Customer Reviews

Kismet (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
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This newly remastered cd of KISMET is a great improvement over the original long out of print LP record. Unlike the original recording, it is in fresh sounding stereo. The score has been newly remastered and expanded from the original recordings.It includes several new selections of underscore, as well as, complete versions of selections which were edited for the original release. The scoring and vocal performances are wonderful. This is not one of the highly regarded MGM musicals of the period which makes me wonder why Rhino/Turner choose it for release over such titles as ANNIE GET YOUR GUN and SILK STOCKINGS. But why complain, it is great to have this soundtrack available in expanded form. This release should be supported. The lavish booklet is worth the price of the cd alone. I only wish Rhino/Turner would supply us with more "single" soundtracks, rather than those annoying "compilation" issues.

This is a great soundtrack recording of a not so great movie musical. Don't get me wrong; the movie is entertaining, just not very memorable. This soundtrack, however, retains the gourgeous score and is performed to perfection by an unusually able cast. Howard Keel's rich baritone was made to order as Hajj. His renditions of "Fate" and "Gesticulate" fairly sizzle, and he soothes with the gentle "Olive Tree". Ann Blyth and Vic Damone fill out their roles as the "conventional lovers" adequately. They overcome the predictability of their characters with some gourgeous singing, most notably on the musical's two big hits, "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" and "Stranger in Paradise". Then there's Broadway queen Dolores Gray in all her fabulous glory. She raises the roof with "Not Since Ninevah", then raises it even higher with "Rahadlakum". She's terrific, and her energy jolts the soundtrack into overdrive every time she's center stage. It's unfortunate that her screen career never really took off because she had a voice that is still unsurpassed, rivaling the greats like Garland, Merman and Holliday. Rhino does a terrific job of remastering these recordings. The sound is rich and full, much more dynamic than most films soundtracks of the time. It's great to have such a lush sounding record of such a great score, but it's the once in a lifetime cast (especially Ms. Gray) that makes this the premiere version of "Kismet".

KISMET is a film that I like, but do not love. It's quite adequate, just not special. However, the soundtrack absolutely thrills me. The songs and orchestrations are thrilling, especially when heard on this fabulous Turner/Rhino release. "Rhymes Have I" was deleted from the film for some reason. It really would have given the film a better start. Another gem is the censored verse from "Rahadlakum." The orchestrations range from lush and romantic to big and brassy and are always in perfect harmony with the vocals in creating the right atmosphere. It baffles me that the film is for some reason a bit of a bore when the score has so much going for it. Oh, well, I guess it doesn't matter because the CD is never a bore to me. It's "Rahadlakum!"

This is an excellent musical movie soundtrack which contains one of the loveliest songs of all time: "Stranger in Paradise". I grew up listening to this song and have always loved it. Here, it is wondrously performed by Ann Blythe and Vic Damone.

Add to this mix the immensely talented Howard Keel, with his memorable baritone, and you have a wonderful ensemble of voices who regale the listener with songs that evoke memories of tales from the "Arabian Nights". It is a CD well worth having.

The accompanying CD liner gives an extensive review of the music and the filming of "Kismet". It is not just a liner, it is a veritable pamphlet, chock full of information which is sure to delight the musical movie devotee.

Kismet is one of those sadly overlooked movie musicals which deserves the light of day. As it does not yet exist on dvd, we may as well pay close attention to this delightful cd release, loaded with goodies. The booklet is loaded with facts and photos from the movie, information on the songs and the history of the Broadway show and subsequent movie. But it's the music we came to hear: First off, we have "Rhymes Have I," a rousing opening number filmed yet cut from the film shortly before release. Then there's the complete version of "Radhadlakum," chopped in half in the movie, but intact here with all its Arabian Knights naughtiness. Howard Keel's warm yet powerful baritone excels in 6 numbers. His level of interest in vocal rendition seems far higher than what he provided for contemporary musicals such as "Kiss Me, Kate" or "Annie Get Your Gun;" he really seems to have been interested in making this film work for him vocally; it shows. While he was hardly a slacker in those other films, his voice is twice as good in this particular film. The now obscure--and undeservedly so--Dolores Gray primes her sultry pipes seductively (what else?) in "Bored," a number written especially for this film. Then she outrights swings in "Not Since Ninevah," a number in this cd coupled with the jazziest dance break of the movie. A young Vic Damone boldly displays the talents that would make him a huge star in "Stranger in Paradise," the most memorable, hauntingly lyrical, and widely-covered song in the show (who HASN'T covered 'Stranger' at some point?) His rendition here is worth the price of the entire cd. Ann Blyth contributes her usual fine vocals to the mix, clearly enjoying herself especially in "Baubles, Bangles and Beads," and "Rhymes Have I." The cd wraps up with Keel's haunting "Sands of Time," a number originally used as a bookend in the Broadway version, but here used as a lasting and lingering reminder of the delights we have just enjoyed.

Simply stated, this musical captures the joy of love (both of young and old lovers, and father for his daughter). The songs on this soundtrack are beautifully arranged and sung with the purest voices in all of Hollywood history. If you love romance and believe in "Fate," then welcome, stranger, to paradise.

I had this music on vinyl and loved it. Then as I moved to CDs, I lost track of it. When I was playing Borodin one day, I started singing Kismet and realized how much I missed it, so I searched Amazon and ordered this CD. The music and performances are just as good as I remembered and well worth listening to if you enjoy classical, musicals or pop music. The singing is rich and the orchestra plays well. The variety of the songs makes the total experience uplifting. I'm glad it's back in my library.

I bought this CD about ten years ago before it was remastered. Some of the things I disliked about that CD and other older recordings (R&H classics) was the heavy sound they all have. The bass was always too strong and sound didn't have the clarity I like. With this newly remastered disc, that has all changed. I cannot comment on the other musicals since I have older CD versions, but on this CD, the sound is
fantastic. As others have commented, some of the tracks have been expanded and other elements added or in some cases subtracted from the song, but still a big improvement on the sound. I very much prefer the improved sound of this remastered disc over the original CD.

I bought this CD because I am big fan of Howard Keel's singing.
As usual, he does not disappoint.

Yay!!!!!!!!!!! I finally found the "real" audio recording! In all of the other libraries I have searched, they had a different soundtrack and since I love Howard Keel's version, I was so sad. Thank you Amazon for providing this for me AND for making it available via mp4 or mp3 download because then I could get it that same night and listen to my favorite songs from this amazing musical. I wish more people knew about this!