Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Arabian Nights (1942)

Director: John Rawlins

Writers: Michael Hogan, True Boardman

Composer: Frank Skinner

Starring: Jon Hall, Maria Montez, Sabu, Leif Erickson, Billy Gilbert, Edgar Barrier, Richard Lane, Turhan Bey, John Qualen, Shemp Howard

More info: IMDb

Tagline: Dashing Thieves of Baghdad...riding out of the magic and splendor of

Plot: The caliph of Baghdad must go into hiding with a group of traveling performers when his brother usurps the throne. Both brothers desire a beautiful dancing girl, who is torn between power and true love.



My rating: 7/10

Will I watch it again?  Probably not.

Good movie.  The Technicolor looks amazing.  I can imagine seeing this in '42 and being blown away.  It's a good rousing adventure film with great sets, wonderful costumes, hubba hubba babes, dashing leading men, elevating score and an all around good time.  Hell, how could you not enjoy a non-3 Stooges movie where Shemp plays Sinbad?  He's hilarious in this picture.  It's clearly made for a younger crowd with some slapstick thrown in but it's not so pervasive that it'll bug the bejesus out of you.  It's not in my top tier of go-to adventure flicks but it's certainly worth watching.  The Universal DVD has a gorgeous print and the extras included are the trailer and an introduction by Robert Osborne (from TCM) where he gives you some neat info behind the production of the picture, just like he does on TCM (about 3 minutes).


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