Open Sesame!

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1944) is more Robin Hood than One Thousand and One Nights. Like Arabian Nights, Universal took several creative liberties with the original story. “Ali Baba and the Forty Theives” is actually about a poor woodcutter who happens upon a magically closed den of thieves. The thieves are a band of cutthroats who keep their secret at any cost, but they’re all outsmarted by a clever slave girl named Morgiana. The movie does none of that since it’s another exotic tale starring Maria Montez and Jon Hall. Sadly, Sabu is left out since he was fighting in the war. Ali Baba and the Forty Theives begins with Ali as a child who pledges himself to Amara. In the book, Cassim is Ali Baba’s greedy brother.

In the movie, Frank Puglia plays Amara’s cowardly father Prince Cassim who betrays Ali’s royal father. Moroni Olsen briefly plays Caliph Hassan who is ambushed by invading Mongols who seize Bagdad. It puts the movie in a historical context since the siege actually happened with Kurt Katch playing the real life Mongol ruler Hulegu Khan. Ali survives the attack and happens upon the den of thieves. Like most adaptations, the den can only open with the magical word, “Open Sesame!” Ali helps himself to their treasure, but the thieves welcome him as one of their own. Fortunio Bonanova plays the kindhearted Old Baba who adopts him and gives him the name Ali Baba. Andy Devine plays the bumbling Abdullah who ends up being the kid’s nurse maid.

Ali Baba grows into a dashing rogue who leads his merry band of Forty Thieves to steal from the Mongols and give to the poor. Hall has his third on-screen collaboration with Montez as the lovely maiden Amara. Though their chemistry has gone away without a single kiss. Amara is forced to marry Khan by her father Cassim. Jamiel is a servant who helps Amara and wants to join the 40 thieves. Turhan Bey does a decent job, but the role was clearly meant for the fun-loving Sabu. Model Ramsay Ames plays a spy who gives Cassim information to tell Khan. The moment from the book where the thieves hide inside jars is reworked with them taking the Mongols by surprise. Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves is still a fun adventure despite copying a familiar swashbuckler.

Ali Baba protects Amara

The Princess of Temple Island

White Savage is Universal’s most forgotten exotic tale. After the success of Arabian Nights, the studio wanted to make more movies with the same three stars. Maria Montez, John Hall, and Sabu reunite for a South Seas adventure. White Savage was hard to find, but it felt necessary despite having nothing to do with One Thousand and One Nights. I think the title refers to Montez since the movie was re-released with the title White Savage Woman. Princess Tahia is the lovely ruler of the beautiful tropical Temple Island.

Montez is once again a little standoffish, but Tahia does have a playful side. Some of her costumes were so revealing that they had to be cut for 1940’s audiences. Hall plays shark hunter Kaloe who catches Tahia in his hook and falls for her. Their chemistry is better, but Sabu pulls the strings. This time he’s local island boy Orano who befriends Kaloe and introduces him to the princess. The white actors in brownface are more obvious with Constance Purdy as Orano’s mother Blossom.

Charlie Chan himself Sidney Toler has an amusing role as Wong who has several professions in town. Turhan Bey has an important role as Tahia’s brother Tamara. The story is simple with Thomas Gomez as the greedy Sam Miller who plans to take the gold bars at the bottom of their sacred pool. Paul Guilfoyle and Don Terry serve as his henchmen who are willing to kill for it. The island fights back and the final kiss is satisfying. White Savage may be lost to time, but it’s worth the effort put into it.

Princess Tahia

Where the Caravan Camels Roam

Arabian Nights is a very loose retelling of One Thousand and One Nights. What it lacks in magic or monsters, I feel it makes up for in a lighthearted tone. Universal wanted to make an exotic tale after the success of The Thief of Bagdad. With WWII on everyone’s mind, I think a fun adventure was a good enough Christmas present. It wasn’t as well received, but it was nominated for Best Score, Cinematography, Sound Recording, and Art Direction. Arabian Nights uses a harem of beautiful Persian women as a framing device to tell the story of Sherazade. The actual Scheherazade from the book is a storyteller who avoids death by telling her royal husband a story for 1,001 nights.

The movie Sherazade is a seductive dancer who wins the heart of two feuding brothers. The Dominican Maria Montez became a star thanks to her fancy costumes and accent. Though Sherazade is a bit unfeeling as she desires power more than love. Yet Haroun-Al-Raschid and Kamar continue to fight over her. Jon Hall is the well meaning caliph Haroun who ends up usurped by his brother. Leif Erickson is the cruel Kamar, but Edgar Barrier is his advisor Nadan who has it out for both of them. Haroun is found unconscious by (who else?) Sabu in another supporting role where he does most of the heavy lifting. He plays acrobat Ali Ben Ali who disguises Haroun and helps him lay low in their traveling circus.

Comedian Billy Gilbert plays their troop leader Ahmad who gets to do his sneezing routine. Aladdin and Sinbad are part of the story, but they’re both joke characters. John Qualen is Aladdin who desperately searches for another magic lamp. Shemp Howard himself is Sinbad the Sailor who can’t stop talking about his 7 voyages. Jeni Le Gon is Sherazade’s dresser who tries to stay by her side. Haroun agrees to keep his identity secret in order to gain Sherazade’s love without her knowing he’s the caliph. It takes time, but she does eventually return his affection. He fights to free her from slave traders and risks his life to make sure she’s safe with Kamar. Ahmad dresses like a woman and Ali rallies an army just to free Sherazade. The sword fight between Haroun and Kamar makes up for the lack of action. Arabian Nights is a decent comedy masquerading as an adventure flick.

Haroun rides with Sherazade

Land of Legend

The Thief of Bagdad (1940) is as adventurous as it is impactful. You can still see its influence in Disney’s Aladdin, The Thief and the Cobbler, and Prince of Persia. The Thief of Bagdad (1940) was a Technicolor marvel despite a troubled production. The movie has three directors, because so many of them were replaced. Filming had to be moved to Hollywood when WWII became a problem. At one point it was supposed to be a musical, but three random songs now feel out of place. Although it shares a title and many themes with the acclaimed 1924 silent film, the 1940 remake is very different. The titular thief is understandably played by rising Indian actor Sabu. Abu is a mischievous little scamp who steals only what he can’t afford. Though you’d expect him to be a Prince in disguise, that role would still go to a white actor.

British newcomer John Justin plays King Ahmed of Bagdad who ends up betrayed by his Grand Vizier Jaffar. Conrad Veidt gets top-billing as the evil sorcerer who seeks to marry the Princess of Basra. June Duprez is the beautiful Princess who falls in love with Ahmed. Although Abu does most of the work, he doesn’t get the girl. At least Ahmed and Abu have a strong friendship. Jaffar curses Ahmed with blindness and turns Abu into a dog. The movie takes inspiration from One Thousand and One Nights by using their cursed state as a framing device. Meanwhile, Jaffar attempts to charm Miles Malleson as the childish Sultan who loves toys. He’s given a life-size flying horse toy as a gift. Mary Morris serves Jaffar as his manipulative agent and a “Silver Maid” who assassinates the Sultan. The Princess manages to save Ahmed and Abu from their curse, but they end up separated.

Abu becomes the lead when he suddenly discovers a lamp containing Rex Ingram as a boisterous Genie. The Genie steals the show for his larger than life personality and enormous size. The Thief of Bagdad (1940) won 3 Oscars for Best Cinematography – Color, Best Art Direction – Color, and Best Special Effects. It was actually the first movie to use blue screen chroma key techniques to make the Genie appear gigantic. It’s not a flawless effect, but it is ambitious for the time. Abu is granted three wishes and most of them are used to find Ahmed. The Genie flies him to a temple where he steals the “All-Seeing Eye.” It’s there that he fights off a giant spider. Ahmed returns to Bagdad and Abu has a surreal encounter with Morton Selten as the “Old King” from the “Land of Legend.” He gifts him a magic carpet that flies just as well as it did in 1924. In the end, Abu is the hero who puts a violent end to Jaffar. The Thief of Bagdad (1940) is an Arabian fantasy benchmark.

The Genie looks at Abu

Remake of: The Thief of Bagdad (1924)

Happiness Must Be Earned

The Thief of Bagdad (1924) is the crowning achievement of Douglas Fairbanks’ career. After The Mark of Zorro (1920) and Robin Hood (1922), Fairbanks was a certified swashbuckling superstar in Hollywood. The Thief of Bagdad (1924) is one of the biggest and most epic films from the Silent Era. It was directed by Raoul Walsh and based on One Thousand and One Nights. The famous collection of Arabian folktales were a perfect excuse for grand spectacle and an over 2 hour runtime. I was just as invested as the other silent films that I’ve watched. Bagdad is an enormous set with large gates. Douglas Fairbanks leads a cast of thousands that each have elaborate costumes.

The titular thief is Ahmed who is always one jump ahead of the lawmen. He has no problem taking whatever he wants and neither does Snitz Edwards as his evil associate. Ahmed’s first magical item is a magic rope that helps him climb anything. Julanne Johnston is the lovely Princess who convinces him to change his ways. Although I disagree with the Islamic religion, Charles Belcher is the Holy Man who tells Ahmed that happiness must be earned. Brandon Hurst is the Caliph who wants his daughter to find a suitor. That’s when Ahmed disguises himself as a Prince. The African American Noble Johnson is the glowering Prince of the Indies, the female Mathilde Comont is the fat Prince of Persia, and the Japanese Sojin is the more villainous Prince of the Mongols.

The Mongol plots to take over Bagdad by marrying the Princess or seizing control by building an army within. Anna May Wong was the most famous Chinese actress at the time playing a Mongol slave who secretly works for the villain. Ahmed earns the hand of the Princess when he sets out on a seven moon journey to seek the rarest treasure. The three Princes do the same and end up with a magic carpet, a crystal ball, and a golden apple. Ahmed encounters many fantastical monsters with impressive effects like a giant lizard and a giant bat. He claims a cloak of invisibility and a magic chest capable of creating an army out of thin air. Ahmed rides a Pegasus, but the magic carpet is easily the best effect for the time. The Thief of Bagdad (1924) is filled with movie magic.

The Thief and the Princess on a magic carpet

P.S. Being public domain, I’ve supplied the full movie underneath.

The 600 Lb. Man

The Whale takes a washed up actor and gives him the second chance he deserves. Happy Father’s Day everyone! Brendan Fraser was a regular presence when I was growing up. He was a funny certified action star who proved he had range, but eventually ended up with terrible roles. Sadly, his personal life began to take a toll on his career. I was shocked when I suddenly heard him in a starring role on Doom Patrol. Though Fraser returned to the spotlight, his biggest comeback by far is in The Whale. Although I really wanted Austin Butler to win for Elvis, my heart told me Fraser needed the win. He won the Oscar for Best Actor and received a 6 minute standing ovation at the film’s premiere… I just wish I liked the movie more. At this point I know what to expect from director Darren Aronofsky.

The Whale was a passion project based on the Samuel D. Hunter play of the same name. It centers around the morbidly obese Charlie who slowly dies in his apartment over the course of a week. The full screen aspect ratio makes you feel as confined as Charlie. Obviously a movie about a 600 lb. man who overeats and can barely move is gonna offend somebody. I was more uncomfortable with other aspects of the story. The Whale deserved to win Best Makeup and Hairstyling for the realistic fatsuit that Fraser wears. Hong Chau deserved her first Best Supporting Actress nomination for playing Charlie’s only friend. Liz is Charlie’s nurse who both urges him to go to the hospital and enables him with junk food. Though biological in the play, Liz is now the adopted Asian daughter of a religious family. I was nervous the moment a Christian missionary entered the picture.

An older Ty Simpkins plays New Life Church missionary Thomas who tries to save Charlie. Let’s just say I wasn’t happy with their negative interpretation. It all made sense when Charlie’s sexuality was revealed. An older Sadie Sink plays Charlie’s estranged daughter Ellie who resents him for abandoning her. She acts out and only sticks around when she starts failing. Charlie works as a dedicated online English teacher, but his students never see him on camera. The friendly pizza delivery boy hasn’t even seen him. Charlie tries desperately to connect with Ellie, but he constantly feels sorry for himself. Samantha Morton finally shows up as Charlie’s ex-wife Mary whom he tries to reach. Though depressing, The Whale didn’t make me cry until his impassioned declaration of doing something right with his life. The Whale stays afloat thanks to a dedicated Brendan Fraser in a role that hits close to home.

Charlie talks to Ellie

Hey You

The Squid and the Whale is a brief snapshot of a family in turmoil. Noah Baumbach wrote and directed the semi-autobiographical movie based on his own parents’ divorce. The subject may not be fun, but there’s plenty of room for awkward humor. The Squid and the Whale is the only film produced by Wes Anderson since he previously collaborated with Baumbach on The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Despite the incredibly short 1 hour & 20 minute runtime, Baumbach was nominated for Best Original Screenplay. The story is very matter of fact and I kind of like that nothing ever lingers. The Squid and the Whale is super independent and shot with a handheld Super 16 mm camera. It takes place in 1986 New York where we follow the Berkman family as they go through a sudden separation.

Jeff Daniels is a writer and teacher with a strong interest in books and artistic films. Although he cares for his family, it’s hard to deny how arrogant he can be. Laura Linney is up-and-coming writer Joan who had multiple affairs. Despite having cause for the divorce, she tries her best to make amends. Both actors deserved their individual Golden Globe nomination. A young Jesse Eisenberg makes an impression as their teenage son Walt who plays guitar. Walt deals with the divorce by resenting his mom, siding with his dad, and exhibiting some of his worst traits. In his final acting role as a preteen, Owen Kline played the younger son Frank who plays tennis. Siding with his mom isn’t surprising, but his issues include drinking alcohol and doing something particularly nasty at school. Their cat also plays a crucial role in their joint custody.

Fights grow progressively more profane and start to affect others around them. Joan starts dating William Baldwin as Frank’s tennis instructor who constantly calls him “brother.” Halley Feiffer plays the average Sophie that Walt starts dating. Though he ruins it when he looks at other girls (including Alexandra Daddario in her first role). The strangest relationship is the one between Bernard and his hip 20 year old student Lili who stays at his new house. Only 9 years after playing father and daughter in Fly Away Home, Anna Paquin played Daniels’ lover. It’s uncomfortable, but that’s the idea. Walt sees a therapist played by Ken Leung after singing the Pink Floyd song “Hey You.” The title may sound like a seafaring adventure, but it actually refers to the American Museum of Natural History and holds emotional significance. The Squid and the Whale is refreshingly honest.

Bernard, Joan, and Frank go to see Ivan

The Price of Salt

Carol is the most acclaimed lesbian film of all time. It’s understandable in 2015, but it’s hard to believe the story is as old as 1952. After her success with Strangers on a Train, Patricia Highsmith wrote The Price of Salt under the pseudonym Claire Morgan. Despite being a lesbian who wrote about her own experiences, Highsmith didn’t want to ruin her career. The book was successful with lesbians, but a movie adaptation in the 50’s would’ve been impossible. Lesbian screenwriter Phyllis Nagy adapted the novel using the republished title Carol. Despite hesitation from studios for its homosexual storyline and female leads, Carol was just as successful. It was nominated for 6 Academy Awards except Best Picture and Best Director Todd Haynes.

It was kind of a glaring omission that reminded people of Brokeback Mountain. Carol isn’t really made for me, but I can still see its artistic merit. It deserved all of its nominations for Best Cinematography, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, and Costume Design as it immerses itself in the 1950’s. Although both women are on equal footing, Cate Blanchett was nominated for Best Actress and Rooney Mara was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Blanchett delivers another great performance as the mysterious Carol Aird who arrives at a department store wearing a mink coat. After her breakout role in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Mara became the aspiring photographer Therese Belivet who spots Carol while working near Christmas. Carol doesn’t follow the usual lesbian romance clichés since it isn’t tragic and didn’t have an agenda.

Therese is young and doesn’t know what she wants. Jake Lacy plays her boyfriend Richard who can’t get her to marry him and John Magaro is their friend Donnie who has his advances shot down as well. Carol doesn’t hide her sexuality from her husband Harge played by Kyle Chandler. Harge fails to fight for their marriage as they go through a divorce. Despite a bitter custody battle, their daughter Rindy is an unfortunate causality when Carol pursues other women. Sarah Paulson plays Carol’s former lover and friend Abby. Though Therese is the woman that Carol decides to take on a road trip. The R rating isn’t really apparent until their hotel scene. Cory Michael Smith plays the somewhat creepy fellow traveler Tommy Tucker who ends up spying on them. Therese and Carol go their separate ways, but the movie comes full circle and has a surprisingly non-tragic ending. Carol succeeds by appealing to a certain crowd.

Therese meets Carol in a department store

La Pintora

Frida is itself a work of art. Director Julie Taymor made sure to tell the story of famed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in a visually artistic way. I was well aware of Frida Kahlo both for her paintings and her unibrow. She was known for self-portraits and surrealism that didn’t fully take off until after her death. A movie about Kahlo was considered as early as the 1980’s, but every actress they chose was non-Mexican. Salma Hayek was born to play Frida Kahlo. She practically disappeared behind the unibrow and earned her only Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Best Art Direction, Costume Design, and Original Song were worthy nominations as well, but Frida deserved to win for Best Makeup and Original Score.

Frida starts painting after she suffers a crippling injury in a bus crash. I didn’t know about her chronic pain, but I knew her life was intertwined with fellow painter Diego Rivera. Alfred Molina put on a lot of weight and made a big impact as muralist and outspoken communist Diego. I didn’t know about Kahlo’s controversial revolutionist views, but I knew about her bisexuality. Frida is surprisingly erotic with several nude scenes. Though they fall in love and marry twice, Diego has numerous affairs. Frida does the same with men and women. Ashley Judd plays activist Tina Modotti whom she shares a suggestive dance with. She’s also seen with an American woman and Josephine Baker in Paris.

Diego Luna plays her first male lover Alejandro who was on the streetcar during the accident. Geoffrey Rush plays Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky who sought political asylum at Kahlo’s home and had an affair with her. She has a good relationship with her late mother and German-Jewish father played by Roger Rees. Mía Maestro plays Frida’s sister and frequent subject Christina who loses her trust after an affair. Valeria Golino plays Diego’s ex-wife Lupe Marin who becomes an unlikely friend. Antonio Banderas and Edward Norton make surprise appearances as outspoken muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros and mural commissioner Nelson Rockefeller respectively. Despite numerous health problems and personal turmoil, Frida continues to paint until the end. Frida paints an endearing picture of an artist in pain.

Frida Kahlo in bed

Too Beautiful to Die, Too Wild to Live

Gia captures the tragic life of the very first supermodel. Though earlier models might have fit the description, Gia Carangi was considered the first supermodel. She quickly rose to prominence throughout the 80’s and appeared on the cover of many high-profile fashion magazines. Yet I never heard of her until I discovered her biopic. Despite being a made-for-TV HBO exclusive, Gia could’ve easily made an impact in theaters. It was nominated for several Primetime Emmy Awards with Angelina Jolie winning a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award. At least she won her Academy Award the following year for Girl, Interrupted. Jolie is just as beautiful as the titular supermodel.

We see her difficult home life in Philadelphia and hear about the fairy tale life that she hopes for. It’s weird seeing a high-profile actress like Mila Kunis play the younger version of a high-profile actress like Jolie before she was famous. Mercedes Ruehl is equally dedicated as Gia’s mother Kathleen who abandoned her. Louis Giambalvo is her father who owns an Italian restaurant and caused her to leave. When she becomes a teenager, Gia shows off her wild side and tomboy style. Eric Michael Cole is her first boyfriend T.J. who’s with her when she gets discovered. Despite being with a guy at first, Gia is mostly in a lesbian relationship with her makeup artist. Elizabeth Mitchell technically plays Gia’s lover Sandy Linter, but they use the name Linda.

I’ll admit I mostly wanted to see the movie because it featured very prominent nudity from Angelina Jolie. There’s a solid 5 minutes of her posing nude, sleeping with Linda, and casually confronting her while naked. Chris von Wangenheim is the German photographer who took the racy photos of Gia and Linter naked behind a chain-link fence. Though she also works with photographer Francesco Scavullo, her best relationship is with mentor Wilhelmina Cooper. Faye Dunaway also won a Golden Globe for playing the founder of Wilhelmina Models who dies of lung cancer. Gia’s downward spiral is hard to watch as she uses cocaine, heroine, sabotages her career, and alienates the people closest to her. Specifically her mother and Linda. Sadly, we also see Gia suffer from AIDS and become the first female celebrity to die from the illness. Gia sets a high standard for made-for-TV biopics.

Gia models