Arabesque

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Arabesque

1966,

1h 45m,

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

Watchlist

78%

55 Reviews

Tomatometer

54%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

54%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

When a plot against a prominent Middle Eastern politician is uncovered, David Pollock (Gregory Peck), a professor of ancient hieroglyphics at Oxford University, is recruited to help expose the scheme. Pollock must find information believed to be in hieroglyphic code and must also contend with a mysterious man called Beshraavi (Alan Badel). Meanwhile, Beshraavi's beautiful lover, Yasmin Azir (Sophia Loren), seems willing to aid Pollock -- but is she really on his side?

Critics Consensus

Slickly made and effortlessly charming, Arabesque favors cinematic flair and star power over substance, resulting in an enjoyably lightweight thriller.

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Paine Knickerbocker

San Francisco Chronicle

Feb 4, 2026

The screenplay...often lacks the deft touch, but the amiability of the performers, the richness of their surroundings, and the determination of the evildoers...make "Arabesque" an engaging offering despite its occasional stumbles.

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Joseph Gelmis

Newsday

Feb 4, 2026

Under Donen's direction, Peck is less stiff than usual. And Miss Loren is funny and provocative.

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Patrick Gibbs

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Feb 4, 2026

...three scriptwriters have obviously worked overtime on the fanciful intertwining business, to such an extent that some may have difficulty in following the plot.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Feb 12, 2026

3/4

The stars enjoy tremendous chemistry, and Henry Mancini's score is flat-out terrific and arguably one of his best.

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Carolyn Kolb

Times-Picayune

Feb 4, 2026

Where "Arabesque" fails is in dialogue. Gregory Peck delivers each line as if it were a detergent commercial.

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Hermione R

Jun 28, 2017

So much fun offered even much better than a post 1900 comedies. You can not predict anything as the movie flots with the time with a change in every second. Suffice to say : Brilliant movie in it;s all rights.

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Draco G

Apr 7, 2017

Kind of a screwball & campy '60's quasi-spy genre romp with a deciphering nod to "The Da Vinci Code" to come, minus the catholocism. Not really Sanley Donen's fare, it's light & goofy and, like an amusement park ride, kinda fun going nowhere!

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Ron L

Jan 16, 2009

It's all mindless, absurdly complex and hopelessly hip in that 1960s sort of way, but an agreeable way to pass the time with gorgeous Sophia.

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Stanley Donen

Director

Gregory Peck

Prof. David Pollock

Sophia Loren

Yasmin Azir

Alan Badel

Beshraavi

Kieron Moore

Yussef Kasim

Carl Duering

Hassan Jena

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Synopsis

When a plot against a prominent Middle Eastern politician is uncovered, David Pollock (Gregory Peck), a professor of ancient hieroglyphics at Oxford University, is recruited to help expose the scheme. Pollock must find information believed to be in hieroglyphic code and must also contend with a mysterious man called Beshraavi (Alan Badel). Meanwhile, Beshraavi's beautiful lover, Yasmin Azir (Sophia Loren), seems willing to aid Pollock -- but is she really on his side?

Director: Stanley Donen
Producer: Stanley Donen
Screenwriter: Pierre Marton, Julian Mitchell, Stanley Price
Production Co: Universal/Universal Int
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2020
Runtime: 1h 45m

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