The Thief of Bagdad (1940)

United Kingdom

Adventure, Fantasy, Romance

London Films Productions, United Artists

Conrad Veidt, Sabu, June Duprez, John Justin, Rex Ingram, Miles Malleson

Michael Powell, Ludwig Berger, Tim Whelan

Miklós Rózsa, Miles Malleson, Miles Malleson

GIGANTIC! The Wonder Picture of All Time!

wretch, giant spider, sultan, flying carpet, djinn, orient, thief, baghdad, technicolor, genie, arabian nights, magic lamp, turned into animal

When Prince Ahmad is blinded and cast out of Bagdad by the nefarious Jaffar, he joins forces with the scrappy thief Abu to win back his royal place, as well as the heart of a beautiful princess.

Author: Geronimo1967
John Justin plays the hapless Sultan of Baghdad tricked from his throne by the evil (and superbly cast) Conrad Veidt. It's only by sheer luck that he encounters Sabu the gymnastic and clever thief in the palace dungeons and the two of them set off on a delightful series of adventures as he tries to regain his throne and to reclaim his love from the evil clutches of his former Vizier. This is a cracking fantasy adventure from Alexander Korda and wonderfully scored by Miklos Rosza that brings us Rex Ingram as the outrageously theatric genie in an enormous red nappy; Miles Malleson (who also contributed to the screenplay) as the eccentric Sultan of Basra with his fantastic palace of 1000 toys and Morton Selten in his last role as the "old King". The colours are bright and vivid; the story gentle and engaging with some comedic touches now and again too. The special effects are used sparingly, but where they are - they work well.