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IMDb > Kismet (1944)
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Overview

User Rating:
6.0/10   265 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 33% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
William Dieterle
Writers:
Edward Knoblock (play)
John Meehan (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Kismet on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
October 1944 (USA) more
Plot:
Hafiz, a rascally beggar on the periphery of the court of Baghdad, schemes to marry his daughter to... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 4 Oscars. more
User Comments:
Underrated gem more

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Ronald Colman ... Hafiz

Marlene Dietrich ... Jamilla
James Craig ... Caliph
Edward Arnold ... The Grand Vizier

Hugh Herbert ... Feisal

Joy Page ... Marsinah (as Joy Ann Page)
Florence Bates ... Karsha
Harry Davenport ... Agha
Hobart Cavanaugh ... Moolah
Robert Warwick ... Alfife
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Oriental Dream (USA) (TV title)
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Runtime:
100 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:
USA:Approved (PCA #9797) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Life Magazine reported that Marlene Dietrich had her legs painted with four coats of gold paint, and her hair sprinkled with powdered gold for her exotic dance number. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Suomalainen filmimies Hollywoodissa (1947) more
Soundtrack:
Tell Me, Tell Me, Evening Star more

FAQ

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful:-
Underrated gem, 22 September 2006
10/10
Author: Molly-31 from La La Land

William Dieterle directing, music by Harold Arlen (there's even a tiny bit of the Witch's Guard music at one point!), opulent sets and gorgeous costumes, Ronald Colman -- what more could anyone ask?

The film was very carefully crafted. Even the bit players -- especially Henry Davenport and Florence Bates -- were perfect. From the beginning, you are immersed in a magical world, an Iraq that died long ago, the Islam of Arabian Nights and Haroun el-Raschid, a romantic culture with its own philosophies and mysteries. Karsha foretelling the future with a sand reading, the muezzin and his apprentice singing the call to prayer, or the public bathing place that the rascals hide in, give the film a sense not only of unity and atmosphere but of meticulous attention to detail.

Dietrich's character was not Greek but Macedonian (like Alexander the Great, another blonde). I could have stood for more authenticity in her dance (especially after the Kraft girls who preceded her -- their Deva Dasi style dance *was* pretty authentic) and that gold paint was a little much. Still, the idea was that Jamilla was wild, and did unconventional things.

I do see where it could have been better. Craig in particular sounds jarringly "modern". But you forget that after a while. Modern films don't present this kind of idealism. We have to have everything brought down to sordid reality. A thing like this is good for you after too much "realism" gunk.

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