Arabesque (1966): Cast, Ratings & Plot
Arabesque is a 1966 action thriller directed by Stanley Donen, starring George Coulouris, John Merivale and Gregory Peck. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes. It won 1 award from 3 nominations, including Best British Cinematography, Colour at the BAFTA 1967. Critics gave it 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 45m (105 min)
- Director
- Stanley Donen
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Universal Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Arabesque About?
The premise of Arabesque without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Renowned professor David Pollock finds himself entangled in a dangerous plot threatening the Middle East’s stability. He’s tasked with deciphering ancient hieroglyphics while navigating a complex web of deception and intrigue, facing off against the shrewd Beshraavi. As Pollock delves deeper, he must confront treacherous alliances and hidden agendas, all while grappling with his feelings for the mysterious Yasmin Azir. But can he trust her, or is she involved in a deadly game of her own?
Arabesque Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- london england
- hitchcockian
- arab
- cipher
- mistress
- double agent
- shipping magnate
- spy adventure
- oxford university
- prime minister
- ascot racecourse
- butler
+38 more Show fewer
- london zoo
- trafalgar square london
- technicolor
- panavision
- murder by stabbing
- two in a shower
- spy action
- producer director
- light hearted
- light hearted crime drama
- sword cane
- spy thriller
- american in foreign country
- assassination plot
- chase
- cryptographer
- helicopter crash
- helicopter chase
- kidnapping
- oil tycoon
- hieroglyphic text
- fictional middle eastern country
- airport
- stepladder
- undercover mission
- double cross
- henchmen
- candy wrapper
- ambassador
- truth serum
- clothed man in shower
- thrown from a moving vehicle
- embassy
- construction site
- eavesdropping
- false accusation of murder
- deception
- wrecking ball
Arabesque Cast
George Coulouris leads the cast, with John Merivale and Gregory Peck. Directed by Stanley Donen; 10 actors are credited in all.
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Director Stanley Donen
Also Starring in Arabesque
· 6 moreMore from Stanley Donen
More films directed by Stanley Donen, best-rated first: Singin' in the Rain, Charade, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Two for the Road.
Arabesque Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Arabesque 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10.
-
IMDb 6.4 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 74% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 53%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 69 Metascore
User score 5.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 62% User score
See on TMDB
Arabesque Plot Summary
What happens in Arabesque from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Professor Ragheeb, played by George Coulouris, is caught off guard when he discovers that his usual optometrist, Sloane, portrayed by John Merivale, is absent and has been replaced by a stranger. During the eye examination, Sloane administers drops that result in excruciating pain, causing Ragheeb to collapse and ultimately perish. As Sloane examines Ragheeb’s broken glasses, he uncovers an intriguing piece of paper containing peculiar drawings, reminiscent of hieroglyphics.
Full summary
The whole story of Arabesque, scene by scene
Arabesque Awards & Nominations
Arabesque won 1 award from 3 nominations, including Best British Cinematography, Colour at the BAFTA 1967.
1 win3 nominations1 ceremony
-
BAFTA 1967 1 win · 3 nominations- Won Best British Cinematography, Colour
- Nominated Best British Costume Design
- Nominated Best Editing
Arabesque Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Arabesque.
How Well Do You Know Arabesque?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Professor Ragheeb's profession?
Cars in Arabesque
58 cars on screen, including the Coles S 1510 and the 1960 Land-Rover 88'' Series II.
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Coles S 1510 Important role -
1960 Land-Rover 88'' Series II Important role -
1965 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL W113 Important role -
1951 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV Important role
Arabesque Also Known As
14 alternative titles, including “Arabesco” and “Арабеска”.
- Also known as
-
- Arabesco
- Арабеска
- Arabeska
- Arabeske
- Stanley Donen's Arabesque
- Casuslar
- Arabesc
- 아라베스크
- アラベスク
- Arabeszk
- Шифърът
- Spionpigen
+2 more Show fewer
- نقش عربی
- 谍海密码战, არაბესკა
Seen Arabesque?
Movies Like Arabesque
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Arabesque, Saadia and Arabian Nights.
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Arabesque FAQ: Cast, Awards & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Arabesque, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Arabesque?
Arabesque runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).
When was Arabesque released?
Arabesque was released on May 5, 1966.
Who directed Arabesque?
Arabesque was directed by Stanley Donen.
More films by Stanley Donen Who is in the cast of Arabesque?
Arabesque stars George Coulouris, John Merivale and Gregory Peck, among 10 credited actors.
How is Arabesque rated?
Arabesque has 6.4/10 on IMDb, 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, 69 on Metacritic and 62% on TMDB.
What awards did Arabesque win?
Arabesque won 1 award from 3 nominations, including Best British Cinematography, Colour at the BAFTA 1967.
Does Arabesque have a post-credit scene?
No. Arabesque has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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