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The 1940 film version of '''The Thief of Bagdad''' is notable for its use of Technicolor and its special effects, which were impressive for the time and have held up far longer than those in contemporary cinema.
''The Thief of Bagdad'' was produced by Alexander Korda's company London Films in England, but due to the outbreak of World War II filming was completed in California in the United States. It was directed by Ludwig Berger, Michael Powell and Tim Whelan and starred child actor Sabu, John Justin, and Conrad Veidt. The film won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Art Direction and Special Effects. It was also nominated for the Academy Award for Original Music Score.
Although this and the 1924 version have some similarities there are also significant differences. The most notable is that in the 1940 version the thief and the prince are separate characters.
The film has been highly influential on later films based on The Book of One Thousand and One Nights, and the Disney film Aladdin (1992 film) borrows freely from it, particularly in the characters of the evil Vizier and the Caliph, both drawn with a marked similarity to the characters in it. Richard Williams, speaking about his film The Thief and the Cobbler, said that one of his interests was in creating an Oriental fantasy that did not copy from it.

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Synopsis

References

External links

Synopsis

John Justin plays Ahmad, the King of Bagdad. His evil Grand Vizier, Jaffar (Conrad Veidt) convinces him to go out into the city disguised as a poor man to get to know his subjects (in the manner of Harun al-Rashid). Jaffar then has Ahmad arrested and thrown into a dungeon, where he is soon joined by Abu the thief, son of Abu the thief, grandson of Abu the thief (Sabu). Abu arranges their escape. They flee to Basra, where Ahmad dares to lay eyes on the Princess (June Duprez). They fall in love with each other. However, Jaffar has journeyed to Basra also, for he loves the Princess and intends to win her hand. Confronted by Ahmad, he blinds him and turns Abu into a dog, and binds the spell so that Ahmad will only regain his sight when Jaffar holds the Princess in his arms. Rex Ingram plays the genie.

References

★ Alexander Korda's 'The Thief of Bagdad', An Arabian Fantasy, , Philip, Leibfried, Hollywood, Calif.: Hypostyle Hall Publishers, 2004,

External links

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★ Full synopsis and film stills (and clips viewable from UK libraries).

★ Reviews and articles at the Powell & Pressburger Pages

★ The Making of the Thief of Bagdad

★ ''The Thief of Bagdad'' at Rotten Tomatoes