Kismet (1955)

A roguish poet is given the run of the scheming Wazir's harem while pretending to help him usurp the young caliph.

Directors:

Vincente Minnelli, Stanley Donen (uncredited)

Writers:

Charles Lederer (screenplay), Luther Davis (screenplay)

Stars:

Howard Keel, Ann Blyth, Dolores Gray

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Howard Keel	...	Poet
Ann Blyth	...	Marsinah
Dolores Gray	...	Lalume
Vic Damone	...	Caliph
Monty Woolley	...	Omar
Sebastian Cabot	...	Wazir
Jay C. Flippen	...	Jawan
Mike Mazurki	...	Chief Policeman
Jack Elam	...	Hasan-Ben
Ted de Corsia	...	Police Sub-altern

Storyline

Like a tale spun by Scheherazade, Kismet follows the remarkable and repeated changes of fortune that engulf a poor poet. It all happens in one incredible day when Kismet (Fate) takes a hand.

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Plot Keywords:

remake | impostor | beggar | male female relationship | caliph | 

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Taglines:

FAMED STAGE HIT GLORIFIED ON THE SCREEN! [poster - all caps]

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Genres:

Adventure | Musical | Fantasy | Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 December 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Un extraño en el paraíso

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,692,960 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,217,000, 31 December 1955

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,827,000, 31 December 1955

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System) Stereo

Color:

Color (photographed in) (Eastman Color)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Future mega-successful television producer Aaron Spelling (Charlie's Angels (1976), The Love Boat (1977), Dynasty (1981)) appears uncredited as a beggar. Spelling wrote in his memoirs that this role made him decide to give up acting. Director Vincente Minnelli always said he was responsible for Spelling's career as a successful television producer and told him: "Had I not put you in 'Kismet', you'd still be an actor somewhere."

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Goofs

Prior to the start of "Not Since Nineveh", Dolores Gray takes the gold purse from the Wazir to throw coins. When she's finished, she tosses it back to Sebastian Cabot which the actor fumbles and drops at his feet. During the song, the bag disappears and reappears at times and ends up behind his feet. It finally disappears by the end of the dance.

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Quotes

Marsinah: [on being told that the Wazir has taken her as a wife and intends to visit her room that night] If you do, I'll kill myself, I swear it!
Wazir: Really? Well, this may be the first interesting wedding night I've had in years.

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Connections

Version of Kismet (1967)

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Soundtracks

Rahadlakum
(uncredited)
Music by Aleksandr Borodin
Music Adapted by Bob Wright (as Robert Wright) and Chet Forrest (as George Forrest)
Lyrics by Bob Wright (as Robert Wright) and Chet Forrest (as George Forrest)
Sung by Dolores Gray and Howard Keel

User Reviews

A waste of good singing but worth seeing once.

Kismet isn't a complete waste of time but director Minelli was itching to do Lust for Life and had little enthusiasm for this assignment, which engaged his abilities, but not his sympathies. Unfortunately, it shows. Like Brigadoon and a few other musicals, this was one case where the Freed factory failed despite some gorgeous singing by the principals (Vic Damone is no actor but he ravishes "Stranger in Paradise"). Some numbers are shorn from the score, which doesn't hurt much but some are added, which does. There's a stale, formulaic quality to this movie and Kismet is a hothouse flower that doesn't thrive under M-G-M's "crunch-it-out" treatment. More imagination and taste were needed. There are several good recordings of the score and I'd suggest that, if you like the music (what's not to like?), you experience Kismet aurally.