Gorgeous music, fabulously performed by an incredible cast, one of several classic musicals remade for TV in the 1960's. Nobody has ever argued that "Kismet" was cheesy, but oh such fun and glorious. Oscar winners Jose Ferrer and George Chakaris show off their fine singing voices, while lovely ladies Barbara Eden and Anna Maria Alberghetti show their talents as well. Funny man Hans Conreid and lovable Cecil Kellaway provide amusing character performances.
Poet beggar Ferrer sings of "Fate" as he seduces wazir Conreid's sensuous wife (Eden) after she sings (and sins) of the glories of "Bagdad". Youthful caliph Chakaris (as far from the Spanish slums of "West Side Story" as he can be) falls in love with Ferrer's sweet daughter, Alberghetti, proving that they are each other's beloved as they find that strangers in paradise are indeed heading for the night of their nights. It's sweet corn all the way.
In addition to the gorgeous singing, there's a fantastic huge set, and while I would have loved to have seen this in the original color version, I really got the picture. Indeed, that picture is practically perfect, one of the classic Broadway scores, wonderfully and energetically choreographed, and while probably a bit dated or controversial for Broadway today is a genuinely delightful discovery.
Poet beggar Ferrer sings of "Fate" as he seduces wazir Conreid's sensuous wife (Eden) after she sings (and sins) of the glories of "Bagdad". Youthful caliph Chakaris (as far from the Spanish slums of "West Side Story" as he can be) falls in love with Ferrer's sweet daughter, Alberghetti, proving that they are each other's beloved as they find that strangers in paradise are indeed heading for the night of their nights. It's sweet corn all the way.
In addition to the gorgeous singing, there's a fantastic huge set, and while I would have loved to have seen this in the original color version, I really got the picture. Indeed, that picture is practically perfect, one of the classic Broadway scores, wonderfully and energetically choreographed, and while probably a bit dated or controversial for Broadway today is a genuinely delightful discovery.