Le mille e una notte

I had long wanted to revisit this one since my one and only viewing of it had occurred long ago (back in the mid-1980s) and given that I am partial to Arabian Nights extravaganzas. Frankly, I was very disappointed that Universal decided to issue this one on DVD by itself a couple of years ago instead of releasing a Franchise Collection comprising several of its equally colorful follow-ups from the same studio; in the end, I didn't pick the disc up but, in view of the problematic copy I eventually ended up with, it would perhaps had been wiser if I did! In fact, when I first acquired it on DivX, there were severe lip-synch problems; this was remedied when I eventually converted it onto DVD-R but then there was intermittent jerkiness to the picture. Furthermore, when I played it on my Pioneer model, the picture froze with a loud buzz…thankfully, this was not repeated when I placed it into my cheaper DVD player and even the jitters were less conspicuous!

Anyway, this movie has a lot to answer for: it was the ideal form of cinematic escapism for WWII picturegoers and reaped big box office returns for Universal which ensured that they went back to the desert of Arabia for many more times thereafter in the next decade or so. Despite the generic title, the film isn't actually a filmic depiction of one of the classic stories but rather Universal's own concoction with every known ingredient thrown into the mix for added value: so it is that historical figures (Haroun-Al-Raschid) rub shoulders with mythical ones (Sinbad, Aladdin, Scheherazade) and are subverted or sanitized into the process. Dashing hero Jon Hall plays Haroun-Al-Raschid as a deposed Caliph seeking to regain his throne usurped by his villainous and seemingly love-crazed brother (Leif Ericson); the object of his unrequited affections is Scheherazade – which is actually misspelled in the credits! – played by the iconic "Queen of Technicolor" Maria Montez. Sinbad and Aladdin, then, are incongruously but humorously portrayed as amiable buffoons by familiar character actors John Qualen and Shemp Howard respectively; the latter is always on the point of spinning one of his seafaring yarns yet again before being shut up by his ill-tempered circus employer Billy Gilbert! The third lead role is taken by exotic Indian star Sabu who had already visited this territory in the quintessential Arabian Nights tale (and definitive film), the magnificent Alexander Korda production of THE THIEF OF BAGDAD (1940); what the film under review lacks in comparison to the latter is the omission of wizardry and special effects.

As I said, this formula proved so successful that Universal reunited variations of the star combo several times afterwards – WHITE SAVAGE (1943), ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES (1944), COBRA WOMAN (1944; see above), GYPSY WILDCAT (1944), SUDAN (1945; also helmed by Rawlins) and TANGIER (1946). Another measure of its being welcome at the time of release is the fact that ARABIAN NIGHTS was nominated for 4 Academy Awards in these categories: art direction-set decoration, cinematography (this was Universal's first three-strip Technicolor production and, over 60 years later, the colors still leap off the screen), music (Frank Skinner's score is appropriately rousing) and sound recording. In this context, the choice of John Rawlins as director – best known for the rather weak SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE VOICE OF TERROR (1942) – was a curious one but, in hindsight, he conducted the proceedings very capably.

This film began a cycle for Universal Pictures of making all kinds of fantasy adventures set in the Moslem world. Quite frankly with there being a war on I'm surprised they splurged for color and for the lush sets that they did. But they got use out of them as for the next several years these sets got used and used again in many film. The studio got its money's worth.

Arabian Nights was the first screen teaming of Jon Hall and Maria Montez as she plays the enchanting Scheherazade and he Haroun Al-Raschid the legendary medieval Caliph of Bagdad. Hall is in a bind, he's the victim of a palace coup involving half brother Leif Erickson and the Wazir Edgar Barrier.

Hall seeks refuge in Billy Gilbert's troop of strolling Moslem players which include Montez and acrobat Sabu. Also among the troop are John Qualen as Aladdin who would like to find that magic lamp he lost years ago and Shemp Howard as Sinbad who spins tall tales for the crowd's amusement. As you can see quite a bit of comic relief.

It still a sumptuous looking film for the eye and the action keeps moving. Arabian Nights got four Oscar nominations for sound, music score, color cinematography and art&set design.

If your taste runs to fantasy of this kind Arabian Nights is your movie.

Provided you really don't know or want to know the real tale of Scheherazade, then you'll no doubt enjoy this film. The actual book, "The Arabian Nights" (also known as "The Book of One Thousand and One Nights"), was supposedly written by Princess Scheherazade and consists of many short stories she supposedly invented each night in order to save her life from her crazy husband. In this movie there is no reference to this and apart from some of the names of characters from the book (such as Sinbad and Ali Baba), there isn't much similarity between them. Additionally, if you think too much and question the silliness of it all, you'll probably hate the film since it is purely an escapist style film--not too much unlike a movie serial condensed into 90 minutes. As for me, I enjoyed the silly escapism and learned to ignore all the mistakes in the film and the rather limp love affair between Maria Montez and Jon Hall . It was nearly non-stop action and fun--complete with perhaps a bit too much slapstick provided by the very large stomach of Billy Gilbert. However, I did enjoy the references to Sinbad and Ali Baba--especially because over and over, Ali (John Qualen) would grab every lamp he found and rubbed it furiously hoping for a genie. Also, it was nice to see Shemp Howard in one of his many appearances before going on to replace his brother, Curley, as a Stooge.

If you liked this silly adventure film, try watching Hall and Montez in COBRA WOMAN or Sabu in THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD--both of which are better than ARABIAN NIGHTS.

This action-packed adventure film is worth a watch, but it is not exactly a memorable film, and the story line suffers - secondary to all of the action taking place. (The basic summary is about a man who ends up getting revenge and banding together with some close friends, including a slave girl who is his love interest.) It is a fun film, and the picture (shot in Technicolour) is beautiful. (Excellent landscapes, colourful costumes, and much more come to life in the vibrant colour that this film was shot in.) If you want to watch something fun that doesn't require much thinking, then this movie won't let you down.

5/10

Classic and big budgeted story dealing with a Sultan and his two sons : John Hall, Leif Erikson , as two brothers fight for the throne and the affection of the sultry dancing girl Scheherazade : Maria Montez. Dasing Thieves of Baghdad .. riding out of the magic of the Oriental City . Bagdad ...Desert Port of Forbidden Allurements !

A typical Oriental casting overcomes the somewhat sluggish storytelling that combines a number of familiar tales from " One Thousand and One Nights" . This is the sequel to "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" bearing a similar style to previous entry . The cast is full of riveting people . John Hall plays the brave hero saving the damsel in distress who is submitted to slavery . Beautiful Maria Montez is is the Lady in bright and desperate who joins his lover against the villain usurper prince . And the young Sabu delivering sympathy in his usual style . And the bad guys well played by Leif Erikson and Thomas Gómez. Furthermore , the Norwegian character actor John Qualen -John Ford's regular- playing the fabulous Aladdin and other secondaries as Turhan Bey who also played a number of Oriental Fantasy , the usual baddie Edgar Barrier , Billy Gilbert and Shemp Howard later one of The Three Stooges . It displays enchanting gowns and expensive production design that augment the fantasy atmosphere.

Brilliant cinematography in early Technicolor by great and prolific cameraman Milton Krasner . As well as moving and thrilling musical score by Frank Skinner . This Technicolor fantasy was glamorously and professionally directed by John Rawlins who seems to have proper control over contrasts for crowds and colour . Other films concerning Scheherazade tales are as follows : Scherezade 1963 by Pierre Gaspard Huit with Anna Karina , Gerard Barray , Antonio Vilar . Arabian Nights 1974 by Pier Paolo Pasolini with Ninetto Davoli, Franco Citti , Inés Pellegrini. Arabian Nights 2000 by Steven Barron with Mili Avital, James Frain, John Leguizano, Rufus Sewell.