Michael Powell etal. / UK, US / 1940/ 106 min/ U
The classic tale of good and evil is given an exotic twist in the 1940 film, The Thief of Bagdad. Showing as a special screening by the 8 1/2 Foundation, (see our interview with founders Tilda Swinton and Mark Cousins) this film is a long-lost Technicolor masterpiece that needs to be re-discovered by film goers of all ages.
When the naïve Prince Ahmad (John Justin), the rightful king of Bagdad, is usurped by the evil Jaffar (Conrad Veidt), he sets off on a quest to reclaim his throne with the help of the young thief, Abu (Sabu). But his quest if far from easy, and soon the pair find themselves on a mission to save the Princess (June Duprez) the love of Ahmed’s life, before Jaffar can marry her.
Directed by a total of six directors, including Berger, Michael Powell and the producer Alexander Korda, the production of The Thief of Bagdad was moved from the UK to the US following the Blitz in 1940, where the censorship rules of the Hays office called for a number of costume changes. But despite this, the film manages to maintain a certain timeless quality that gives it an almost fairy tale like feel. Although many of the themes and characters are borrowed heavily from the 1924 silent film of the same name, the influence of The Thief of Bagdad still exists today in the story of Aladdin and The Prince of Persia video games. Colourful, fun and engaging, this film is an impressive and sometimes decadent re-telling of a once unfamiliar story, which is now a considered a classic example of when cinema and traditional story telling merge together beautifully. A true and often forgotten gem of British cinema, this film combines a talented cast with an invigorating and original story with mesmerising results.