Kirpianuscus a film who you desire see. again. and again. perfect , seductive, fascinating, realistic in a manner who must be discovered because it seems be out of words. a simple story. about old fashion virtues. about magic and about a page from Arabian Nights and one of the best ways to discover , after a long time, the flavors and colors and voices of childhood. Sabu is more than great and John Justin is the real imagined prince. the story is dramatic and amusing and honest and fresh and seductive and full of gifts for the public from each age. its profound honesty is the lead virtue. and the source of fascination in the era of high technology who gives a so cold version of reality than a film like "The Thief of Bagdad" represents the ideal refuge.

krocheav With so much incredible talent gathered together for this film, it must have left audiences of the 40s and 50's spellbound and breathless!Directorial greats (several!) weave an endless trail of eye popping treats throughout a well written screenplay. This fantasy adventure is crammed with colour and movement of the more intelligent kind. Completed within two continents, after a great deal of difficulty ~ during a time when the world was embroiled in the stupidity of WW11 ~ this film still offers an abundance of thrills. Audiences used to looking at today's C.G.A. may find the special effects lacking, but hey, this is pioneering movie making of the best caliber. Look, and see where Harryhausen got much of his inspiration (and copied some characters I'm sure) Look, at the magnificent visual design, striking sets, fluid camera, and glowing 3 strip Technicolor (no color ever looked as good as this and it never faded). Names like William Cameron Menzies, Michael Powell --too many to name-- created one of the first all time great Arabian stunners...But wait there's more! This work features one of the most impressive of all Miklos Rozsa's music scores....dare I ask if he ever bettered it??Can't overlook a marvelous cast, remarkable Dog, Oscar winning photography of Georges Perinal and Osmond Borradaile, topped off with Rex Ingram's damned scary Genie ~ even more physically menacing than Conrad Veidt's terrific Jaffar. It could be said that this set-the-scene for so many fantasies that followed... The re-issue print I was kindly given by a good friend (The Korda Collection series from Magna Pacific) is a little unkempt, with much neg dirt left to show as white dots on the image and yet, while not a digitally re-mastered DVD transfer, the image is thankfully quite sharply focused. I see that Criterion (and maybe another) may have given this masterpiece a serious clean up, so shop around before buying. Highly recommended to all appreciators of classic cinematic milestones... Young, Old, and Indifferent! KenR...............

LeonLouisRicci Ambitious Arabian Nights Adventure that has Found Itself in the Fond Memory Banks of Grown Up Children and Child Like Adults. Viewed from a Pre-CGI Perspective and from an Age of Innocence that was Soon to be Bombed Into Oblivion, this is a Remarkable Achievement.The Appeal is Obvious, Mostly as Escapism Fantasy into a Foreign Landscape and World from Long Long Ago with its Stunning Architecture and Vibrant Colors Meshed with a Culture Complete with Flying Carpets, Blue Skinned/Multi-Limbed Goddesses, Genies, Horses that Take to the Air, and Other Fantastic Flourishes.The Incredible Set Design, Lush and Lavish Color Schemes, Gaudy Costumes, and a Standout Musical Score All Add to the Movies Universal and Timeless Appeal. However, it's Not Without Some Clunkiness. Leading Man John Justin has Absolutely No Screen Presence and is Extremely Stiff Almost to the Point of Distraction. The SFX are Mostly Impressive but it Must be Pointed Out that there are Times When they Do Draw Attention to Themselves. June Duprez as the Princess has a Beauty that is Standard and Nothing Resembling Royalty or Fictional Females of Supreme Enchantment. Conrad Veidt as the Villain and Sabu are More than Passable. There are Many Highlights, the Most Mesmerizing is the Spider Battle and Overall "Seeing Eye" Temple Scenes that are the Best in a Movie that is Filled with Such Things. The Genie SFX are Inconsistent and the "Real" Wooden Exaggerations Like the Foot and Ear, as Like a Few Other Attempts Here and There are Hopelessly Dated.Overall, a Charmer that Can be Forgiven its Limitations Because the Best Parts are Oh So Good and the Film does Wonders to Transport the Audience to a Land Beyond the Senses. Must See Viewing for Film Historians, Fantasy Film Fanatics, and Children from 6 to 60.

Michael Neumann Six directors (three uncredited) were responsible for bringing this magical Arabian Nights fable to the big screen, including Michael Powell, William Cameron Menzies, and the old mogul himself: producer Alexander Korda, the self-styled sovereign of the British film industry. But the real heroes of the wartime production were its two art directors: Menzies, and Korda's brother Vincent, who created the fabulous Middle Eastern set designs to complement the vivid Technicolor photography. The sometimes flamboyantly melodramatic story is almost impossible to resist, with a handsome, wrongfully deposed prince seeking the aid of an ingenious boy thief (played by the sprightly young Indian star Sabu) to help him regain his throne from the evil Grand Vizier, a master of the Black Arts. During their quest the pair encounter a flying horse, battle giant spiders, liberate a mammoth genie from his bottle, steal the All-Seeing Eye, and meet a lonely, beautiful princess, upon whom no man may gaze and live. It's a classic fantasy, requiring an effortless suspension of disbelief.