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The Thief of Baghdad [DVD] [1940] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
 
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The Thief of Baghdad [DVD] [1940] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

DVD ~ Conrad Veidt
5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

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1 new from £41.95 5 used from £12.75 1 collectible from £24.98

Region 1 encoding (requires a North American or multi-region DVD player and NTSC compatible TV. More about DVD formats.)

Note: you may purchase only one copy of this product. New Region 1 DVDs are dispatched from the USA or Canada and you may be required to pay import duties and taxes on them (click here for details). Please expect a delivery time of 5-7 days.


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The Thief of Baghdad [DVD] [1940] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
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Product details

  • Actors: Conrad Veidt, Sabu, June Duprez, John Justin, Rex Ingram
  • Directors: Alexander Korda, Ludwig Berger, Michael Powell, Tim Whelan, William Cameron Menzies
  • Format: Closed-captioned, Colour, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, NTSC
  • Language English
  • Subtitles: English, Spanish
  • Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: Unrated (US MPAA rating. See details.)
  • Studio: MGM
  • DVD Release Date: 3 Dec 2002
  • Run Time: 106 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00006L931
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 40,368 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Alexander Korda's 1940 version of The Thief of Bagdad offers stirring proof that a strong story and vivid visual sense can still dazzle modern movie-goers without the aid of computer graphics or intricate special effects. Korda wrangled a virtual committee of directors (including a young Michael Powell and visionary designer and art director William Cameron Menzies) and orchestrated a still effective series of optical effects to give this Technicolor fable a striking look that mates cinematic energy with a painterly, storybook aesthetic. Even from a 21st century vantage point, this decidedly pre-digital production remains charming, distilling a familiar tale of genies, evil wizards and exotic adventures into an archetypal heroic quest.

In remaking Douglas Fairbanks' hugely popular, technically ambitious 1926 silent production, Korda repositions the title character as a much younger figure with the casting of a teenaged Sabu as the youthful thief, Abu. That shift makes his enemy, the evil Jaffar (Conrad Veidt), much more threatening while giving the fable an innocence the swashbuckling Fairbanks could not supply. In Rex Ingram, the film supplies a genie with a winning contrast in his thundering voice and mischievous smile, while June Duprez provides the requisite beauty to the princess whose fate becomes Abu's test of courage. Fellow Hungarian émigré Miklós Rózsa adorns the movie with one of his earliest and most evocative music scores. It's one measure of this Thief's appeal that at least two more remakes followed, but none have trumped this adaptation. --Sam Sutherland

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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars pure enchantment, 5 Jan 2003
By A. Craig "Amanda Craig" (London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Thief Of Bagdad [VHS] [1940] (VHS Tape)
If you've seen Disney's Aladdin, you'll have some idea of how much other film-makers have ripped off this consummate version of 1001 Nights. A sorceror disembarks to listen to the sad tale of a blind beggar, once a Prince, and his dog, once a little thief. The sorceror is Jaffa, formerly advisor to the Prince who, like him, loves a beautiful Princess, and who has cursed them so that neither will regain their true form until the Princess lies in his arms. How the lovers defeat the evil sorceror involves a flying carpet, a genie, and the All-Seeing Eye from a goddess on the highest peak of the world - which must be stolen by the little thief, Sabu.

Even to a modern audience the special effects are glorious, and if you can see the strings on the magic carpet, Sabu's fight with the giant spider and the King's assasination by a many-armed statue remain breath-taking. It's funny, it's moving, and it's completely captivating for children of 6+.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best of all Arabian Nights' adventures for all ages, 24 Mar 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: The Thief Of Bagdad [VHS] [1940] (VHS Tape)
Begun just prior to the outbreak of WWII and resited to Hollywood, this outstanding Denham lavish remake of the Douglas Fairbanks'silent classic couldn't be bettered with Korda's carefully picked cast & his family of technicians to craft it. Ever one of my top favourites, I can't overpraise it. My favourite star,Conrad Veidt,tall,sinister but at the time,every woman's dream,the evil sorcerer,Jaffer,coveting both the stunning June Duprez and usurper to the kingdom of Basra was great as ever. The popular new star, ex- Elephant Boy,Sabu, was captivatingly charming and spirited with the rest of its mainly stage performers completely united in this highly entertaining fantasy. Somewhat different from the original,it has everything - splendid sets, outstanding technicolor and lots of magic effects,most of which still stand up amongst which is the memorable lethal 6-armed "toy" buddah doubled by an evillooking Mary Morris & Sabu's "conversion" into an alley-dog. Like Korngold in "Robin Hood" a year earlier, the Hungarian composer,Miklos Rozsa,added the icing to this cake with an outstanding score. Korda's costliest production,it remains a memorable souvenir of his once magnificent British factory that rivalled Hollywood with its appeal to world stars,dedicated technicians and sometimes stylish & theatrical output. Other later remakes carry this title with scant resemblance to either the original or this treat. And how about that giant spider? And how did the genii, Rex Ingram, get back into the bottle?
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best adventure movie ever, 26 Jan 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: The Thief Of Bagdad [VHS] [1940] (VHS Tape)
If we must describe this film in one word, it is "enchantment".

The 1001 nights tale is told with a highly effective, beautiful and dramatic use of colour, and special effects that are truly amazing for its time.

Conred Veidt has here one of the best performances of his career, as a "bad guy" hopelessly in love with the princess.

There is a toy-loving prince that suffers an astonishing death at the hands of a murderous doll.

And there is Sabu, and the beautiful sets, and the fabulous genius, the adventure, the excitment, and one could go on forever praising the wonders of this film.

It is truly the best adventure film of all time, and one of the best British films ever.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars 65 amazing years
I first saw this film during the war, it was a brilliant way to get your mind off the many hardships that war brings. Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2005 by khammond1928

5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic fantasy
Watched this film when I was a child and as I grew up I have watched it again and again whenever it was on the TV. Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars THE THIEF OF BAGDAD 1940 SABU,JOHN JUSTIN
THIS IS ONE FOR ALL GENERATIONS TO WATCH. SPECIAL EFFECTS SUPERB FOR ITS TIME AND YOU STILL WONDER HOW THEY DID IT IN 1940. Read more
Published on 24 Sep 2003 by S. Kamara

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