Cast a glamorous International Oscar-winning beauty; wrap her in a dazzling designer wardrobe; involve her in a script by Peter Stone that has intrigue, action, and the search for a valuable object that is not what it seems; co-star a dashing handsome veteran actor; add a score by Henry Mancini; introduce the film with captivating titles by Maurice Binder; and stir with stylish direction by Stanley Donen. Voila! "Charade." Well, not quite. Although "Arabesque" has all the ingredients right, or at least almost right, the result is good, but no cigar. Donen's attempt to replicate the success of his classic Audrey Hepburn- Cary Grant hit misses the mark, but gets an "A" for effort.
No fault of Sophia Loren, who stars as Yasmin Azir, an exotic Arabian woman, who may or may not be who she says she is. Usually cast in heavy dramatic roles or lofty parts in historic epics, Loren is surprisingly good in a light role that relies on her beauty, her ability to wear clothes, and her talent to toss off lines with style. Unfortunately, Gregory Peck is no Cary Grant, in a film that needs one. While Peck is too fine an actor to be truly bad. Even though cast as a professor, he is uncomfortable delivering comic lines and stiff in his romantic clinches; if the film were a straightforward thriller, Peck would be ideal. While Binder's opening credits compare favorably with those he did for "Charade," Henry Mancini's score is not as memorable as his earlier work and lacks a hit title song. The script has the requisite elements, but lacks the trio of indelible bad guys and the ambiguous Walter Matthau character that made "Charade" so memorable. However, Alan Badel, masked behind dark glasses, snarls well and does make a suitably nasty villain.
Stanley Donen directs with his expected style. Clever camera angles, a fast pace, and attention to Loren's appearance and performance carry the film close to the finish line. Perhaps a second "Charade" was an unattainable goal, but worthy of the attempt. Despite the negative comparisons, "Arabesque" has its charms, particularly Loren, and offers a brisk and breezy two hours of entertainment.
No fault of Sophia Loren, who stars as Yasmin Azir, an exotic Arabian woman, who may or may not be who she says she is. Usually cast in heavy dramatic roles or lofty parts in historic epics, Loren is surprisingly good in a light role that relies on her beauty, her ability to wear clothes, and her talent to toss off lines with style. Unfortunately, Gregory Peck is no Cary Grant, in a film that needs one. While Peck is too fine an actor to be truly bad. Even though cast as a professor, he is uncomfortable delivering comic lines and stiff in his romantic clinches; if the film were a straightforward thriller, Peck would be ideal. While Binder's opening credits compare favorably with those he did for "Charade," Henry Mancini's score is not as memorable as his earlier work and lacks a hit title song. The script has the requisite elements, but lacks the trio of indelible bad guys and the ambiguous Walter Matthau character that made "Charade" so memorable. However, Alan Badel, masked behind dark glasses, snarls well and does make a suitably nasty villain.
Stanley Donen directs with his expected style. Clever camera angles, a fast pace, and attention to Loren's appearance and performance carry the film close to the finish line. Perhaps a second "Charade" was an unattainable goal, but worthy of the attempt. Despite the negative comparisons, "Arabesque" has its charms, particularly Loren, and offers a brisk and breezy two hours of entertainment.