During the 60’s there were a ton of spy movies made. Much of this was the result of the popularity of the James Bond films. But a sub-genre of a sort was the accidental spy films. These movies found people tossed into various predicaments that had no business in the spy or sometimes criminal worlds. Circumstances just placed them there. Most had some comedic elements to them as well but all involved convoluted plots and nefarious bad guys out to do in our hero. Like Gregory Peck in ARABESQUE.
The film takes place in England where a spy named Sloane (John Merivale) kills a Prof. Ragheeb and steals a message written in hieroglyphics sent to him. Unable to translate the message he approaches Ragheeb’s replacement Prof. David Pollock (Peck) on behalf of millionaire Nejim Beshraavi (Alan Badel) in the hopes of his translating the message. Pollock declines but then the next day is picked up by Middle Eastern Prime Minister Hassan Jena (Carl Duerring) in his car. Jena asks Pollock to accept the position Nejim has offered and to report back to him. A fan of Jena Pollock accepts.
Pollock contacts Nejim and accepts his proposal. Invited to dinner he meets Nejim’s hostess and girlfriend Yasmin Azir (Sophia Loren). After dinner Nejim shows Pollock the message he wants decoded and insists on his staying there until the job is completed. While working on the message Pollock is approached by Yasmin who warns him that once he’s completed the job Nejim plans on killing him. Eventually the pair escape the house but not before hiding the message in a particular piece of candy.
So if you’re with me so far you might see where this is going. Crosses, double crosses, triple crosses take place and at any time it is easy to get lost in just who is who and who is working for who. In spite of that the movie is a lot of fun at various times and the combination of Peck and Loren is wonderful to see. You get the feeling while watching the film that they sincerely had a good time making this movie.
Directed by Stanley Donen whose reputation was based more around movie musicals like SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, ROYAL WEDDING, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS and DAMN YANKEES, this was not his first attempt at a movie like this. Three years before his film prior to this was CHARADE with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. Like that film before this one keeps you guessing. Sadly CHARADE is the better of the two pictures.
The movie looks great and was well constructed. The direction by Donen matches any of his previous efforts. Peck plays this character comfortably and gives it more humor than most roles he took in the past. And Loren looks great, acts great and proves that she is more than just a pretty face with some solid acting and laugh inducing humor. Fans of both actors will want to add this one to their collection.
Kino Lorber is treating this one right. It seems like their
getting better at this. The film looks spectacular on blu and they’re including
a number of good extras as well. Those include a new audio commentary track
featuring film historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathanial
Thompson, an archival featurette “Music by Mancini” featuring composer Henry
Mancini and syndicated columnist Leonard Feather, the theatrical trailer, the
theatrical teaser trailer, 5 TV spots, a poster gallery and a collection of
other trailers.
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