Arabian Nights (Universal Cinema Classics)
by John Rawlins
List Price:
Our Price: $4.44
You Save: $10.54 (70%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $1.98 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Billy Gilbert, Jon Hall, Leif Erickson, Maria Montez, SabuDirector: John Rawlins
Brand: Unknown
Cinematographer: Milton R. Krasner
Editor: Philip Cahn
Producer: Walter Wanger
Writer: Michael Hogan
Writer: True Boardman
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; French (Subtitled)
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Original recording remastered, Restored, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 86 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-02-06
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Universal Studios
Movie Reviews of Arabian Nights (Universal Cinema Classics)
Movie Review: Sabu, gloriously rich Technicolor are the main draws in uneven mix of adventure and slapstick
Summary: 3 Stars
Arabian/Oriental adventure was one of the rages in Hollywood of the war years, made all the more attractive by the huge commercial and artistic success of the Alexander Korda production THE THIEF OF BAGDAD in 1940. A couple of years later, Universal decided to do its own "Arabian Nights" adaptation, making it quite apparent by the obvious title, the hiring of BAGDAD costar Sabu for a major role, and the use of Technicolor (a first for the studio) that it was going for the same audience. The film didn't disappoint at the time, getting several Academy Awards technical nominations and making a decent chunk of change for producer Walter Wanger and the studio.
Sadly, it doesn't really hold up today, and certainly isn't going to be any kind of competition for the British film among the annals of classic adventures. The problems are manifold; first, a tired storyline that makes the fairly simple plot of the earlier film seem Proustian in comparison, in which good Caliph Haroun Al-Raschid (Jon Hall) gets overthrown by his evil half-brother Kamar (Leif Erickson), flees and falls in love with Kamar's intended Scheherezade (Maria Montez), while being helped back to his rightful place by loyal acrobatic performer Ali Ben Ali (Sabu, of course). Second, plodding direction by John Rawlins - forgotten today and deservedly so if this is a typical example of his work - which tends to cut away from the action sequences before we can actually get into them, and focus far too much on boring exposition, with uninteresting set-ups throughout that rarely help to take us out of the cheap sets and into fantasy-land. And third, terribly mediocre acting on the part of nearly everyone apart from Sabu - and a focus on slapstick antics that, again, keep us continually aware that we're watching a movie. Casting Shemp Howard as Sinbad certainly doesn't help, and a vaudevillian/slapstick sequence at a blacksmith shop towards the end is a serious low point.
But Sabu IS compelling, as always - he belongs in a better film; and the color, particularly in the early sequences, is excellent, even stunning. Montez gets a lot of flack as an actress in general, and I can't say that I find her as beautiful as her reputation, but her odd accent and seriousness actually work pretty well here, though she's not really given much to do apart from a dance scene at the end which looks like it could have been body-doubled for the most part. And I suppose that all in all, this probably works as a camp-fest if you can't take it seriously (and how could you?).
Nothing much in the way of extras here on this well-mastered DVD, just a nice little Robert Osborne intro and the original trailer. All in all, a fun waste of an hour and a half, and worth a look for anyone who, like me, is a bit obsessed with this kind of exotic adventure story. Just don't expect this to be one of the best examples.
Summary of Arabian Nights (Universal Cinema Classics)
Two brothers compete to be caliph of Baghdad and for the love of a beautiful dancer.Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: NR
Release Date: 6-FEB-2007
Media Type: DVD
Warning: Technicolor silliness ahead, as Universal's nutty series of turban-and-camel movies comes into view. Arabian Nights was the first of these confections, and after it became a big wartime hit it spawned a series of follow-ups, most of them starring some combination of Maria Montez, Jon Hall, Sabu, and Turhan Bey. The story is nonsense, with Hall as a deposed caliph battling his half-brother (Leif Erickson) while remaining incognito amongst a group of traveling players. Montez plays dancing vixen Scheherazade, and her crazy costumes and limited acting range give ample evidence for her later enshrinement as a camp icon. The film's level of seriousness is aptly demonstrated by the casting of Shemp Howard (of the Three Stooges--like there's another Shemp Howard?) as Sinbad; John Qualen plays Aladdin, and vaudeville pro Billy Gilbert plays the leader of the troupe. Coming off best is Sabu, the young star of The Thief of Baghdad and The Jungle Book, whose innate likability is infectious even in these inane circumstances. Arabian Nights probably isn't the most fun of these movies; check out Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and Robert Siodmak's crazed Cobra Woman, too. They work on two fronts: family-movie fodder and high camp. --Robert Horton
Action & Adventure DVD Video
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Movies most talked about in Turner Classic Movies: my picks for September 2009
Dark Victory (Restored and Remastered Edition)DAVIS,BETTE; Release date: 2005-06-14; DVD
Best price: $4.87
Price in other shops:
All This, and Heaven TooDVD
Best price: $16.89
Key Largo (Keepcase)BOGART,HUMPHREY; Release date: 2006-07-25; DVD
Best price: $8.49
Price in other shops:
Brief Encounter - Criterion CollectionHOWARD,TREVOR; Release date: 2000-06-27; DVD
Best price: $24.48
Price in other shops:
![Ladies Of The Chorus [PAL, Region 2, Import] Image](/images/Ladies-Of-The-Chorus-PAL-Region-2-Import-830114047X-X.jpg)
Ladies Of The Chorus [PAL, Region 2, Import]DVD
Best price: $24.94
The King and I (50th Anniversary Edition)TCFHE; Release date: 2006-11-07; DVD
Best price: $13.63
Price in other shops:
Murder, My SweetTREVOR,CLAIRE; Release date: 2004-07-06; DVD
Best price: $21.47
MarnieCONNERY,SEAN; Release date: 2006-02-07; DVD
Best price: $11.82
Price in other shops:
Grand HotelWarner Brothers; Release date: 2005-09-06; DVD
Best price: $6.94
Price in other shops:
Johnny Guitar (Import , All Regions), Joan CrawfordDVD
Best price: $8.99
Similar DVD Movies
The Three MusketeersWarner Brothers; Release date: 2007-03-06; DVD
Best price: $5.75
Price in other shops:
Battle HymnUniversal Studios; Release date: 2004-05-25; DVD
Best price: $5.93
Price in other shops:
Whispering SmithUNI DIST CORP. (MCA); Release date: 2004-06-01; DVD
Best price: $7.32
Price in other shops:
Beau GesteCOOPER,GARY; Release date: 2009-07-07; DVD
Best price: $13.46
Price in other shops:
Arabian NightsLions Gate; Release date: 2001-08-07; DVD
Best price: $5.48
Price in other shops:
The Thief of BagdadAlpha Video; Release date: 2003-03-18; DVD
Best price: $2.63
Price in other shops:
The Thief of Bagdad - Criterion CollectionImage Entertainment; Release date: 2008-05-27; DVD
Best price: $24.62
Price in other shops:
Ali Baba and the Forty ThievesDVD
Best price: $11.95
The Jungle BookAlpha Video; Release date: 2002-02-19; DVD
Best price: $2.83
Price in other shops:
Ali Baba and the Forty ThievesUniversal Studios; Release date: 2009-07-07; DVD
Best price: $13.36
Price in other shops: