Customer Reviews

KISMET

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Howard Keel, Ann Blyth and Sebastien Cabot are wonderful in this version of "Kismet." Delores Gray is simply magnificent as the sultry Lalume, and I just loved Vic Damone's lovestruck Caliph. The dialogue is witty and quite ahead of its time. Songs like "Stranger in Paradise," "Night of My Nights" and "Not Since Nineveh" are unforgettable. The costumes and sets, though not historically accurate, are lovely - the lavish wedding procession remains one of my favorite film scenes.

I've seen this musical countless times...it's always entertaining, and my appreciation for the performances increases with each viewing. Vocally and as a screen presence Howard Keel is superb, Ann Blyth and Vic Damone wonderful as the young lovers, and Dolores Gray sings up a storm and steals every scene she's in...her Lalume is sensational.

The sets and costumes are rich, colorful and imaginitive, and Jack Cole's choreography is terrific. The "Not Since Ninevah" number is a favorite...a big band jazz version of a Balinese dance. Robert Wright and George Forrest adapted the lovely music from themes by Borodin, and added some clever lyrics, but it's Keel and Gray that make this an irresistible treat.

Reviews...reviews....what's in a review ? My unprofessional opinion may not count as well as the super paid pros, but each knows what makes him/her FEEL GOOD ! And this MGM lavish musical does make the grade.

Howard Keel is as usual, his vibrant self and carries out some of the lesser known tunes quite appealingly. Both Ann Blyth - luscious and Delores Gray - superb. But my "right for casting" hit ( despite a few critics ) goes to Vic Damone. He portrays the sober young Caliph with more insight and sex appeal than most (including himself) give him credit. Bravo Damone! "This is My Beloved" and "Stranger in Paradise" rate MGM it's flair for musical film. But his "Night of My Nights" - bedazzling. You've won my Mesopotamian HEART!

There is one very important thing that I feel must be mentioned in favor of this film: The choreography of Jack Cole. One of The Premier Choreographers and Creators of Jazz Dance, who's fascination with Eastern dance forms, focus on isolation (distinctly different movements of various parts of the body), and attention to detail, created an unique style that became one of the major influences on contemporary and future choreographers (including Bob Fosse). His work was extremely demanding and challenging for his dancers, as it required enormous mental concentration and awareness, with sustainable strength and power. The end result is very exciting, explosive and sensual dance. For me, it is a joyful thrill. I only wish there were more filmed records of this extraordinary man's work.

This Vincente Minnelli has acquired a somewhat bewildering reputation almost solely because it was one of the few M-G-M musicals the fantastic Dolores Gray ever appeared in. She does have a wonderful number here in her iconic "Not Since Nineveh," where she really lets loose, but the rest of this film is so inferior you'll see almost immediately why M-G-M made so few major musicals after this disappointment. Almost everyone is miscast, even to Howard Keel who seems to be really enjoying himself immensely as Hajj even though he (and almost everyone else in the film) doesn't look in the slightest Middle Eastern. Nor does anyone else in the film, from the largely wasted here but still breathtakingly beautiful Ann Blyth to Sebastian Cabot harrumphing around as the Wazir. The only one who does is Vic Damone, who is about the worst actor ever (despite his lovely rendition of "The Night of My Life").

Worst of all, this edition from Turner Classics doesn't even bother to letterbox the Cinemascope compositions, so even despite the terribly distracting panning-and-scanning you can't see very easily who's talking to whom. This is best forgotten (unless you want to see the one number with Gray in all her oomphy glory).

I love this movie!
I grew up watching it repeatedly, with my mother (Ann Blyth look-a-like, and same hair style) singing these songs, while dancing around the room, sometimes joined by my father, so I can't say that I ever really paid any attention to how silly the movie itself was. :)
I love their versions of those classic songs better than any I've heard done by the correct kind of people, but I could have some bias.
Anyway, watching it still makes me laugh, dance alittle, and sing, but the VHS is rather awful in quality. I truely hope this film is transfered with better care to DVD format soon.

If you've ever seen the laser disc (which was a near perfect transfer) of this title, you'd be horrified at this VHS transfer. Pan and scan travesty. Awful color. Fair audio. I only bought it to have a complete version after a malfunctioning laser disc player scratched one side of my LVD version beyond recovery. Hopefully this title will be decently transferred to DVD some day.

Truly the best part of this busy musical is the interplay between the wonderfully showy Dolores Gray and the reliably bearded Howard Keel. Gray was a formidable talent and brings her broad, beautiful voice into full force for a fantastic "Not Since Nineveh", tones it down for the sultry "Rahadlakum" -- shamelessly edited -- and slinks around her boudoir in "Bored". Keel responds well, even if with a small side of ham. His baritone voice is always a welcome addition to the MGM musical.

Vic Damone sings like Vic Damone. He and Ann Blyth don't really have much chemistry; his acting is far too inferior. Blyth's portayal of Masinah is a little prissy, but she rises adequately to the occasion. The "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" number is actually quite lovely, despite being studio-bound.

There are a few disappointing numbers, but they are due to their being the weaker songs from the show. "Gesticulate", while semi-integrated into the plot, is a failed song and a visual horror.

Look for Mike Mazurki, traditional gangster heavy, playing...a Mesopotamian heavy. It can only be an inside joke. Also you can catch a glimpse of a very heavily made-up Jamie Farr. The Ababu princesses bring some of the terpsichorean glory we've come to expect from an MGM musical.

Overall, I would say this is a second-tier classic. It's definitely not on par with "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", "Meet Me in St. Louis", "Singin' in the Rain", or "On the Town". Instead, I would put it in the same company as "High Society", "Brigadoon", "Kiss Me Kate", and "The Pirate".

The singing of Ann Blyth and the acting of Dorores Gray along with a fine music score make this a classic.

This is not an historically accurate, intellectual movie. This is a fun and catchy and stick-in-your-head musical romp. I've been looking for this movie on DVD for years and can't wait for April! I have the soundtrack to tide me over til then. It's actually one of my favorite musicals from this time period because it does what a movie is supposed to do...it entertains!