Arabesque (1966)

Director:

Stanley Donen

Writers:

Julian Mitchell (screenplay) &
Stanley Price (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

5 May 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Action | 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 | Spy | Code | Arab | Double

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 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)
Jimmy Gardner	...	Hemsley (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
Julian Mitchell		(screenplay) &
Stanley Price		(screenplay) &
Peter Stone		(screenplay) (as Pierre Marton)
Gordon Cotler		(novel "The Cypher")

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)

Special Effects by
Wally Armitage	....	special effects foreman (uncredited)
Jim Hole	....	special effects supervisor (uncredited)
Garth Inns	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Jimmy Ward	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

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

Stunts
Vic Armstrong	....	horse stunt double: Gregory Peck (uncredited)
Vic Armstrong	....	stunts (uncredited)
Pam de Boulay	....	stunt double: Sophia Loren (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)
Richard Nash	....	musician: trombone soloist (uncredited)
John Scott	....	musician: flute, saxophone (uncredited)

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

Production Companies

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

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1966) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Universal Release)
• Universal Filmverleih (1966) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1970) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Phoenix Bild- und Tonträger Vertrieb (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Trading Post (uncredited)

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:

Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 (video rating) (2000) | USA:Unrated | Argentina:13 | UK:A (original rating) | Australia:PG | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | West Germany:16 (nf)

Filming Locations:

Ascot, Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The part of David Pollock was originally written for Cary Grant. When Gregory Peck had trouble getting the humor right in a line, he'd smile and tell director Stanley Donen "Remember, I'm no Cary Grant."

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): The Arab character Beshraavi mispronounces the name Mustafa. An Arab educated in English would still say Arab names in their original pronunciation.

Quotes:

Major Sylvester Pennington Sloane:I'm only checking your glasses. You look as though I want to drill your teeth. Do sit down, Professor Ragheeb. That doesn't sound English. Are you English, Professor Ragheeb?
Ragheeb:Why do you ask?
Major Sylvester Pennington Sloane:Oh, small talk, merely small talk. The weather's too dull and politics too explosive. I certainly didn't mean to pry.

Movie Connections:

References The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

VERY APPEALING 60's STAR VEHICLE

In the 60's there were a lot of one word comedy spy movies following the success of "CHARADE". We had "GAMBIT", "KALEIDOSCOPE","MIRAGE" and the best of them all "ARABESQUE". This stylish and quite intricately plotted thriller starred Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren giving power-packed,true glamorous movie star performances and apparently loving every minute of it.This feeling is transferred to the audience who is given much to enjoy.Excellently chosen London locations,well chosen supporting actors and a number of suspenseful and story driven action setpieces which give the movie a Bondish feel.The climax is exciting as Peck and Loren are chased on horseback by the villain's helicopter.The music too by Henry Mancini is catchy and has an Eastern feel to it in keeping with the plot and characters.Loren is at her beautiful and stunning best here and makes you wonder why it is that gentlemen prefer blondes,this reviewer certainly does not!