pictory: Debra Paget as Persian Princess

Debra Paget IS Persian Royalty in “Omar Khayyam” 1957 classic movie.

Plot Summary: Omar Khayyam was one of the greatest Persian poets. He was also a brilliant mathematician. Though his quatrains were written in the 11th century, they are still popular the world over. The details of his life are unknown, so this movie invents a biography for him and includes in it his real achievements – the invention of a new calendar and the penning of those epigrammatic poems. This film has him romancing a sultan’s bride and foiling the assassin sect’s plot to kill the sultan’s son.

Directed by: William Dieterle

Produced by: Frank Freeman Jr.

Costume Design by: Ralph Jester

Cast overview, first billed only:

Cornel Wilde …. Omar Khayyam

Michael Rennie …. Hasani Sabah

Debra Paget …. Sharain

John Derek …. Young Prince Malik

Raymond Massey …. The Shah

Yma Sumac …. Karina

Margaret Hayes …. Queen Zarada

Joan Taylor …. Yaffa