Kismet

After several stage and screen incarnations as both a drama and a musical, this lively tale of ancient Baghdad was turned into a colorful extravaganza by Minnelli. In it, a poet (Howard Keel) schemes to marry off his beautiful daughter (Ann Blyth) to a local ruler's son (Vic Damone) before a rival princess steals the young man away. The film was directed by Minnelli and written by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis, with a score based on the music of Borodin, including "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" and "Stranger in Paradise."