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Kismet
1944 103 min United States of America 12+
★7.0
Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
Director: William Dieterle
Trailers
Description
Hafiz, a rascally beggar on the periphery of the court of Baghdad, schemes to marry his daughter to royalty and to win the heart of the queen of the castle himself.
Budget:
$3.02M
Worldwide:
$1.83M
Starring
Ronald Colman
Actor
Marlene Dietrich
Actor
James Craig
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 1945
— Best Cinematography (Color)
Academy Awards 1945
— Best Sound
Academy Awards 1945
— Best Score for a Drama or Comedy
Academy Awards 1945
— Best Production Design (Color)
Key opinion
Kismet (1944) is widely regarded as a lackluster endeavor that fails to deliver on the promised adventure and spectacle of its Arabian Nights premise. While Ronald Colman receives praise for his charismatic performance, the film is largely undermined by a disjointed narrative and uninspired direction.
| Acting | Ronald Colman delivers a magnetic performance that stands out as the film's most redeeming quality. | |
| Originality | The film relies heavily on tired, predictable Hollywood tropes from the mid-20th century rather than establishing its own identity. | |
| Direction | The direction by William Dieterle is criticized for a sluggish, inert approach that prevents the palace intrigue from ever feeling cohesive. | |
| Acting | Opinions on the lead chemistry are divided; some view the Colman-Dietrich pairing as the film's only highlight, while others find the relationship devoid of genuine sensuality or sparks. | |
| Production | The visual presentation of the film is contested; critics clash over whether the production design captures exotic allure or merely offers a tepid, underwhelming aesthetic. |