Simbad et le calife de Bagdad

One of the "you must see them to believe it"-movies. Written probably by drunkards, played by over-actors, seen by fanatics (other viewers turned off the screen after 5-7 minutes). Very bad, very funny, very crappy. A mess how low Francisci went down the line. Robert Malcolm, playing Sinbad, has made a very bad Spaghetti Western, Arturo Dominici and Franco Fantasia have never been wasted more than here; Spartaco Conversi is in his normal form (i.e. playing a bearded character speaking mysteriously). The belly dances mostly have more belly than dance, and the rest of the thing disappears in the plot holes. To make it short, a must-see-picture.

This is an overlooked gem of a film featuring Robert Malcolm embodying a scruffy, sexy Sinbad who is very true to the tales of the Arabian Nights, and quite possibly the best ever in the genre. One must get beyond the terrible English dubbing to perceive this film's many merits. It's incredibly effective right from the startling opening in which the mad Calif indulges himself in the sport of shooting harem women with a crossbow while they dance, and then his falling down in an epileptic fit. Cut to Sinbad in the crow's nest of a ship, wearing the pair of dirty skivvies displaying his basket that he wears through most of the film, eagerly looking out for land as he hates the sea and his lowly station. As soon as he's ashore, he finds that his dead foster mother's house and goods have been seized for back taxes and he's virtually penniless. But two scouts for another ship latch on to him and trick him into going to a tavern where they've arranged to have him shanghaied. Their plot backfires because all three of them get shanghaied by still another ship's press-gang. Back at sea as a virtual slave again, Sinbad learns that his ship is to transport a new bride to the Calif,and when she arrives he contrives to meet secretly with her (after first having a bath and braving the sexual advances of the amorous eunuch who guards her). This, of course, will lead to a series of interesting and fantastic complications as Sinbad's kismet manifests. The plot continues in a way very typical of Arabian Nights tales, with their odd juxtaposition of humor and extreme cruelty which is commonplace. This film really captures the flavor of these tales, and their fantastic events and characters. It would be a masterpiece if it were restored and given a better dub of dialog. It's every bit as entertaining as the original Sinbad tales which are its source.

I can only imagine how much fun this must have been for all concerned to work on: it looks like it must have been a joy. Great costumes, wobbly sets, a dialogue to - quite literally - die for and Robert Malcolm manicured to about an inch of his life - all contributing well to this magnificently hammy magical adventure. The dreadful dubbing really doesn't help it; nor the tacky belly-dances as the thinly structured story lurches, quite amiably, from a positively daft start - the caliph shooting at the women in his harem with a crossbow; through some camp adventures with a kidnapped, and counter-kidnapped "Sinbad" on the high seas towards a pretty obvious ending. The production standards are pretty ropey, as is the dialogue - but if you've had a glass of something before watching this, it will certainly raise a smile.

With its dumb comedy, terrible dubbing and clichéd 'mistaken identity/identical twins' plot-line, many might believe Sinbad and the Caliph of Baghdad to be the film that puts the 'bad' in 'Sinbad'. I too was struggling with the film, but then Sonia Wilson appeared as Princess Sherazade and everything became a whole lot more bearable. The action didn't get any better, with scene after scene of puerile nonsense, but Miss Wilson's incredible looks and sexy curves made watching much less of a chore.

Sinbad (Robert Malcolm) meets the princess after he is shanghaied and forced to work on the ship that is taking the beautiful royal to Persia, where she is to marry the Caliph, a psycho who enjoys shooting pretty ladies with his crossbow. The princess is equally enamoured with Sinbad, but the loved-up couple are separated when the bare-chested sailor and his two bumbling sidekicks are set adrift in a rowboat.

Sinbad and pals eventually run aground on a tiny island where they discover treasure, and a hot air balloon, which they use to escape. Arriving in Baghdad, Sinbad has a bath and a shave, whereupon he is noticed by two members of the Caliph's staff, who are surprised by the man's resemblance to the crazy ruler. They convince Sinbad to trade places with his royal doppelganger in a plan to depose the tyrant, who has the lovely Sherazade lined up as his next victim.

In truth, this is probably the second worst Sinbad film I've seen (after Sinbad of the Seven Seas from 1989), but did I mention that Sherazade was hot?

4.5/10, rounded up to 5 for you know who.

This Sinbad film was mistakenly credited as Simbad when released on VHS. Most copies were re-called from stores and those of us who were able to secure one was lucky to keep this interesting piece of work. The company went bankrupt soon after re-calling the copies available from stores. Hence, it has never been released again.

Returning from a long sea voyage, Sinbad finds himself stripped of his home and possessions by the crazy Caliph who turns out to be his lookalike. he falls in with a pair of rogues whose incompetence leaves all three drugged and sold into slavery on the high seas.

Allah intervenes and they find themselves on the ship bringing the beautiful princess Scheherazade to Baghdad for her wedding to the murderous Caliph. Sinbad immediately falls head-over-heels in love with this Arabian Nights Princess - with disastrous results!.....The adventure has just begun and its up to you to hunt this rare gem to know the rest.

This 1973 version of Sinbad is full of interesting characters that will make you laugh 'till you cry. The plot summary is good and so is the actors and costumes. Worth watching and owning.

Starring Robert Malcolm & Sonia Wilson.