The Thief of Bagdad

The movie is always fun to watch because of the sheer wonder of it, but I have to say that it isn't always perfect. It is sometimes too obvious that the sets are sets, especially when we see plain blue backgrounds that look nothing like the sky. Also, it has a slightly disjointed feel about it because it tries to cram so many things into its 120 minute running time, and the story moves quickly; I actually felt a bit TIRED after watching it, because SO MUCH happens. Finally, most of the lead actors don't look arabic, which somewhat ruins the feel of it, although they do a pretty good job. The boy playing Apu, especially, comes off as just the right type of honest rascal needed for the role!

Really, chances are that you won't notice the flaws so much when watching the movie because it's simply so enchanting. It has the same feel as Disney's Aladdin, except longer, more magical, and not animated. The 3 Academy awards that it received were well-deserved!


Greatest golden age fantasy still well worth owning   February 23, 2004
kybernetes (Centreville, VA USA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

This masterpiece, often referred to as the greatest fantasy movie ever, still holds up well over 60 years later. The Thief of Bagad has a terrific story with enchanting magic, enticing romance and terrific suspense. The acting is absolutely superb with fine performances turned in by Sabu the little thief, Rex Ingram as the powerful and scary genie, and Conrad Veidt who as the evil Vizier Jaffar is one of the best villians ever. John Justin, the blinded Caliph and his beloved princess (June Deprez) provide an engaging and often tragic romance that lends terrific depth to this story.

Best yet is the awesome imagination brought to life in this masterpiece epic. While some of the effects show their age (The spider, for instance), others, such as the flying mechanical horse and the magical carpet are still captivating. The immense attention to detail is evident in the palaces, the ships and the sultan's toy collection. Miklos Rosza's musical score along with this movie's wonderful cinematography recreates the legendary time of the Arabian Nights.

For my one complaint, while this movie clearly rates 5 stars, I'm knocking my review down to 4 stars due to the lack of DVD extras. When compared to spectacular golden age DVDs like Robin Hood, one begins wish all were made this way. Children from 8-13 (as well as adults) will still find joy in this delightful picture.


Brilliant Fantasy Adventure!!!   April 21, 2003
Kim Anehall (Chicago, IL USA)
A blinded beggar, Ahmad, with his wise dog, is begging for food and coins in the harbor of a distant city. The Grand Vizier Jaffar requests that the beggar should be brought to the palace to help his beloved Princess wake up from a deep trance like sleep, since legends tell him that only a blind man can awaken the princess. During the blind man's visit, he tells the story of his life and how he once was the King of Bagdad and his dog was a thief named Abu. The story also reveals that he was blinded by the evil Vizier Jaffar and how he fell in love with the Princess. Thief of Bagdad is a captivating fantasy tale with magical items, dubious creatures, and enchanting adventures of a long lost king. The wide variety of creatures, items, and adventures is delicately balanced with a well written story, precise cinematography, and special effects that do not ruin the story despite the age of the film. The experience that is provided through this cinematic event is a magical story that offers both entertainment as well as contemplation, which is useful for young and old.