Rating: 
Summary: Astonishing DVD clarity.
Review: I have been a huge fan of "The Thief of Bagdad" since childhood. I used to watch it with my mother and grandmother when I was a little girl. It's a family favorite. So when it came out in DVD, I had to have it. I'm so glad I got it. The sound and picture clarity are awesome. This is why DVDs were invented. I was amazed at the vibrancy, the beauty and the depth of the colors. Remember, this movie was made in 1940 and filmed in Technicolor when most movies at that time were filmed in black and white. Watching it on DVD is like watching this movie for the first time. I am glad people are taking the time to restore these old, well loved classic movies, especially if it's one of my favorite movies.
Rating:
Summary: great movie but the dvd could of been a lot better
Review: i typed in a five star rating for the movie itself. but i give a two star rating for the dvd. the print that they used for this dvd is pretty bad. the film skips in a lot of scenes and has lines in some spots. it's not the dvd that i own. it's the film itself.
Rating:
Summary: Knock-your-eyes-out splendour
Review: I've been waiting for this 5-star film to come out on DVD ever since I first owned a dvd player - and boy, was it worth the wait! The colour is stupendous and knocks all the video & tv-aired versions into the deep hole where they belong.This is fantasy filmmaking at its peak: the plot & script, the cast, the settings and production values. It seems unbelievable that it was made 60 years ago! My hat (if I wore one) is off to Mr Korda for producing this splendid movie, and to MGM for giving us such a glorious DVD transfer.
Rating:
Summary: I Want To Be a Sailor, Too!
Review: If there's a more entrancing live-action fantasy film made before "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" than this one, I haven't seen it. Arriving on American screens the same year as Walt Disney's equally peerless "Pinocchio," Korda's ravishing movie is non pariel. Stunning color cinematography; astonishing sets; the first - and in some ways, finest - film score by Miklos Rozsa; the great Conrad Veidt as a villain so archetypal that the folks at Disney "borrored" him for "Aladdin"; Rex Ingram as a deliciously devious djinn who utters what may be the most stirring cry of the pre-Civil Rights era ("Free! Freeeeee!"); John Justin and June Perez, a dream-team of thoroughly embracable lovers; that charming rotter Miles Malleson - who also worked on the screenplay - as the emotionally retarded rajah with a yen for exotic toys; a canine actor so good Pauline Kael observed that he becomes "the essence of Sabu"; and, best of all, the delightful - and amazingly beautiful - Sabu himself, emobodying all childish dreams of careless liberty. Flying carpets, wise old Muslims, an ancient and supernally gentle spirit, a terrifying battle with a giant spider, and a Persian market so cunningly recreated you can almost smell the honey Sabu slathers on his pancake. If I ever become so jaded I don't find tears in my eyes at the mischevious smile on the ancient face of the old mountain spirit as he discreetly observes Sabu's heartfelt disobeyance, I'll know I've been alive too long.
Rating: 
Summary: What splendour!
Review: If you're looking for a realistic look at life in the Middle East, look elsewhere! This Academy-award-winning movie is shot almost entirely in indoor studios that mimick what the "fairy-tale" middle east might have looked like; a place of magic and wonder, where cities are laden with gold and where one may find a genie trapped in a bottle for 2000 years. And the colours! Incredible! This movie makes me want to read "1001 Nights". The movie is always fun to watch because of the sheer wonder of it, but I have to say that it isn't always perfect. It is sometimes too obvious that the sets are sets, especially when we see plain blue backgrounds that look nothing like the sky. Also, it has a slightly disjointed feel about it because it tries to cram so many things into its 120 minute running time, and the story moves quickly; I actually felt a bit TIRED after watching it, because SO MUCH happens. Finally, most of the lead actors don't look arabic, which somewhat ruins the feel of it, although they do a pretty good job. The boy playing Apu, especially, comes off as just the right type of honest rascal needed for the role! Really, chances are that you won't notice the flaws so much when watching the movie because it's simply so enchanting. It has the same feel as Disney's Aladdin, except longer, more magical, and not animated. The 3 Academy awards that it received were well-deserved!
Rating:
Summary: Thief of Bagdad
Review: Korda's Four Feathers was, I think, the first British technicolor film, filmed in the Sudan where I lived for 3 years. His Sinbad film moved from the Lawrence of Arabia mode to imagination and fantasy. How amazing that two incredibly great films, one semi-documentary, the other fantasy, should come out before WWII and that later he zithered his way into The Third Man. All three great films worth viewing.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Fantasy!
Review: Michael Powell was one of the assistant directors on this stunning Alexander Korda fantasy film, but that's only one of a million reasons to see it. An obviously strong influence on Disney's Aladdin (one can draw many similarities to plot and production design between the two films), it stars a young Sabu as a petty thief assisting a blind beggar who was once a prince in finding his true love and being reinstated in his lordly position. This will be something of a challenge, however, because the princess is being kept locked up by the evil Jafar (Conrad Veidt-is it just me or does this man play villains like he wants to be Marlene Dietrich?) Technological limitations were obviously never an issue for Korda, who finds some of the most stunningly creative ways to show giant genies, magic carpets and flying horses, all of it gorgeously photographed in eye-popping Technicolour. The film was interrupted halfway through its filming in Morocco thanks to the outbreak of World War II, so most of the outdoor locations were completed in the United States.
Rating:
Summary: Adelaide Hall
Review: Not only is the 'THIEF OF BAGDAD' an exceptionally well crafted (considering the technology available in 1940) and considerate adaptation of the book, it features a rare movie appearance of the American Jazz legend Adelaide Hall. If you know little about this wonderful Lady, allow me to enlighten you a little on her career. Alexander Korda, personally requested Adelaide's appearance after witnessing a concert performance given by her at the Kilburn State Theatre in London, at which the audience near rioted with enthusiasm over her. Considering Adelaide's remarkable and ground breaking achievements in the Jazz World (Recordings and performances), Variety, Vaudeville, Music-Hall, etc. the film offers the viewer a rare glimpse at a talent that is sadly overlooked in the history of popular entertainment. During Adelaide's early career in America 1921 - 1935 she reached the pinnacle of the show-biz ladder to become the first black international superstar (Ethel Waters, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald all followed in her footsteps and Josephine Baker was only a star in Europe. Florence Mills sadly never made recordings so her appeal was only felt in the theatre.)With the release of the recording 'Creole Love Call' in 1927 Adelaide's fame shot around the glode. Her starring role on Broadway in 'Blackbirds of 1928' during which she released 'I Must Have That Man' and made 'I Can't Give You Anything but Love' and 'Diga Diga Do' into household standards, took her career higher than any other black artist had ever gone. She fought racism, created a vocal style (Scat), on Broadway - with the hugely talented dancer Bojangles - created the only black competition to Fred and Adele Astaire, starred at Broadway's Palace theatre 7 times within 2 years (a record never beaten for a black artist),etc, etc. Her achievements in the world of entertainment were ground-breaking but more importantly she was a crusader for black-equality and opened the doors for the future generation of black entertainers. Sadly, her film appearances are rare so her performance in 'The Thief of Bagdad'is a real gem and one that clearly displays her remarkable talent (all be it in an unusual setting - a rose garden). Without taking any credit away from the director and the films wonderful stars especially Sabu, if only to capture a little bit of entertainment history the film is worth watching for Adelaide's performance alone. A truly important film both Historically and professionally and well worth buying for your archive ***** kind regards Iain Cameron Williams.
Rating:
Summary: it was filmed in 1940
Review: oh love it! I watched this movie when I was a child, Sabu was a great actor in this film he was handsome and intelligent. 1001 night arabian adventure version was produced in the 2nd world war. Im sure u will like it
Rating:
Summary: Pioneering Special Effects, Timeless Story, A Gem!
Review: One of my earliest childhood memories was watching this great film on TV. The special effects are the very best, considering that this movie dates back to 1940. We are all familiar with the story, and this movie does justice to the classic. This is a true Family Movie, at the very top of its genre, the best!
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