suggests the unsteady posture of a show that always seems about to fall flat on its pretty face. Apr 8, 2011 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Arabesque packs the names of Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren and a foreign intrigue theme, but doesn't always progress on a true entertainment course. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Tom Milne Time Out Much flashier than Donen's earlier Charade (also scripted by Peter Stone, alias Pierre Marton) and very sub-Hitchcock. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Kathy Fennessy Video Librarian Magazine If the ending is especially silly, at least the actors have fun with it. Rated: 3/4 Nov 19, 2021 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy The stars enjoy tremendous chemistry, and Henry Mancini's score is flat-out terrific and arguably one of his best. Rated: 3/4 Sep 17, 2021 Full Review Frank J. Avella Edge Media Network Convoluted script notwithstanding, Arabesque is a gorgeous film with two stellar performances by cinematic royalty, Sophia Loren and Gregory Peck. Rated: B- Sep 14, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (94) audience reviews
Mike W I came close to spilling my drink with lines that included "Daddy-O" and "Later Alligator". It was the worst movie I recall that featured Gregory Peck, an actor I like very much. The scenes in the zoo and aquarium were POOR. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 07/09/24 Full Review Nizar N You know what to expect from the very first few minutes, and realize it is not the greatest movie you'll ever see. That is okay, firstly because it is still one of the memorable ones you'll see, and secondly because it keeps up with what it promises and stays true to itself instead of pretending to be something it's not. The plot might come off as convoluted, but is not really, and that trait is what keeps the movie interesting. Sophia Loren and Gregory Peck have great chemistry together. Stanley Donen experiments with some unorthodox frames as well as effects with lights, and he gets some beautiful scenes. The ending is remarkably great, and very rarely do movies focus on the ending that much, which also brings to mind none other than the great ending of Donen's Singin' in the Rain. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/10/23 Full Review Liam D While not as good as Stanley Donen (The Grass Is Greener, Damn Yankees) other thriller Charade its still an absolute fun ride Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/01/23 Full Review steve d Peck is always good but the story didn't work. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Stanley Donen's Hitchcockian motion picture is called Arabesque that is about an international affair that involves a professor, a Middle Eastern prime minister, a ruthless businessman, a beautiful spy, and hieroglyphics. While there are some things that I found unnecessary in this film like the cinematography due to over usage of the Dutch angle and the constant twists that occur throughout the entire movie, I still was fond of Arabesque. That's because of the suspenseful musical score composed by Henry Mancini, the lavish costume designs, the sense of humor in some scenes, and last but not least a wonderful performance by the beautiful and iconic Sophia Loren. Arabesque is a stylish film filled with suspenseful mystery. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member WTF were people thinking watching this ****ing ****?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Arabesque

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis When a plot against a prominent Middle Eastern politician is uncovered, David Pollock (Gregory Peck), a professor of ancient hieroglyphics at Oxford University, is recruited to help expose the scheme. Pollock must find information believed to be in hieroglyphic code and must also contend with a mysterious man called Beshraavi (Alan Badel). Meanwhile, Beshraavi's beautiful lover, Yasmin Azir (Sophia Loren), seems willing to aid Pollock -- but is she really on his side?
Director
Stanley Donen
Producer
Stanley Donen
Screenwriter
Pierre Marton, Julian Mitchell, Stanley Price
Production Co
Universal/Universal Int
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 8, 2020
Runtime
1h 45m