Arabesque (1966)

An American professor (Gregory Peck) of hieroglyphics at Oxford university is hired by a wealthy Arab (Alan Badel) to decipher an important message written in ancient hieroglyphics. But there are others who are interested in what the message has to say and are willing to kill for it. Director Stanley Donen had a big hit with his elegant Hitchcockian thriller CHARADE. Knowing Hollywood (then as now) it was only natural that he would attempt to follow it up with something similar. If one insists on comparing it to CHARADE, of course it's going to come in second. But on its own terms, it's an enjoyable stylish mystery with perhaps a little less debt to Mr. Hitchcock. Instead of Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, this time we get Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren, who have about the same amount of star wattage. Peck lacks Grant's assured comic deliveries but unlike Grant, he's not playing Cary Grant so he's fine. Loren doesn't have much to do other than look stunning in her Christian Dior wardrobe and it's enough just to gaze at this film goddess. Donen overdoes some of the "trippy" effects but it remains a solid piece of entertainment. Based on the novel THE CYPER by Gordon Cotler. Henry Mancini contributed the effective underscore and the BAFTA winning cinematography is by Christopher Challis. With Kieron Moore and George Coulouris.