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)