Sindbad le marin

"Sindbad the Sailor" is a lovely film to look at and it's obvious that RKO really pulled out all the stops to get this made. While this was a lesser studio in Hollywood, here they use nice garish 1940s Technicolor (the type classic movie fans love--despite its being very unrealistic), lavish sets and tons of costumes. It was obviously a prestige picture--and one on which the studio lavished a lot of attention. Because of this, it's odd that the dialog totally stank. All too often, people talked like they were either making speeches or doing an antiquated play--and in the process, the whole thing came off as stilted and silly. It's a shame, really, as I wanted to like this film a lot, but with B-movie writing, it only was mediocre.

In the lead was Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and I assume he was chosen because of his father. Fairbanks, Sr. made a huge mark in the 1920s starring in fabulous action-adventure films like "The Thief of Bagdad" and "The Mark of Zorro" (among many others). His athleticism and wonderful screen presence must have played a huge part in their selecting his son for this 1947 film--especially since Fairbanks, Jr. was a very good actor but really was NOT known for this sort of film. However, despite being far less athletic than Dad, he was quite handsome and very good here...but his dialog....yecch! Overall, the film is an enjoyable escapist film with dialog that will make decent writers cry. The film has action, lovely sets, Maureen O'Hara (playing her rather clichéd petulant woman once again) and is pure escapism. But it plays like a B-movie with a great budget.

I saw this film perhaps three times on TV, as a kid in the 1950s. I always thought it was black & white, because I saw it only on a B&W TV. I rewatched it recently for the first time in over 40 years, & it sure has changed! Or more likely, I sure have changed. Of course, it's in color, not B&W. What seemed like a great mystery to me then is now fairly obvious. And Fairbanks Jr., who seemed to me the best of all Sinbads, now seems a bit over the top in his role. Not that those are bad comments, they're just different than I had remembered. The colors are amazingly bright & vivid for a 1947 film, which both adds interest & takes away from the mystery of what I had seen in B&W. Fairbanks grandiose character portrayal (arm flourishes & almost ballet-like movements) actually works well, because Sinbad is a braggart who is disbelieved by many, & has a self- confident air; he's also a fellow who's had eight amazing voyages & has escaped dozens of monsters & difficult situations. Sinbad refers to some of his previous exploits (the Roc & the Cyclops, for example); it would have been nice to see a couple of monsters or mythical beings in this film. With minimal special effects, the plot becomes rather talky, & there's a repetition of escapes & fight scenes that lack variety & seem too staged. I would call this a kid's film, although the dialog is a bit too poetic & difficult for many kids. As a film for adults, it's a bit too soft with too little action, although there's lots of romantic elements for those viewers who enjoy that. There are three nice surprises to the plot which still hold up well, so stick with it to the end. I would no longer call this my favorite Sinbad film, but it's still enjoyable as a light adventure-romance. I rate it 6/10.

This ¨Sinbad the sailor¨ (1947) displays an all-star-cast formed by Douglas Fairbanks Jr , Maureen O'Hara and Anthony Quinn , among others . Riveting and swashbuckling film with amazing adventures in which Sinbad searches for a valuable treasure located in the Sea of Oman , the course followed by Alexander the Great . The picture talks about the hero Sinbad and his extraordinary and surprising adventures ; being based on loose recounting of ¨The 1.001 Arabian Nights¨ tale . O Masters , o noble persons , o brothers , know you that in the time of the caliph Harum-Al-Rassihd , there lived on the golden shore or Persia a man of adventure called Sinbad . Strange and wondrous were the tales told of him on his voyages . But who, shall we surmise gave him immortality ? . Who , more than all other songs of Allah , spread glory to the name of Sinbad? Who else , o brother but . And now , know ye , all believers of the world of Sinbad , that light voyage , this is the end . This imaginative flick based on ancient legends , deals with Sinbad The Sailor (Douglas Fairbanks) who travels until an island called Deryabar to discover a fantastic treasure of Alexander the Great . Simbad sets off in search for the magnificent treasure and aboard a ship along with a motley crew (Walter Slezak , George Tobias , Mike Mazurki) , but he evil Amir (Anthony Quinn) wants the treasure for himself to own the world. They will have to face off several dangers , villains and henchmen .

In the movie there are mythology , emotions , adventures , fantasy , swashbuckling and it's pretty bemusing . It is an exciting fantasy-adventure and pretty amusing . Self-mocking and hamhanded , but some brief moment boring for its confusion . Don't see this one for the script , which almost doesn't exist ; otherwise mildly fun . Douglas Fairbanks Jr fits perfectly in his eminent daddy's swashbuckling shoes . Support cast is frankly good such as Walter Slezak , George Tobias , Jane Greer , Mike Mazurki , among them .The runtime is adequate with various incidents and sub-plots . Director Richard Wallace works his magic around a well-developed screenplay and engaging acting by the entire performers . The confrontation amongst the protagonist and enemies is mesmerizing and fascinating , plenty of leaps and bounds in which Sinbad runs , hits , fights and smiles . Cinematography by George Barnes is colorful , brilliant and shining . classic music composer Roy Webb creates a magnificent and astounding score . The motion picture was rightly directed by Richard Wallace , though confusing and sometimes dull . It's all in fun , and it is fun . The film obtained much success and achieved enough Box Office . The yarn will appeal to fantasy and fancy imagination buffs , well catching .

Other pictures about the great hero Simbad are the followings : ¨Harryhausen's Sinbad trilogy¨ , all of them full of special effects with great monsters and breathtaking scale models that are made by the Dynamation system and stop-motion created by means of stop-motion technique by the magician Ray Harryhausen , Ray can once again claim credit for the unusual and marvelous mythical creatures springing to life , as : ¨The 7th voyage of Simbad¨ , directed Nathan Juran with Kerwin Matthews and Kathryn Grant ¨ , ¨Simbad and the eye of tiger¨ directed Sam Wanamaker with Patrick Wayne and Jane Seymour , ¨The Golden voyage of Sinbad¨ by Gordon Hessler with John Philip Law , Caroline Munro and Tom Baker . Furthermore , an Italian muscle epic titled ¨Sinbad of the seven seas¨ by Enzo G Castellari with Lou Ferrigno , Alexandra Martines and John Steiner . In addition , Hollywood cartoon movie ¨Simbad the legend of seven seas¨ (2003) produced by Dreamworks , a combo of computer generator and hand-drawn animation by Patrick Gilmore and Tim Johnson with voices from Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta Jones .

This movie is an adult oriented swashbuckling tale in the guise of a children's movie. The harem scene is quite erotic and suggestive for its time. The script is very literate, almost too much so for a children's film, but there is plenty of colorful action for the kids too. The relationship between the O'Hara and Fairbanks character is very fiery, at times a little over-abusive, but they seem to made for each other. Slezak uses his intelligence to take an over-the-top character and make him believable and interesting. There is a lot of romance, combined with an inner-spective questioning of what true treasure is, and where true happiness comes from; everyone can learn from this. In this sense, it is a very moralistic tale, without preaching, but "showing". Kids will enjoy the action, adults who can get into the spirit of the tale will enjoy the sexual excitement and subtleties of the story and script. And to the casual viewer, it's just a fun film. It is underrated, and deserves a view by the entire family.

This is a cinematic realisation of the lavish Arabian Nights storybooks you read as a child. They don't put a foot wrong: it's all very predictable and undemanding, and everyone plays their appointed parts very satisfactorily. Enjoyable nonsense.