Omar Khayyam 1957 DVD Cornel Wilde, Michael Rennie, Debra Paget

Description: Item Description COULD YOU AND I ALONE WITH FATE CONSPIRE... The often-drunk and likable poet, mathematician and philosopher Omar Khayyam (Cornel Wilde) spends his days indulging in intellectual and carnal pursuits, while being friends to both the rich & poor alike. Although happy on the outside, he secretly longs for his sweetheart who the Sultan keeps in his harem as his third wife. Khayyam also works in the Sultan's court as a mathematician who is drawing up a new calendar, but proves himself as an able advisor in other areas. However, when the Sultan dies, Omar stumbles upon a plot to kill off the Sultan's successor. The poet must then go off under the guise of researching his calendar and work to foil the plot. There he discovers a deadly assassin sect whose members are brainwashed by their leader into believing they are in paradise when they actually are in a hashish-induced zombie-like state! Based around the real-life 11th century scholar, "Omar Khayyam" has all the hallmark 1950s Arabian Nights ingredients - harems, slaves, sultans, thieves and intrigue. It is a type of movie which sadly will not be made again any time soon, because these days the words Middle East bring up visions of fanatical terrorists, not the highly-developed intellectuals who lived amidst the magnificence of ancient Baghdad. This era of Islamic achievement should not be overlooked as it was due in large part to the efforts of Islamic scholars that many of the Greco-Roman classics were preserved while Europe sank into Christian dogmatics and medieval barbarism. Arab scholars were able to master and build upon the ancient knowledge of architecture, mathematics, and astronomy - and this is where Omar Khayyam enters the picture. Well-versed in the natural sciences and mathematics, Khayyam was indeed the author of an improved Muslim calendar and he was able to measure the length of the year as 365.24219858156 days - which we now know was outstandingly accurate. Renowned also as a warrior and a poet, his greatest fame stems from the collection of quatrains called the "Rubaiyat." Unfortunately, we know precious little about the actual life of Omar Khayyam, and here is where Hollywood has stepped in and created a story for him. Cornel Wilde plays Omar Khayyam not as a dashing swashbuckler, but instead as a gentle poet and scholar around which tumultuous events unfold. A stellar cast supports him - Debra Paget is the great love of his life, Raymond Massey as the dignified yet wry old Shah, John Derek as handsome young Prince Malik, and - as Omar's old schoolmates - the always endearing Sebastian Cabot as the minister Nizam al-Mulk, and Michael Rennie as the imposing, capable Hassan-i Sabah. Other colorful characters keep things hopping - a scheming Queen, her petulant son and half-brother to Malik, a timid but loyal slave girl and, just when you think it can't get any better - Edward Platt as a prior in the sect known commonly as the 'Assassins', who menace the Shah's rule from within while the Byzantine Romans threaten from without. The cast all look great in beautiful costumes and sets designed to make maximum use of technicolor. REGION 0 - WILL PLAY WORLDWIDE INTERACTIVE MENUS / SCENE SELECTION 1957 / COLOR / FULLSCREEN / ENGLISH / 101 MIN DVD ART WITH INSERT AS SHOWN. A GREAT COLLECTOR'S ITEM - AND A GREAT GIFT FOR ANY FAN OF CLASSIC FILMS! PLEASE NOTE: THIS PRODUCTION HAS NEVER BEEN AVAILABLE ON DVD AND IS NOT AVAILABLE IN STORES. This is not an "official" release or copy thereof. All media came from public domain sources. This is a good-quality copy with interactive menus and packaging designed by myself. This DVD is boxed exactly as pictured above, and is brand new and factory shrink-wrapped. All screenshots are taken directly from the DVD. All files used in the production of this DVD are not in violation of copyright laws or Ebay guidelines. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DVD is professionally assembled & shipped to you straight from the factory - no low quality stick-on labels or homemade burns! Please allow 3 business days for shipment to be sent out. Usually with the economy shipping, your item will arrive within one week of purchase but I have seen it take up to 10-15 days during Christmas time. If you are unhappy for any reason, please contact me before posting negative feedback! I have a 100% satisfaction policy and will gladly iron out problems. I love these neglected films and have spent years tracking down quality copies! I aim to give these films the loving attention they deserve, with quality packaging and interactive menus. I'm always on the hunt for rare & neglected gems so check back often! I'm happy to answer any and all questions you may have! Just drop me a line!

Price: 12 USD

Location: Sparks, Nevada

End Time: 2024-08-03T13:38:01.000Z

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