The Thief Of Bagdad [VHS] [1940]

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Alexander Korda's 1940 version of IThe Thief of Bagdad/I offers stirring proof that a strong story and vivid visual sense can still dazzle modern movie-goers without the aid of computer graphics or intricate special effects. Korda wrangled a virtual committee of directors (including a young Michael Powell and visionary designer and art director William Cameron Menzies) and orchestrated a still effective series of optical effects to give this Technicolor fable a striking look that mates cinematic energy with a painterly, storybook aesthetic. Even from a 21st century vantage point, this decidedly pre-digital production remains charming, distilling a familiar tale of genies, evil wizards and exotic adventures into an archetypal heroic quest. p In remaking Douglas Fairbanks' hugely popular, technically ambitious 1926 silent production, Korda repositions the title character as a much younger figure with the casting of a teenaged Sabu as the youthful thief, Abu. That shift makes his enemy, the evil Jaffar (Conrad Veidt), much more threatening while giving the fable an innocence the swashbuckling Fairbanks could not supply. In Rex Ingram, the film supplies a genie with a winning contrast in his thundering voice and mischievous smile, while June Duprez provides the requisite beauty to the princess whose fate becomes Abu's test of courage. Fellow Hungarian émigré Miklós Rózsa adorns the movie with one of his earliest and most evocative music scores. It's one measure of this IThief/I's appeal that at least two more remakes followed, but none have trumped this adaptation. I--Sam Sutherland/I

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Customer reviews

review by: khammond1928 date: 2005-06-21 rating:
65 amazing years
I first saw this film during the war, it was a brilliant way to get your mind off the many hardships that war brings. As an 11 year old I was enchanted by the film and seeing it again 65 years later, it is still enchanting. Much of this is due to the supurb script by Miles Mallison (he plays the dotty Sultan) which has humour and poetry to it. The cast is also terrific, Sabu as the thief, John Justin, the handsome hero, June Duprez the beautiful princess, Rex Ingram the giant genie and Conrad Veidt, the most wicked of all magicians. A great, great film.

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review by: date: 2004-12-10 rating:
fantastic fantasy
Watched this film when I was a child and as I grew up I have watched it again and again whenever it was on the TV. It is the only film that I have watched repeated and still do. It is a fantastic fantasy and the earlier version with Douglas Fairbanks, which I have only seen the once much later, absolutely mesmerised me.

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review by: date: 2003-09-24 rating:
THE THIEF OF BAGDAD 1940 SABU,JOHN JUSTIN
THIS IS ONE FOR ALL GENERATIONS TO WATCH. SPECIAL EFFECTS SUPERB FOR ITS TIME AND YOU STILL WONDER HOW THEY DID IT IN 1940. THE COLOR,SCENES,ACTION AND SCRIPT MAKES THIS MOVIE AN ALL TIME CLASSIC FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. ITS THE BEST THIEF OF BAGDAD AMONG THE 4 I'VE SEEN THAT YOU WOULD WATCH EVERYDAY WITHOUT GETTING BORED. NO WONDER ITS THE MOST FAMOUS THIEF OF BAGDAD. SABU'S DAUGHTER WAS TRYING TO DO A FILM CALL; RETURN OF THE THIEF OF BAGDAD ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO AGO BUT THEY DIDN'T FINISH SHOOTING BECAUSE OF THE COST. WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR ANOTHER THIEF OF BAGDAD THAT WOULD TOPPLE THIS ONE AS THE 1924,19601978 ONES ARE STILL NO MATCH FOR THE 1940 THIEF OF BAGDAD.

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review by: Amanda Craig date: 2003-01-05 rating:
pure enchantment
If you've seen Disney's Aladdin, you'll have some idea of how much other film-makers have ripped off this consummate version of 1001 Nights. A sorceror disembarks to listen to the sad tale of a blind beggar, once a Prince, and his dog, once a little thief. The sorceror is Jaffa, formerly advisor to the Prince who, like him, loves a beautiful Princess, and who has cursed them so that neither will regain their true form until the Princess lies in his arms. How the lovers defeat the evil sorceror involves a flying carpet, a genie, and the All-Seeing Eye from a goddess on the highest peak of the world - which must be stolen by the little thief, Sabu.pEven to a modern audience the special effects are glorious, and if you can see the strings on the magic carpet, Sabu's fight with the giant spider and the King's assasination by a many-armed statue remain breath-taking. It's funny, it's moving, and it's completely captivating for children of 6+.


review by: date: 2001-03-24 rating:
The best of all Arabian Nights' adventures for all ages
Begun just prior to the outbreak of WWII and resited to Hollywood, this outstanding Denham lavish remake of the Douglas Fairbanks'silent classic couldn't be bettered with Korda's carefully picked cast his family of technicians to craft it. Ever one of my top favourites, I can't overpraise it. My favourite star,Conrad Veidt,tall,sinister but at the time,every woman's dream,the evil sorcerer,Jaffer,coveting both the stunning June Duprez and usurper to the kingdom of Basra was great as ever. The popular new star, ex- Elephant Boy,Sabu, was captivatingly charming and spirited with the rest of its mainly stage performers completely united in this highly entertaining fantasy. Somewhat different from the original,it has everything - splendid sets, outstanding technicolor and lots of magic effects,most of which still stand up amongst which is the memorable lethal 6-armed "toy" buddah doubled by an evillooking Mary Morris Sabu's "conversion" into an alley-dog. Like Korngold in "Robin Hood" a year earlier, the Hungarian composer,Miklos Rozsa,added the icing to this cake with an outstanding score. Korda's costliest production,it remains a memorable souvenir of his once magnificent British factory that rivalled Hollywood with its appeal to world stars,dedicated technicians and sometimes stylish theatrical output. Other later remakes carry this title with scant resemblance to either the original or this treat. And how about that giant spider? And how did the genii, Rex Ingram, get back into the bottle?

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