6/10
Lavish speactacle and sunny Oriental adventure that blends battles , deserts , romance and breathtaking sets
12 February 2021
Classic and big budgeted story dealing with a Sultan and his two sons : John Hall, Leif Erikson , as two brothers fight for the throne and the affection of the sultry dancing girl Scheherazade : Maria Montez. Dasing Thieves of Baghdad .. riding out of the magic of the Oriental City . Bagdad ...Desert Port of Forbidden Allurements !

A typical Oriental casting overcomes the somewhat sluggish storytelling that combines a number of familiar tales from " One Thousand and One Nights" . This is the sequel to "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" bearing a similar style to previous entry . The cast is full of riveting people . John Hall plays the brave hero saving the damsel in distress who is submitted to slavery . Beautiful Maria Montez is is the Lady in bright and desperate who joins his lover against the villain usurper prince . And the young Sabu delivering sympathy in his usual style . And the bad guys well played by Leif Erikson and Thomas Gómez. Furthermore , the Norwegian character actor John Qualen -John Ford's regular- playing the fabulous Aladdin and other secondaries as Turhan Bey who also played a number of Oriental Fantasy , the usual baddie Edgar Barrier , Billy Gilbert and Shemp Howard later one of The Three Stooges . It displays enchanting gowns and expensive production design that augment the fantasy atmosphere.

Brilliant cinematography in early Technicolor by great and prolific cameraman Milton Krasner . As well as moving and thrilling musical score by Frank Skinner . This Technicolor fantasy was glamorously and professionally directed by John Rawlins who seems to have proper control over contrasts for crowds and colour . Other films concerning Scheherazade tales are as follows : Scherezade 1963 by Pierre Gaspard Huit with Anna Karina , Gerard Barray , Antonio Vilar . Arabian Nights 1974 by Pier Paolo Pasolini with Ninetto Davoli, Franco Citti , Inés Pellegrini. Arabian Nights 2000 by Steven Barron with Mili Avital, James Frain, John Leguizano, Rufus Sewell.
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