Customer Reviews

Thief of Bagdad

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Don't buy this video if you have any love at all from this film. I am talking about the "Alpha Video" version only. From "The Silent Era" website:
"This budget edition of The Thief of Bagdad has been transferred from a Blackhawk Films 16mm reduction print and, therefore, has many of the shortcomings of that older print. The picture is slightly contrasty, with loss of detail in highlight areas. The print used for the transfer has some minor emulsion damage, several sections of exposure fluctuations throughout, splices, long vertical scratches, dust, and frame jitters. The original print has cropped the original print framing slightly, and the video transfer has not been windowboxed, with the result that some of the film's intertitles with be cropped to the point of difficult reading on some televisions."

Douglas Fairbanks' "The Thief of Bagdad" is in the public domain, so it's no surprise that there are many DVD and VHS versions of this film available, from bargain basement tapes with no music taken from battered source prints, to high-quality editions with fine music and extras. (Many of the reviews given here are for different editions, so if they complain about the video transfer, missing scenes, or the musical score, keep in mind that such comments don't apply to all editions.)

The Kino "Deluxe Edition" is digitally mastered from a 35mm archive negative, with 19 minutes of rare outtakes and special effects footage as extras. The film is tinted throughout -- a color effect that was used on its initial release, and which adds greatly to the fantastic nature of the story and its immense sets.

The new score by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra (a quintet that specializes in reviving music used during the silent film era) is based loosely on the original "cue sheet" for the film by James Bradford. This means that you'll be hearing some of the music recommended for the film on its first release (although the music would have been different in each theater--silent film music was left up to the music director at each movie house). The music features many "oriental" pieces written for the silent film theater by forgotten "photoplay music" composers such as Gaston Borch and Irenee Berge, as well as pieces by classical composers like Rimsky-Korsakov who explored oriental themes. A written commentary and cue list of the music used is on the DVD as an extra, and can also be found at Mont Alto's web site, www.mont-alto.com.

A different high-quality edition from Image Entertainment features an organ score by Gaylord Carter, who was a talented theater organist, and that's also a good choice. Be wary of other editions -- it's an amazing film, and the extra money spent for a quality visual and audio treat is well worth it. The difference in run-time between the Kino and Image editions of the film is mostly explained by a different film transfer rate.

After countless hours of watching B movies. I treated myself to this one. Simply put, every Sword and sandals/Dungeon and Dragons/Lord of the rings fan must see this one. It is jam-packed with special effects, gigantic sets, bigger-than-life monsters and fantstic animals. I did know that you could show such luscious women in 1924. The oriental lady (sexy) and the princess (eyes that can melt casted iron) are drop-dead gorgeous.

Fairbanks performance is athletic to say the least. It is almost circus like. His muscular, yet smooth, physique is timeless. Bodybuilders, please take notes. The film moves the viewers through a fast paced and well-structured fantasy scenario. There is something happaning every instant.

Even with a mega-nudget and the latest technology, this one would be tough to duplicate.

155 minutes of pleasure.... Sword and sandals style.

first, hats off to Kino for releasing all these great, old Daouglas Fairbanks Sr. Classics on DVD. They have done a fantastic job and the Thief of Baghdad shows agains why Fairbanks was the master of the Swashbuckler.As the thief of Baghdad, his movements are dance-like -- nothing like the athletics he performed in most of his other films. In this Arabian take, the thief ignores the holy teachings and sneaks into the palace of the Caliph (Brandon Hurst). All thoughts of robbery slip away, however, when he sees the beautiful princess (Julianne Johnston). Princes have come from many faraway lands to win the princess' hand (and it's amusing to watch her face growing ever more alarmed at their arrival, because each one is uglier than the last). The thief disguises himself as a prince and the princess falls in love with him. After having a pang of conscience the thief confesses all to the Holy Man (Charles Belcher), who sends him to find a magic chest. He braves many obstacles to get it, and when he returns he discovers that the Mongol Prince (So-Jin) has taken over the city. Using the chest, the reformed thief creates armies of men out of nothingness and recaptures the city. He then uses the cloak of invisibility to spirit the princess away on a magic carpet. Fairbanks stole some of the special effects for his film from Fritz Lang's Der Mude Tod, which he had purchased for American distribution.

Thief of Baghdad, with its look of unrealistic beauty (courtesy of art director William Cameron Menzies), was not fully appreciated in its day. Because of its huge cost ($2 million -- a real fortune in those days), it made little money.

A true Silent Classic!

THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD is surely one of Douglas Fairbank's most elaborate films; it's also tremendously entertaining. Fairbanks utilizes all of his athletic prowess as a happy-go-lucky thief who goes on a quest to prove himself worthy of a princess (Julianne Johnston). The highly imaginative sets and special effects set the right note of fantasy and, in the supporting cast, Sojin (as the wicked Mongol Prince) and Anna May Wong (as his spy) are standouts.

This movie has beauty, charm, and pathos. Do not be put off : these are positive terms. Please rent every one of the latest top 100 movies of all time before purchasing this one - happiness must be earned.