Review of The Thief of Bagdad (1940) by Tonypolito — 25 Oct 2010

T+C=W. Technicolor process + Criterion restoration = Worthy viewing.

A blind man (Justin) with a dog tells a harem how the two were once a prince and his young, thieving sidekick (Sabu) until an evil, mystical wizard (Veidt) cheated Justin out of his throne. Justin and Sabu go on a Huck Finn-styled journey to reclaim their kingdom, enlisting the help of a giant yet personable genie (Ingram) and an instantly-smitten princess (Duprez) along the way. Whether Justin's simply weaving an Arabian Nights fairy tale - or is really a prince on a magical quest - is left to viewer interpretation.

An Oscar hat-trick - cinematography, art direction and special effects. Many plot elements and characters were freely borrowed by Disney for its 1992 "Aladdin.".

Though not the same caliber of work as "The Wizard of Oz," the films are not unlike in nature, targeting the same audience and viewing experience. The two films debuted the relatively-new glory of Technicolor simultaneously.

Symbolism involving eyes/vision/staring is constant, mostly overtly emphasized, but sometimes quite subtle. One example of the latter is the eye-shaped opening in the green hood of an executioner. One possible interpretation is that Allah is ever watchful of the deeds of men. Your own interpretation may well vary.

Unless the viewer is willing to completely thrust him/herself into the nostalgia and whimsy of the film, it will seem a bit dated. Those Oscar-worthy special effects will look transparent and corny; wish-granting bottled genies and magic flying carpets will seem cheesy and cliche.

A Scorsese/Coppola commentary is mildly interesting. The second commentary (by Bruce Eder) is far more educational.

RECOMMENDATION: All-in-all, it's exotic fantasy fare that some may well still enjoy today. No matter what, the boldly-colored visuals will sufficiently carry the viewer once around the track.