Product Description

Legendary producer Alexander Korda's marvel The Thief of Bagdad, inspired by The Arabian Nights, is one of the most spectacular fantasy films ever made, an eye-popping effects pioneer brimming with imagination and technical wizardry. When Prince Ahmad (John Justin) is blinded and cast out of Bagdad by the nefarious Jaffar (Conrad Veidt), he joins forces with the scrappy thief Abu (the incomparable Sabu, in his definitive role) to win back his royal place, as well as the heart of a beautiful princess (June Duprez). With its luscious Technicolor, vivid sets, and unprecedented visual wonders, The Thief of Bagdad has charmed viewers of all ages for decades.


Special Features
* - SPECIAL EDITION DOUBLE-DISC SET FEATURES:
* - New digital transfer, from restored film elements
* - Two audio commentaries: one featuring renowned directors Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese, and one with film and music historian Bruce Eder
* - Visual Effects,, a documentary about the technical achievements of The Thief of Bagdad
* - The Lion Has Wings (1940), Alexander Korda's propaganda film for the English war effort, created when The Thief of Bagdad went into production hiatus
* - Excerpts from codirector Michael Powell's audio dictations for his autobiography
* - Excerpts from a 1976 radio interview with composer Miklos Rózsa
* - Stills gallery featuring rare images of the film's production and photos shot in Dufaycolor Optional music and effects track
* - Theatrical trailer
* - PLUS: A booklet featuring new essays by film scholars Andrew Moor and Ian Christie

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5428 in DVD
• Brand: Image Entertainment
• Released on: 2008-05-27
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC, Restored
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 106 minutes

Amazon.com essential video
Often hailed as the greatest fantasy film ever made, The Thief of Bagdad (1940) was producer Alexander Korda's crowning achievement. Deservedly winning Academy Awards for art direction, color cinematography, and special effects, this Arabian Nights adventure appeals to all ages with its fantastical tale of Abu (Sabu), the little thief who befriends the prince of Bagdad (John Justin) and foils the nefarious plans of the evil grand vizier (Conrad Veidt), who seizes control of Bagdad and covets the princess of Basra (Joan Duprez). From its gorgeous, epic-scale sets to flying horses, magic carpets, and, best of all, Rex Ingram's towering jinni of the bottle, this Thief has all the magic of the tales that inspired it, and vibrant Technicolor brings it all to life in dazzling style. Six esteemed directors worked on this infamously troubled production, but the final result exceeded all expectations, becoming an instant classic that endures to this day. --Jeff Shannon

On the DVD
Like other classic fantasy films such as Wizard of Oz, The Thief of Bagdad in Technicolor is an experience that many consider formative to their visual senses of cinema. In it, benevolent Prince Ahmad (John Justin) is blinded by Jaffar (Conrad Veidt) out of jealousy over the Princess of Basra (June Duprez), and embarks on adventures with loyal friend Abu (Sabu) to save the Princess and reclaim Bagdad. Famous sequences featuring Abu commanding the genie, Djinn, and riding the magic carpet are ubiquitous in the minds of children and adults alike. Originally screened in black and white, Criterion Collection has, of course, opted to re-package the vivid color version, but the extras invented for this release, namely interviews and commentary with everyone to Ray Harryhausen to Francis Ford Coppola to Martin Scorsese, offer extraordinary insight into the film's making. In turn, the extra disc here is an educational foray into the history of not only this film but of all cinema, from its segue into color to the special effects that make The Thief of Bagdad so famous. Coppola and Scorsese's commentaries range from Coppola's historical trivia about producer Alexander Korda and Hungarian cinema to Scorsese's conceptual ruminations about "eye" imagery throughout the film. But the short documentary, "Visual Effects," starring Harryhausen, Craig Barron, and Dennis Muren is the most enlightening special feature. Harryhausen discusses how The Thief of Bagdad shaped his very ideas of filmmaking, while Barron explains Technicolor's influence on the film as well as the invention of blue screen. Film sequences in black and white are shown alongside the color to elucidate how the miniature sets and painted backdrops work as optical illusions. Another short, "The Lion Has Wings," Korda's propaganda film for England's Royal Air Force, is a good historical tidbit but counteracts the deep study of fantasy. Audio from Miklos Rozsa and co-director Michael Powell adds further historical context, though the strength of these extra materials lies in the notion of The Thief of Bagdad as a breakthrough example of cinema magic. --Trinie Dalton

Customer Reviews

A Clasic "Eastern"
Back when we knew a bit less about the real Middle East, the "Easterns",Arabian-Nights-inspired fantasy movies, were a popular genre--and "The Thief of Bagdad" is the granddaddy of them all. The acting is very good and the special effects (no computers then) are a wonder.
The movie is splendid entertainment, but for those who insist on reality, the added discussion material deals with how Easterns fit in with ideas about colonialism that were current back then.

great disney alternative
We were getting tired of the disney princess aladdin story. Our five year old daughter loved this more original story -and so did we. Good story telling, neat old-school special effects.

A true adventure classic
I remembered this as a child, loved it then and still do. The effects are marvelous for the time, and even for now. Sabu was beleivable; Conrad Veidt was villainous; and the love interest was more steamy than explicit. However, for me the best role was Rex Ingram as the djin -- in those days parts that memorable for large black actors were very rare. The next best thing was the music -- after all these years I can still (badly )sing Sabu's "tinker,tailor" song The Criterion remastering was outstanding as are all the films they do.

In sum: A treat I treasure.