Fairbanks' costume designer was the fussy future director Mitchell Leisen. Even now, the impression is of 'being there', not being on a movie set. Simply put, the production's overall design and execution - sets, costumes, lighting, special effects - are coordinated so tightly that the illusion of grandeur is complete. Some critics prefer Douglas Fairbanks' earlier modern-day adventures to his twenties' costume epics, but this dazzler still takes people's heads off. The last act of The Thief of Bagdad is one exciting or miraculous scene after another. She even poisons the Princess at his command, and helps him sneak a commando force into the Caliph's palace, disguised as gift-bearers. Anna May Wong's treacherous spy feeds him inside information. The Mongol Prince's aspiration to wed the Princess is but step one in his dastardly plan to conquer Bagdad. The Princess is sweet, the various Arab muckety-mucks amusing (one of them is actor Noble Johnson) and the villain quite interesting. The topper is a magic item that can do just about anything its bearer desires, including conjure an entire army up out of nowhere. Before you can say Legend of Zelda, the film is overflowing with wonders: a magic carpet, a golden apple of the sun, an all-seeing eye, a cloak of invisibility, a winged horse. A little Holy counseling and The Thief is dedicating himself to feats of daring and danger, on a hunt to collect various magic items. He takes nothing seriously and laughs at life until love makes him feel unworthy. The film's satisfying motto is "Happiness must be earned", even though The Thief would more properly state, "I get by with a little help from my friends." What makes the difference is The Thief's / Fairbanks boundless optimism and energy. In truth, it captures a storybook purity that today's movies have lost. if he is to win the Princess, he must become a Prince.ĭouglas Fairbanks stated that The Thief of Bagdad's story was utterly simple. The thief has escaped with a terrible whipping, but his heart is even more deeply wounded. Stalling for time, The Princess asks her father to send her suitors on a seven-moon search for treasure, with the one who brings back the most incredible gift to be her husband. The Thief disguises himself as a fourth Prince and before he is captured, gets close enough to the Princess to profess his love. Three rich Princes have come to compete for the hand of the Caliph's daughter, including a conniving Mongol (Sojin), whose spy-Slave (Anna May Wong) is in place as the Princess's handmaiden. Taking up the dangerous challenge of burgling the enormous palace of The Caliph (Brandon Hurst), The Thief sneaks past the guards but is captivated by the sight of the Princess (Julianne Johnston). The Thief scoffs at the faithful, mocking the wise and kindly Holy Man (Charles Belcher). The happy Thief (Fairbanks) amuses himself by helping himself to purses and stolen food in Bagdad's market he hides his loot in a secret cave at the bottom of a well, where his "Evil Associate" (Snitz Edwards) keeps watch. The story is adapted from several ideas from 1001 Arabian Knights. The credited director is the talented Raoul Walsh, but we're given to understand that Fairbanks called the shots. Clearly running away with his own ambitions, Fairbanks poured unheard-of resources into his giant film, which was shot square in the middle of today's West Hollywood. The wonder man behind this all was Douglas Fairbanks, a true superstar who projected an image of vigor, virtue and robust vitality to an international audience. What's more, the picture is packed with elaborate special effects, many of which still have the power to impress. It has sets bigger than those in Intolerance and costumed crowd scenes to rival the enormous Italian spectacles of the day. Movies once convinced people that Hollywood could create entire environments out of nothing, and this picture tops all previous efforts. It had the biggest star of the era in a production that dwarfed anything anyone had ever seen: a towering Arab city, magical domains in dark grottoes, under the sea and in the sky. Donohoe, Lotta Woods, Elton Thomas (Douglas Fairbanks)Įvery age has its wonder entertainments, and 1924's The Thief of Bagdad transported audiences to a new level of imaginative fantasy. Production Design & Art Direction William Cameron Menzies Starring Douglas Fairbanks, Snitz Edwards, Charles Belcher, Julanne Johnston, Sojin, Anna May Wong, Brandon Hurst, Tote Du Crow, Noble Johnson.
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