Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      Kismet

      Released Aug 22, 1944 1 hr. 40 min. Fantasy List
      Reviews 43% Fewer than 50 Ratings Audience Score In ancient Baghdad, penniless beggar Hafiz (Ronald Colman) dotes on his beautiful daughter, Marsinah (Joy Page), at home and adopts the dashing and wealthy persona of the Prince of Hassir on the streets. While wooing the glamorous Lady Jamilla (Marlene Dietrich), wife of the Grand Vizier (Edward Arnold), Hafiz accidentally sets in motion a battle between the treacherous Vizier and the rakish Caliph (James Craig) for his daughter's hand in marriage, in the process exposing each man's secrets. Read More Read Less

      Where to Watch

      Kismet

      Prime Video Apple TV

      Rent Kismet on Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Prime Video, Apple TV.

      Audience Reviews

      View All (6) audience reviews
      Audience Member Utter grade school garbage. WASP actors playing Middle Eastern natives. Ridiculous. Production and direction on the level of cheesy tv sitcom; costumes outlandishly overdone. Pure junk. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review kevin w Pure escapism, Arabian style, about a beggar (Ronald Colman) trying to get his daughter well married. There are complications, of course, one of them being the ever-sultry Marlene Dietrich (who saves this little more than costumed dreck/entertainment kibble very nearly singlehandedly!) (and does not get enough screen time!) but we are only here for the costumes, right? Or the settings? Or the music? Or maybe even Colman's distinctive vocal patterns? Cause there's not much of a story or characters to care for. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member 'Kismet' starts strong, with a charming storybook introduction to the main characters, which has the added benefit that we immediately understand what's happening when a beggar (Ronald Colman) dresses up as a Prince, and a Caliph (James Craig) dresses up as a gardener's son in Baghdad. While disguised, Colman is carrying on with the vizier's wife (Marlene Dietrich), while Craig is secretly romancing the beggar's daughter (Joy Page). Complicating matters is the vizier himself (Edward Arnold), who wants to kill Craig, and also unwittingly becomes a rival for Page when Colman seeks to get her married to someone wealthy. While I adore Colman and Dietrich, the film degenerates and doesn't live up to its potential, or the millions MGM poured into it during wartime. Craig is wooden, and Page is too (though she is pretty). Dietrich's dance routine is clunky, with the exception of a languid, erotic move on her back towards the end, which was probably the best moment in the film. Hugh Herbert is annoying (as he invariably is) with the 'woo woo's' in his role attempting to provide comedic relief. One has to suspend disbelief for what is essentially a fairy tale (or better put, an Arabian Nights tale), but even with that said, the film lacks any semblance of authenticity. It's a strange hodgepodge, with a couple of bland musical numbers, silly magic tricks, and a lot of camp. It's unfortunate that more attention wasn't devoted to the script, as opposed to all of the flashy colors in the sets and costumes (which didn't work for me anyway). Perhaps during WWII audiences needed silly escapism, but it certainly hasn't aged well, and it's a mystery to me that it garnered four Oscar nominations. A couple of stars for Colman and Dietrich, who even in silly roles have moments that draw one's attention, but don't expect much beyond that. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member This only gets two stars because of Marlene Deitrich. She elevates any film she is in. Besides that this is just 50s fluff with "exotic" production that is disastrously dated. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review ashley h Kismet is an excellent film. It is about Hafiz, a rascally beggar on the periphery of the court of Baghdad, who schemes to marry his daughter to royalty and to win the heart of the queen of the castle himself. Marlene Dietrich and James Craig give amazing performances. The screenplay is well written. William Dieterle did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed this motion picture because of the romance and adventure. Kismet is a must see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member the best of 4 versions of this Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      More Like This

      View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
      Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

      Photos

      View All Kismet photos

      Kismet

      Kismet (1944) Kismet (1944) Kismet (1944) Kismet (1944) Kismet (1944) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

      View All (1) Critics Reviews
      Elena de la Torre Cine-Mundial A fantastic abudance of luxury. [Full review in Spanish] Sep 18, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis In ancient Baghdad, penniless beggar Hafiz (Ronald Colman) dotes on his beautiful daughter, Marsinah (Joy Page), at home and adopts the dashing and wealthy persona of the Prince of Hassir on the streets. While wooing the glamorous Lady Jamilla (Marlene Dietrich), wife of the Grand Vizier (Edward Arnold), Hafiz accidentally sets in motion a battle between the treacherous Vizier and the rakish Caliph (James Craig) for his daughter's hand in marriage, in the process exposing each man's secrets.
      Director
      William Dieterle
      Distributor
      Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
      Production Co
      Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
      Genre
      Fantasy
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Aug 22, 1944, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Apr 4, 2017
      Most Popular at Home Now