Kismet (1930) is a weird, stagey trip to old Baghdad

If you have a soft spot for movies where actors treat the scenery like it's delicious and needs to be eaten, you should probably watch Kismet. It is definitely not for people who need fast editing or realistic acting.

It feels like watching a high-end puppet show where the puppets are actual humans. It's a bit stiff, but honestly? I kind of loved that about it.

Otis Skinner plays Hajj, this beggar who lives in the dirt but talks like he owns the entire sun. He’s constantly moving his hands and making these grand gestures that feel like they belong in a theater from the 1800s.

There is this one moment where he’s sitting by the wall, just talking to himself. He looks so comfortable in his rags, like he’s been wearing them for twenty years.

The plot is basically him trying to get his daughter, played by a very young Loretta Young, into the royal palace. Meanwhile, he’s also trying to woo the queen because why not? He’s ambitious for a guy who starts the movie with nothing.

Loretta Young looks like a literal porcelain doll here. Her eyes are huge and she spends most of her time looking worried or dreamy.

I noticed the sets look very much like painted cardboard in some shots. It reminded me a bit of the vibe in La sfinge, though this has way more sand and turbans.

The sound quality is a bit crunchy. You can tell they were still figuring out where to hide the microphones back in 1930.

Sometimes the background noise just... disappears. It makes the dialogue feel like it's happening in a vacuum or a very quiet closet.

There is a scene with the Wazir, the bad guy, where he just stares at Hajj with so much hate. It’s almost funny how much effort he puts into looking evil.

I think the movie gets better once Hajj starts getting into trouble with the law. The pacing is a bit slow at first, almost like A Lost Lady, where you’re just waiting for something to actually happen.

Hajj is a total liar, but you can't help but root for him. He has this way of talking his way out of being killed that is pretty impressive.

One reaction shot of a guard lingers for way too long. He just stands there with this blank look while the main characters talk for like three minutes.

The costumes are the real stars though. Everyone is draped in these heavy fabrics that look like they weigh fifty pounds.

It’s not quite as chaotic as something like Panicky Pancakes, but it has its own brand of weird energy. It’s very theatrical.

I kept wondering how hot it was on that set with all those lights. Otis Skinner doesn't seem to sweat at all, which is a talent in itself.

The ending feels a bit rushed, like they realized they only had five minutes of film left. But Hajj gets a great final moment that feels just right for his character.

It’s a dusty, strange relic. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a lot more fun than some of the boring dramas from that era like Not Quite Decent.

If you can handle the crackly audio and the stagey acting, give it a go. It’s like a weird time capsule of how Hollywood thought the Middle East looked. 🕌

Things I Noticed:

• The way Hajj laughs is really infectious.
• The palace floors are so shiny I’m surprised nobody slipped.
• Loretta Young’s hair never has a single strand out of place.
• The swords look incredibly blunt and heavy.

Anyway, I'm glad I watched it. It’s better than a lot of the silent-to-talkie transitions I've seen lately. It has personality, even if it's a bit clumsy.