Raoul Walsh (director)
Eureka! (studio)
Cert U (certificate)
140min (length)
24 November 2014 (released)
25 November 2014
Lavish production. Check! Dashing anti-hero. Check! Innovative sets. Check! Dazzling costumes. Check! A magical and swashbuckling adventure freely adapted from One Thousand and One Nights. Check! This 1924 version of The Thief Of Bagdad is all of that, and more. Gorgeously restored, the film is a masterpiece of the silent movie era and was the pet project of leading man / producer Douglas Fairbanks.
Fairbanks stars as Ahmed, the likeable rogue and thief of the title. Cunning as a cat and athletic as a panther, Ahmed plunders his way through the streets and bazaars of Bagdad with great success, accompanied by his loyal and evil associate (Snitz Edwards). Disregarding prayers and displaying little faith, Ahmed is interested in one thing only: to take what he wants when he wants it! Fate changes, however, when he sneaks into the palace of the Caliph with the aid of a magic rope that he stole earlier on. Intend on liberating the chambers of valuables, instead he spots the beautiful Princess (Julanne Johnston) sleeping in her luxurious bed. When he is discovered by one of the Princess’ servants, a scheming Mongol slave girl (an early supporting role for Anna May Wong), he pulls a trick on her and manages to escape from the palace. Henceforth, Ahmed only dreams of the Princess and of making her his bride. His chance arrives a few days later when it is announced that on the Princess’ birthday she can choose a suitor that she wishes to marry.
Ahmed disguises himself as a rich prince bearing a title that does not exist, and promptly manages to weasel his way into court together with the other three suitors: the arrogant Prince of the Indies, the evil Prince of the Mongols who in fact plans to conquer Bagdad, and finally the obese Prince of Persia (hilariously portrayed by a woman, French actress Mathilde Comont). Aghast at her suitors and foretold that the first who touches the rose-tree in her palace garden shall marry her, the Princess is enchanted to spot the handsome ‘Prince Ahmed’. When his horse bolts and throws him on top of the rose-tree, it is love at first sight! Not for long though, as the Mongol slave girl (who is in alliance with the Mongol prince) recognises Ahmed as the intruder who escaped… and makes sure the Caliph gets wind of it all. Humiliated and flogged, once again Ahmed manages to escape with the help of the Princess to whom he reveals his real identity.
Angry, the Caliph commands his daughter to choose another husband amongst the remaining suitors. Desperately trying to delay the ceremony, the Princess in turn commands her suitors to set out to far away lands and return with rare gifts. The one who bestows her with the rarest of gifts shall wed the Princess.
The stage is now set for an array of truly fantastical adventures as each one of the suitors tries to win the hand of the Caliph’s daughter. Upon visiting a holy man, Ahmed – still in love and adamant to marry her – also sets out in search of rare treasures.
Crystal balls, magic apples, monsters, a flying carpet and an invisibility cloak all play part in the unfolding spectacle that won’t fail to bedazzle viewers of all ages! A timeless and magical experience not to be missed!
As part of their ‘Masters Of Cinema’ series, Eureka have released the film in Dual-Format (Blue-ray and DVD) and including SPECIAL FEATURES:
• New high-definition 1080p presentation of the film on the Blu-ray, and progressive encode on the DVD.
• Audio commentary by Faibanks biographer Jeffrey Vance
• 40-PAGE BOOKLET including new and exclusive writing on Douglas Fairbanks and Raoul Walsh