Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Arabesque 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 14, 2024

Stanley Donen's "Arabesque" (1966) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the disc include recent audio commentary by critics Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson; archival program with composer Henry Mancini; and vintage promotional material for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Rub my back

If you don’t like utterly unbelievable international intrigues, ridiculous old-fashioned action, and goofy lines, Stanley Donen’s Arabesque isn’t for you. If you are stubborn and try to give it a chance, you will be left with a massive headache that won’t go away for days. You have been warned.

The prime minister of an unnamed Middle Eastern country hires Professor David Pollock (Gregory Peck), an expert in ancient Arabic hieroglyphics at Oxford University, to decode a secret message. Shortly after, Pollock is picked up by some shady characters working for the very wealthy oil tycoon Beshraavi (Alan Badel), who also wants the message decoded as quickly as possible. Pollock is then transported to a lavish villa owned by the mysterious beauty Yasmin Azir (Sophia Loren), who is supposed to be Beshraavi’s mistress but seems willing to help the professor escape his host. When the right opportunity comes along, Pollock and Yasmin run away and instantly become targets for Beshraavi’s goons. While trying to stay ahead of the people that are tracking them down, the fugitives begin to fall in love, but remain suspicious of each other.

Arabesque is a bit like a giant salad prepared by a cook who did not mind experimenting with all kinds of different dressing sauces because he knew that he was good enough to present it in a way that would make it impossible to reject. This is what Arabesque is -- a mish-mash of ideas and genre clichés, only some of which come together rather nicely.

The concept behind the film is rather awkward -- or at least it looks so all these years later -- but this does not mean that the end product is not entertaining. Indeed, because of the great chemistry between Peck and Loren a lot of the ridiculous material actually begins to look attractive, and with Donen behind the camera frequently very stylish. This is actually precisely how a lot of the classic James Bond films impressed, as well as the many copycats that they inspired over the years. (See Agent 8 3/4 and Deadlier Than the Male).

The balance between the action and the comedy remains a bit tricky, and if compared to what Donen’s Charade offers, it is actually easy to tell that more work was needed to have everything click as it should. Part of the problem seems to be that the story pulls in a lot of different directions, and there are just not enough opportunities for the secondary characters to establish themselves. Assassins, psychos, and doubles pop up out of nowhere, do their parts, and then the film quickly moves to the next phase of the fugitives’ adventure. It just feels like there is too much happening, despite the fact that the film is nearly two hours long.

The entire film was shot on location in the United Kingdom, and it feels like with the presence of so many exotic characters, a lot more could have been done to make it more exciting. For example, some flashbacks could have revealed more about Beshraavi, or somehow a portion of the chase could have been relocated to a distant location where there would be plenty more of the wild action that is seen during the finale.

A solid soundtrack from Henry Mancini does a lot to enhance the drama and suspense, and actually adds a lot of class to the film as well.

Loren’s very stylish outfits were specially created by the legendary French fashion designer Christian Dior. In one of the film’s most memorable sequences, the Italian star goes through a pile of boxes with obviously very expensive and very chic shoes, and then puts on a pair of outrageously sexy boots.

Arabesque 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Kino Lorber's release of Arabesque is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray disc is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray disc is Region-A "locked".

Please note that some of the screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc.

Screencaptures #1-29 are from the 4K Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #32-36 are from the Blu-ray.

Kino Lorber's previous Blu-ray release of Arabesque was sourced from an older master. It was serviceable, but it was pretty easy to identify a range of limitations on it and conclude that the film could and should look better in high-definition. This combo pack release introduces an exclusive new 4K makeover, struck from the original camera negative, that is quite the visual stunner. The 4K makeover is not graded with Dolby Vision or HDR.

Delineation, clarity, and depth range from excellent to outstanding. There are a few sequences with minor density fluctuations -- the group dinner early into the film has them -- but they are better balanced now, so these sequences and the before and after transitions have superior filmic qualities. Also, all footage with bright lighting looks better. On the previous release, this footage revealed harshness, which made some bits appear a bit less organic. Now all footage has a consistently pleasing organic appearance. Grain exposure is improved, and on a larger screen the difference in quality can become very obvious. Select darker areas reveal superior dark and shadow nuances, which is an improvement I expected to see on a new 4K master. Color reproduction is quite simply incredible. All primaries and supporting nuances are set properly, and all visuals are breathtakingly beautiful. Image stability is outstanding. The entire film looks spotless as well.

I sampled various areas of the 1080p presentation. I thought that it looked equally great. If you have a very large screen or project, I suggest going straight to the 4K presentation. But if you cannot play 4K Blu-ray discs, you should know that the Blu-ray gives you solid upgrade in quality as well.

Arabesque 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

The previous Blu-ray release of Arabesque had only a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track, so I spent quite a bit of time with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. It is fine. During the big action footage, it does expand the audio field, but I did not think that the same footage was lacking when viewed with the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. In fact, I thought that this track was excellent. So, you have options now, and if you prefer the new track, well, stay with it.

Arabesque 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this commentary was recorded by critics Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson. As usual, these gentlemen focus on a wide range of details, from the production history of Arabesque to its style and sense of humor to the careers of various people that contributed to it.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this commentary was recorded by critics Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson. As usual, these gentlemen focus on a wide range of details, from the production history of Arabesque to its style and sense of humor to the careers of various people that contributed to it.

• Music by Mancini - an archival featurette with composer Henry Mancini and nationally syndicated columnist Leonard Feather. The two gentlemen discuss the scoring of Arabesque as well as the classic relationship between music and moving visuals in cinema. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Promotional Materials - in English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Vintage theatrical trailer.
  2. Television trailer.
  3. Teaser Trailer.
  4. TV Spots.
  5. Poster gallery.

• Cover - a reversible cover with vintage poster art.

Arabesque 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Arabesque is a ridiculous but still quite entertaining old-fashioned spy film that fits somewhere between the outrageous Ken Clark thrillers and some of the less successful James Bond films. I tend to enjoy it, but primarily because I like the chemistry between its two stars, Sophia Loren and Gregory Peck. This combo pack introduces an exclusive, gorgeous new 4K makeover of Arabesque that looks quite incredible in native 4K. I was very impressed with the upgrade in quality. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.