Sinbad the Sailor (1947)
by Richard Wallace
(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Anthony Quinn, Douglas Fairbanks, Maureen O'Hara, Walter SlezakDirector: Richard Wallace
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Color, Full Screen, Import, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 115 minutes
Movie Reviews of Sinbad the Sailor (1947)
Movie Review: Sweet Adventure and Exotica in Thecnicolor
Summary: 5 Stars
Nothing except the shine of polyester can be as explosive on the retina than Tecnicolor blue. This is the first color we see in this swashbuckling adventure movie all over the expanse of the sea, like a saphire-acid rug. It really is a very appropriate hallucinogenic coloring for this totally mindless fantasy that stars Douglas Fairbanks Jr fresh from a real war and making a comeback to movieland. It worked very well as he has a wonderful gust of energy in every scene, his smile is always flawless and he looks good in Arabian garb as Sinbad the legendary sailor. Except for a few elaborate gestures that come from the silent movie tradition, his performance is very enjoyable.
The entire film is told as a flashback by Sinbad, recounting to a willing audience in a language that is overwrought and sometimes silly, his unknown latest adventure as an "Eighth" voyage. He starts off by finding a great looking ship that is about to crash into the rocks, and dives right in with his sidekick to recoup it fro himself. Later on, when forced to offer it at auction, his hints about plague to potential buyers of the ship, causes no one to buy the vessel except himself, of course, while stealing the money like a pro from the auctioneer's own bag. The easy purchase is stalled by a beautiful odalisque, with the divine name of Shireen and played by Maureen O'Hara, who wants, what else? to marry a prince and also wants to acquire the vessel, so she bids up the price from inside her covered litter that appropriately has a bunch of colorful feathers in each corner. Her peculiar hair style which extends a generous reddish mane down her back stays perfect through thick and thin as well as her coral-red lipstick. She also wears a series of gorgeous gowns that are Holywood's harem fare: heavily embroidered tops, a weird hipped-camisole with train combination, thoroghly transparent veils and lovely pointy shoes.
Sinbad is also trying to solve a riddle, involving an amulet that had been found about his neck since he was found as a lost baby. Unfortunately we do not get to see it dangling from his naked torso, as he never takes the shirt off so we are left in doubt as to how good he looked compared to his father in "The Thief of Baghdad" where he is thankfully shirtless and shows off a wonderful physique. This trinket looks so fake we can not possibly believe it could have lasted till he grew up, but it has a map that comes in handy. The image in the amulet (which is also reproduced in the glass window of the ship) is a map of an island which also re-appears exactly the same on a real map, pinned to the wall in the cabin, (This repetition is done so we realize how important this treasure was) showing the route to a fabled island where the treasure of Alexander the Great is buried. This map later mysteriously disappears from the vessel, but it does not stop Sinbad or the Emir from furiously sailing ahead.
Some of the most delightful scenes are where Shireen is being romanced by the Emir, a young and sexy Anthony Quinn in a thin moustache; who is inmaculately dressed in white and wears a huge cabochon ruby that glows in his also white turban with the incandescence of a Christmas ornament.
Shireen believes Sinbad can lead her to the treasure island, and she is confident she can swap him for the Emir if he wins the treasure, with her female guile and the allure of her Colgate teeth, while the Emir wants both the gold and the girl badly. What follows is Arabian Nights adventure : Ship chases, lashings of the slave crew in the Emir's ship that recall 'Ben-Hur', wild escapes, catty arguments between Shireen and the Emir, the revelation that Melik, a Mongolian-looking creature, a man with 'evil' eyes and obsessed with finding the treasure and who has sailed with Sinbad, is the poisoner of the crew of the ship Sinbad had found. This all makes up for tension amongst all when they finally land at the mysterious island of Derryabar. The island has a conveniently Grecian palace that looks ruined, yet has an extremely well lit hall where all the action, and the discovery of the treasure will take place. Sinbad, in a typical "Arabian Night" tale-fashion is discovered to be the ruler-philosopher's long-lost son. The treasure is revealed and does not disappoint in its amount, glittery shine or splendor, however Sinbad must save it from the greedy Emir, who wants to use it for his own 'evil' ends. Luckily this will not happen and we will get a happy ending with delightful destruction of all evil characters.
This is the type of movie that is ideal for escape-entertainment. It takes you away with all its color and energy into a fantasy land that would have delighted, and surprised Sinbad himself. Perfect for the summer with good air conditioning.
Similar DVD Movies
Captain BloodWarner Brothers; Release date: 2005-04-19; DVD
Best price: $9.72
Price in other shops:
Naughty MariettaRelease date: 2011-11-02; DVD
Best price: $16.63
Price in other shops:
Jack the Giant KillerMATHEWS,KERWIN; Release date: 2004-04-06; DVD
Best price: $5.98
Price in other shops:
The Mark of Zorro (Special Edition) (Colorized / Black and White)POWER,TYRONE; Release date: 2005-10-18; DVD
Best price: $8.29
Price in other shops:
Mysterious Island (Widescreen)Sony Pictures; Release date: 2002-10-29; DVD
Best price: $7.85
Price in other shops:
The Thief of Bagdad (The Criterion Collection)Image Entertainment; Release date: 2008-05-27; DVD
Best price: $27.24
Price in other shops:
Arabian Nights (Universal Cinema Classics)Universal Studios; Release date: 2007-02-06; DVD
Best price: $2.39
Price in other shops:
Pirates of the Golden Age Movie Collection (Against All Flags / Buccaneer's Girl / Yankee Buccaneer / Double Crossbones)NBC Universal; Release date: 2007-05-08; DVD
Best price: $4.90
Price in other shops:
Captain SinbadWarner Brothers; Release date: 2009-06-22; DVD
Best price: $11.92
Price in other shops:
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (Universal Backlot Series)NBC Universal; Release date: 2009-07-07; DVD
Best price: $12.46
Price in other shops: