Arabesque 1966

     This film is based on a novel by Gordon Cotler titled The Cipher.  Professor David Pollock is an expert in ancient Arabic hieroglyphics.  A Middle Eastern Prime Minister convinces Pollock to infiltrate the organization Beshraavi.  He becomes is involved in a plot to assassinate the Prime Minister.  The details of the plan may be found in a hieroglyphic code.  Yasmin Azir is Beshraavi’s mistress and she becomes mixed up in the plot.  Pollock needs her help with the hieroglyphics but she repeatedly double crosses him.  Pollock can’t figure out what side she is on?  If he works with her, can she be trusted?

     This film is somewhat dated plus there is a lot of mindlessness and complexity.  It’s difficult for the audience to determine which side Sophia Loren is on too??  Arabesque is somewhat like Charade 1963 with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn.  Charade has 8* out of 10* on Imdb.  One BIG difference between the films is that Charade is a film by Alfred Hitchcock!!  3* (This movie is OK)   

105 min, Action directed by Stanley Donen with Gregory Peck, Sophia Loren, Alan Badel, Kieron Moore, Carl Duering, John Merivale, Duncan Lamont, George Coulouris, Ernest Clark, Harold Kasket.

Note:  Imdb 6.5 out of 10, 64% critic 55% audience on Rotten Tomatoes,  Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 118 reviews, TCM average user rating 3.24* out of 5*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Caerphilly, Wales.  Bershire, West Sussex, London, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Pinewood Studios, England, UK.  Gregory Peck suffered from an old leg injury from horseback riding.  This made the stunts difficult.  He had to keep telling Loren to slow down when they are riding double on a horse.  None of the actors in his film are Arabic.  Vic Armstrong began his career as a Stunt Man on this film.  He is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s Most Prolific Stunt Man.  The Rolls Royce Phantom IV was one of only eighteen ever made.  Previously, it belonged to Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, son of King George V.  Prince Henry was born 31 March 1900 and he died 10 June 1974.  He was the third son of King George V and Queen Mary.  He served as Governor-General of Australia from 1945 to 1947 and the only member of the British royal family hold this post.