- Actors: Fernandel, Dieter Borsche, Edmond Ardisson, José Casa, Manuel Gary
- Directors: Jacques Becker
- Format: Import, NTSC
- Language: French
- Number of tapes: 1
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- ASIN: 630302002X
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Product Details |
Product Description
From the Director
Jacques Becker (1906-1960) grew up in Paris, where his parents kept company with intellectuals and artists. It was through Paul Cezanne and his wife that Becker was introduced to director Jean Renoir. He eventually became Renoir's assistant on the films "La Grande Illusion", "Boudu Saved From Drowning" and "La Marseillaise". Becker went on to make a name for himself directing classics like "Antoine and Antoinette" (1947), "Casque d'Or" (1952), "Grisbi" (1954) and "Montparnasse 19" (1958). While Becker only made thirteen films in his career, each one was so distinct that they made an unforgettable impact. The themes of fraternity and humanity were constant undercurrents of his style. Becker passed away just weeks before the release of his final film, "Le Trou" (aka The Hole, 1960). "Ali Baba and the 40 Theives" was filmed in color on location in Morroco, with thousands of extras, and is considered one of the most lavish French productions of its time.
About the Actor
Fernandel (1903-1971) was immersed in show business from a very young age. His father performed at 'cafe-concerts' and brought Fernandel with him to his shows. By the age of five Fernandel had his own routine. In 1930 he began acting in movies, and over the course of the next forty years he appeared in a staggering 150 films. Fernandel was France's leading comic actor from the 1940s until his death and, along with Louis de Funes and Bourvil, helped to define French comedy. His most well-known films in the US include "Regain" (aka Harvest, 1937), "Le Schpountz" (1938), "Nais" (1945), "L'Auberge Rouge" (1950), "La Vache et le Prisonnier" (1959), and the "Don Camillo" series (1952-1965).
Samia Gamal was Egypt's foremost bellydancer of the 1950s and made many films in Egypt with Farid El' Atrache. She performs the dance in its authentic form, which is often very different from how it is portrayed in most foreign films. Gamal was a major star throughout the Middle East and she was invited by the French production company to star in Ali Baba, even though she hardly spoke a word of French!
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
ONE FUNNY ARABIAN NIGHTS CLASSIC,
By
This review is from: Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (VHS Tape)
THIS MOVIE IS WORTH OWNING; IN FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES..DOES NOT STEAL THE AMOUNT OF LAUGHTER AND FUN FROM THIS 1954 VERSION OF ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES. WORTH WATCHING,WORTH BUYING AND DEFINATELY WORTH KEEPING. VERY RARE MOVIE AND DOESN'T COME CHEAP IF YOU WANT TO BUY IT.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews) 9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ali Baba And the 40 Theives,
By Elizabeth Artemis Mourat - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (VHS Tape)
I liked this movie because it is a delightful dose of nostalgia which mingles musical comedy, swashbuckling antics, drama and belly dancing. The film was created in 1954 by the brilliant French director Jacques Becker, featuring the most famous and beloved French comic Fernandel and the lovely and incomparable Egyptian dancer Samia Gamal. This was France's response to the big technicolor epic films of that era. Becker filmed in Morocco where he employed thousands of extras to fill the screen in the big action scenes. Samia Gamal, a well known movie star in Cairo and the most famous Oriental dancer of her time could not speak French. However, she plays her part, which is a leading role, through dance and nonverbal communication. Note how she elegantly manipulates the veil which was inspired by the Russian ballerina, Ivanova who brought veil dancing to Oriental (belly) dance in Egypt in the 1940s. The playful Ali Baba tune which Fernandel sings while riding his funny little donkey will be running through your head for days. This is a real "great escape" film for when you want to escape from the real world and be charmed in the comfort of your own home.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
ONE FUNNY ARABIAN NIGHTS CLASSIC,
By S. Kamara - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (VHS Tape)
THIS MOVIE IS WORTH OWNING; IN FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES..DOES NOT STEAL THE AMOUNT OF LAUGHTER AND FUN FROM THIS 1954 VERSION OF ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES. WORTH WATCHING,WORTH BUYING AND DEFINATELY WORTH KEEPING. VERY RARE MOVIE AND DOESN'T COME CHEAP IF YOU WANT TO BUY IT.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oriental Delights,
By Bonita Oteri - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (VHS Tape)
This movie was a delightful journey to the oasis of those uncomplicated 50s genre films with ingenuous hero and heroine, evil bad guys and the former triumphing over the latter. The main charachters Ali Baba, played by the charming French comic screen actor- Fernandel and Morgiane played by the winsome Samia Gamal are enchanting. Samia was the foremost Egyptian dancer of the 1950s and is simply a real cutie-pie, displaying the artistic true Egyptian roots of classical Oriental Dance in a couple of dance scenes througout the film. The background music features a mix of theatrical orchestra pieces which are perfectly suited to Gamal and her signature graceful, glamourous dance style and some fellahin (country-village style) inspired Egyptian music. The cinematography, story line and good triumphing over evil is just the right mix of light fantasy escapism we all could use right now to bring smiles to our faces and a bit of light laughter to our lives.
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