UK, 1940
106m, 9555 feet
35mm film, Technicolor, 1.37:1
mono, English
A British fantasy film directed by Ludwig Berger, Michael Powell and Tim Whelan with uncredited contributions from Alexander Korda, Zoltan Korda and William Cameron Menzies.
Plot Summary
Prince Ahmad, the King of Bagdad, is cast out of the city and imprisoned by the evil Grand Vizier Jaffar. In a dungeon, he meets the resourceful young thief Abu, who helps him to escape. As they look to get Ahmad back to the palace and restore his power, they team up with a giant djinn from a bottle, fly on a mechanical flying horse and a flying carpet, and meet a beautiful princess.
Credits
* = uncredited
Crew
Directed by: Ludwig Berger, Michael Powell and Tim Whelan; Alexander Korda *, Zoltan Korda *, William Cameron Menzies *
© Alexander Korda Films, Inc.
Alexander Korda presents
Produced by: Alexander Korda
Associate Producers: Zoltan Korda and William Cameron Menzies
Screen Play and Dialogue by: Miles Malleson
Scenario by: Lajos Biro
Chief Photographer: George Perinal
Supervising Editor: William Hornbeck
Film Editor: Charles Crichton
Musical Score and Songs by: Miklos Rozsa
Sound Director: A.W. Watkins
Costume Designed by: John Armstrong, Oliver Messel, Marcel Vertes
Special Effects Directed by: Lawrence Butler
Photographic Effects: Lawrence W. Butler *
Production Designed in Colour by: Vincent Korda
Locations: Denham Studio, Buckinghamshire, UK; UA Studio, California, USA; Cornwall, England, UK; Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK; Grand Canyon, Colorado, USA; Pembrokeshire coast, Dyfed, Wales, UK; Sennen Cove, Cornwall, England, UK
Cast
Conrad Veidt (Jaffar)
Sabu (Abu)
June Duprez (Princess)
John Justin (Ahmad)
Rex Ingram (the genie)
Miles Malleson (Sultan)
Morton Selten (old king)
Mary Morris (Halima)
Bruce Winston (the merchant)
Hay Petrie (astrologer)
Adelaide Hall (singer)
Roy Emerton (jailer)
Allan Jeayes (the story teller)
Frederick Burtwell *
Joseph Cozier [man selling fish] *
Henry Hallett *
Glynis Johns *
Alexander Laine, Cleo Laine, Sylvia Laine [urchins in Bagdad market] *
Norman Pierce *
John Salew *
Otto Wallen *
Links
See also
Aladdin (1992a)
Il ladro di Bagdad (1960)
The Thief of Bagdad: An Arabian Nights Fantasy (1924)
The Thief of Bagdad (1977)
The Thief of Bagdad (2001)
References
Periodicals
- Castle of Frankenstein no.2 p.31
- Cinefocus vol.3 (January 1995) pp.19-25 – illustrated article (The Image of the Muslim Woman in American Cinema: Two Orientalist Fantasy Films by Mohja Kahf)
- Écran Fantastique no.18 (May 1981) pp.14-27, 64 – illustrated article, interviews with Michael Powell and Miklos Rozsa
- Empire no.38 (August 1992) p.34 – illustrated review (New films by Angie Errigo)
- Empire no.190 (April 2005) p.112 – article (My First Movie: Primal Scream: Directors on their first film by Ken Loach)
- Film Music Notebook vol.2 no.4 (October 1976) pp.25-28 – interview with Miklos Rozsa
- Filmfax no.60 (April 1997) pp.59-65 – illustrated article (A world of childhood delights by Dennis Fischer)
- Filmfax no.105 (January 2005) pp.54-65, 118-121 – illustrated article (The magic of Menzies by Vincent DiFate)
- Films in Review vol.47 no.5/6 (May 1996) pp.92-95 – letter (from Jim Danforth)
- Journal of Popular British Cinema no.1 (January 1998) pp.158-159 – review (by Sue Harper)
- Kine Weekly no.1758 (26 December 1940) p.11 – review
- Kine Weekly no.1949 (24 August 1944) p.39 – review
- Kine Weekly no.1245 (10 June 1948) – review
- The Listener vol.120 no.3079 (8 September 1988) p.31 – review
- Movies August 1992 pp.58-61 – illustrated review
- Radio Times 4-10 January 1986 p.65 – credits
- Radio Times 25 September – 1 October 1993 p.67 – credits
- Radio Times 29 March – 4 April 1997 p.82 (UK) – credits
- Sight and Sound Supplement no.14 (March 1948) p.20 – credits
- Starburst no.39 (October 1981) pp.36-37, 40-42; 38-39 – illustrated article (by Phil Edwards); illustrated interview with John Justin
- Supernatural no.1 (January 1969) p.29 – note (Round the cinema’s zoo of horrors with Supernaturalist)
- Today’s Cinema vol.55 no.4510 (25 December 1940) – credits, review (by C.A.W)
- Today’s Cinema vol.63 no.5075 (23 August 1944) – review
- Today’s Cinema vol.70 no.5658 (9 June 1948) – review
Newspapers
- New York Times 6 December 1940 p.28 – review (by Bosley Crowther)
Books
- Armchair Cinema: A History of Feature Films on British Television, 1929-1981 by Sheldon Hall p.99, 100, 438
- Arrows of Desire: The Films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger by Ian Christie pp.10, 14, 25, 44, 46, 47, 48, 50, 111, 114, 123
- British Gothic Cinema by Barry Forshaw p.84
- British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928-1959 by David Quinlan p.257 – illustrated credits, synopsis
- Caligari’s Children: The Film as Tale of Terror by Siegbert Solomon Prawer p.182
- Euro Gothic: Classics of Continental Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby p.47
- The Films of Michael Powell and the Archers (Filmmakers Series no.52) by Scott Salwolke pp.7, 29, 33, 34, 58, 63-68, 132, 162, 200, 220, 221
- A Life in Movies: An Autobiography by Michael Powell pp.122, 138, 306, 319, 325, 329, 331, 340, 343, 348, 352, 361, 363, 385, 406, 481, 500, 509, 541, 558, 580, 581
- Michael Powell by James Howard pp.34-36, 54, 61, 81, 116-117, 148
- Michael Powell: Director by Kevin Gough-Yates pp.14, 20, 33
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.487 – illustrated credits
- Spectacular! The Story of Epic Films by John Cary, edited by John Kobal p.160 – credits
- Terence Fisher: Horror, Myth and Religion by Paul Leggett p.186
- Trick Cinematography by R.M. Hayes p.57
- The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy by David Pringle (general ed.) pp.49-50 – credits, review
Other Sources
- 59th Edinburgh Film Festival Catalogue (August 2005) p.128 – credits, review
