The Thief of Bagdad (1940)

The Thief of Bagdad
Directed by Ludwig Berger, Michael Powell, and Tim Whelan
Screenplay by Miles Malleson, Scenario by Lajos Biró, Story by Miklos Rosca
1940/UK
London Film Productions
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Genie: You’re a clever little man little master of the universe, but mortals are weak and frail. If their stomach speaks, they forget their brain. If their brain speaks, they forget their heart. And if their heart speaks [laughter]  … they forget everything.[/box]

Why this hugely influential Technicolor special effects extravaganza does not qualify as a “Movie You Must See Before You Die” is beyond my comprehension.

Ahmad (John Justin) is the young King of Bagdad.  His evil Grand Vizier Jaffar (Conrad Veidt) tricks him into going out among his people then having him arrested as a mad man.  Thrown into jail at the same time is a mischievous boy thief Abu (Sabu).  They escape together and head off for Basra.  There Ahmad is captivated by a Princess (June Duprez), daughter of the Sultan (Miles Malleson).  Unfortunately, Jaffar is also desperately in love with her and trades the toy-obsessed Sultan a mechanical flying horse for her hand.  He also blinds Ahmad and changes Abu into a dog until the day he can hold the Princess in his arms.

The rest of the story shows the adventures of the two friends on the way to reuniting Ahmad with the Princess and his throne.  These include Abu’s encounter with a Genii and his theft of an All-Seeing eye.  All the while, the two must stay one step ahead of the ruthless Jaffar.

This is a visual and aural feast and it is hard to imagine that anyone would not find some aspect of the production to love.  The colors are absolutely mind-blowing, particularly in the Blu-Ray edition that I watched. In addition, this is one of Conrad Veidt’s great performances.  Although many of the special effects appear clunky to our 21st Century eyes, this film influenced directors from Martin Scorsese to Stephen Spielberg.  In fact, the Blu-Ray Criterion Collection DVD has a commentary by Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola in which they recount their reactions as children and, in general, gush about the movie.  Heartily recommended.

The Thief of Bagdad won Academy Awards for its Color Cinematography, Color Art Direction. and Special Effects.  It was nominated for Miklos Rosca’s beautiful Original Score.

Trailer