NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (September 2021): Kino have transferred Stanley Donen's Arabesque to Blu-ray. There was a Universal Blu-ray from 2019 HERE, but I think it was bare-bones (and is costlier than this stacked Kino edition.) Arabesque was also on DVD in The Gregory Peck Film Collection (reviewed HERE.) The Kino 1080P is a massive upgrade, in all areas, over the lackluster 2006 PAL-sped-up DVD. It is a remarkable HD presentation - bright, clean, a much higher level of detail, contrast plus the richness of the colors and frequent depth in the 2.35:1 frame. Strangely we lose a smidgeon of information on the left edge - gaining a similar amount of the right portion of the frame. Kudos to the Reece Pemberton art direction - this looks beautiful on Blu-ray.

NOTE: We have added 60 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (16-bit) in the original English language. Arabesque has aggressive moments that come through with modest depth - some gunfire (never by Peck as inaccurately depicted in the posters) and score by Henry Mancini (Days of Wine and Roses, Oklahoma Crude, Wait Until Dark, Operation Petticoat, Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation, Experiment in Terror, Charade) including We've Loved Before (Yasmin's Theme.) Some may recognize the traditional Gaudeamus Igitur - a popular academic commercium song in many European countries. It supports the film well via the lossless transfer. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by my favorite trifecta; by film historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson. They discuss Charade, identifying notable differences, they cite other films; Donen's own Two for the Road, Sidney J. Furie's The Ipcress File, Prime Cut, North by Northwest, the prevalent Bond films of the era, the fabulous Robert McGinnis art, the cinematographer Christopher Challis and frequently seeing Czech DoP Otto Heller's work in Arabesque, the numerous stylish reflections and compositions that the camera showcases, how different the film is from the book (Alex Gordon's 1961 novel The Cypher) and that this is certainly not a superficial adventure - instead examining the details of relationships, identity and much more. There is also the 10-minute Music by Mancini: Archival featurette with Henry Mancini and nationally syndicated columnist Leonard Feather plus a theatrical trailer teaser, television trailer, 5 TV Spots and a poster gallery. The package has a limited edition O-card slipcase and a reversible cover sleeve (see below.)

Arabesque is a Donen visual extravagance - heavier on style than absorbing plot point specifics with many adventurous camera angles and inventive shots. Sophia Loren is her usual sexy, hypnotic self and Peck is strong as the academic egghead with some street sense - as they both navigate to safety. The Kino Blu-ray is a keeper - such a visual eye-candy film and secondary - also a pleasing, sometimes intense, thriller - looking and sounding great with an in-depth commentary and other extras including the desirable package. Strongly recommended!

Gary Tooze