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Kismet - review
I've just been watching the 1944 movie version of Kismet and it's a delightful piece of Hollywood hokum.
Kismet is a musical (but has very few songs in this version made in 1944. Most of the well-known songs like 'Stranger in Paradise' come from the later version with Howard Keel) with a few dance routines, lots of fancy colourful costumes (some of which even look vaguely Arabian) and a story line all about princes and beggers. It works wonderfully, because it never for one moment tries to take itself seriously. The only serious element in the entire film is the beggar king's love for his daughter.
The beggar king woes the Wazir's queen by disguising himself as a prince (she isn't really taken in, but enjoys his roguish nature). The Caliph wondering the streets in disguise falls in love with the begger king's daughter. Events work out pretty much as you might expect, with the beggar king pulling a line in fast talk that is highly entertaining as he blags his way in disguise into the Wazir's palace in order to try to persuade the Wazir to marry his daughter. (Naturally, she doesn't want to marry the Wazir as she is in love with the Caliph, thinking that he is a gardener's son)
Ronald Coleman plays the beggar king and Marlene Dietrich is the Wazir's queen.
The costumes are wildly OTT, especially in the harem, Marlene gets to dance dressed in gold paint and a lot of jewellery. THe scenery is Hollywood Baghdad, and occasionally trips you up by having a slight resemblence to the real thing. (I'm sure I spotted a horsetail standard being carried in the Caliph's procession)
The plot is predictable most of the way and the Caliph and the begger king's daughter are generic pretty people whose names I can't recall. It's Ronald Coleman who makes this movie work. His boundless self-confidence, relaxed attitude to thieving, willingness to go for broke, and general cheerful rougery are highly enjoyable to watch.
I realised half-way through that he reminded me a bit of Harry Maybourne. There's something about cheerful rogues that I can't resist. Especially if they have beards and have been around long enough to get character lines on the face.
It's a jolly good film if you just want to relax and enjoy the story. There are films to make you think and stimulate the mind and they're all very good in their place. But sometimes pure hokum is exactly what the doctor ordered.
Kismet is a musical (but has very few songs in this version made in 1944. Most of the well-known songs like 'Stranger in Paradise' come from the later version with Howard Keel) with a few dance routines, lots of fancy colourful costumes (some of which even look vaguely Arabian) and a story line all about princes and beggers. It works wonderfully, because it never for one moment tries to take itself seriously. The only serious element in the entire film is the beggar king's love for his daughter.
The beggar king woes the Wazir's queen by disguising himself as a prince (she isn't really taken in, but enjoys his roguish nature). The Caliph wondering the streets in disguise falls in love with the begger king's daughter. Events work out pretty much as you might expect, with the beggar king pulling a line in fast talk that is highly entertaining as he blags his way in disguise into the Wazir's palace in order to try to persuade the Wazir to marry his daughter. (Naturally, she doesn't want to marry the Wazir as she is in love with the Caliph, thinking that he is a gardener's son)
Ronald Coleman plays the beggar king and Marlene Dietrich is the Wazir's queen.
The costumes are wildly OTT, especially in the harem, Marlene gets to dance dressed in gold paint and a lot of jewellery. THe scenery is Hollywood Baghdad, and occasionally trips you up by having a slight resemblence to the real thing. (I'm sure I spotted a horsetail standard being carried in the Caliph's procession)
The plot is predictable most of the way and the Caliph and the begger king's daughter are generic pretty people whose names I can't recall. It's Ronald Coleman who makes this movie work. His boundless self-confidence, relaxed attitude to thieving, willingness to go for broke, and general cheerful rougery are highly enjoyable to watch.
I realised half-way through that he reminded me a bit of Harry Maybourne. There's something about cheerful rogues that I can't resist. Especially if they have beards and have been around long enough to get character lines on the face.
It's a jolly good film if you just want to relax and enjoy the story. There are films to make you think and stimulate the mind and they're all very good in their place. But sometimes pure hokum is exactly what the doctor ordered.