Transcribe
Translate
Fantasia, v. 1, issue 1, January 1941
Page 14
More information
digital collection
archival collection guide
transcription tips
14 FANTASIA THE "NIGHTS" IN TECHNIOLOR by George Cowie Magic carpets soar through red-tinted skies --- giant djinni pour mysteriously from tiny bottles --- treasure-laden galleys sway majestically over exotic seas --- the Goddess of Light reigns over her court supreme --- the giant King of the Spiders weaves his colossal, imprisoning web --- the magic bow and arrow wing their way unerringly --- the Kingdom Under the Sea sparkles with infinitesimal spires of light --- All the fantastic charms of the land of long ago awaken as Alexander Korda brings to the screen his eagerly awaited fantasy materpiece -- "Thief of Bagdad". The 1940 version will differ in plot from its predecessor, as well as showing a considerable advance in opulence and lavishness. All the wizardry of modern technical experts is concentrated in the magical effects liberally distributed through out the picture. The story of the making of "The Thief of Bagdad" is a strange one. The production -- under Korda's guiding genius -- commenced in England. Korda -- recalled by science-fiction enthusiasts as the producer of "Things to Come" -- had wanted to bring this delightful fantasy to life as a soothing escape from the grim realities of war and destruction. This same war was to bring the filming to a halt. A series of torpedoings destroyed valuable prints and other troubles turned up to delay completion. Thus Korda turned to the United States. The originally planned black and white film was discarded for gorgeous technicolor. The break-taking Grand Canyon played stand-in for deserts in location shots. Thus was "The Thief of Bagdad" completed. The story, taken from the Thousand and One Nights, details the adventures of Ahmad, the Prince of Bagdad, who is condemned to death by a wicked Vizier (Conrad Veidt). The Prince meets a little, loveable Thief (Sabu) in his prison cell, and, thanks to the latter, the pair escape to Basra. There, Ahmad profanes an ancient law by gazing upon the lovely face of the Princess (June Duprez). The royal pair fall in love but the villainous Vizier again threatens. To gain the Princess' hand the Vizier gives a Flying Horse to her father. Then he blinds Ahmad and turns the little thief into a dog. In order to save her friends the Princess agrees to marry the Vizier, and he then returns Ahmad and the Thief to normalcy. It is shortly thereafter that the Thief encounters the Djinn, whom he frees from
Saving...
prev
next
14 FANTASIA THE "NIGHTS" IN TECHNIOLOR by George Cowie Magic carpets soar through red-tinted skies --- giant djinni pour mysteriously from tiny bottles --- treasure-laden galleys sway majestically over exotic seas --- the Goddess of Light reigns over her court supreme --- the giant King of the Spiders weaves his colossal, imprisoning web --- the magic bow and arrow wing their way unerringly --- the Kingdom Under the Sea sparkles with infinitesimal spires of light --- All the fantastic charms of the land of long ago awaken as Alexander Korda brings to the screen his eagerly awaited fantasy materpiece -- "Thief of Bagdad". The 1940 version will differ in plot from its predecessor, as well as showing a considerable advance in opulence and lavishness. All the wizardry of modern technical experts is concentrated in the magical effects liberally distributed through out the picture. The story of the making of "The Thief of Bagdad" is a strange one. The production -- under Korda's guiding genius -- commenced in England. Korda -- recalled by science-fiction enthusiasts as the producer of "Things to Come" -- had wanted to bring this delightful fantasy to life as a soothing escape from the grim realities of war and destruction. This same war was to bring the filming to a halt. A series of torpedoings destroyed valuable prints and other troubles turned up to delay completion. Thus Korda turned to the United States. The originally planned black and white film was discarded for gorgeous technicolor. The break-taking Grand Canyon played stand-in for deserts in location shots. Thus was "The Thief of Bagdad" completed. The story, taken from the Thousand and One Nights, details the adventures of Ahmad, the Prince of Bagdad, who is condemned to death by a wicked Vizier (Conrad Veidt). The Prince meets a little, loveable Thief (Sabu) in his prison cell, and, thanks to the latter, the pair escape to Basra. There, Ahmad profanes an ancient law by gazing upon the lovely face of the Princess (June Duprez). The royal pair fall in love but the villainous Vizier again threatens. To gain the Princess' hand the Vizier gives a Flying Horse to her father. Then he blinds Ahmad and turns the little thief into a dog. In order to save her friends the Princess agrees to marry the Vizier, and he then returns Ahmad and the Thief to normalcy. It is shortly thereafter that the Thief encounters the Djinn, whom he frees from
Hevelin Fanzines
sidebar
