The Thief of Bagdad (1940 film)

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The Thief of Bagdad
DVD Cover
Directed by	Michael Powell Ludwig Berger Tim Whelan
Produced by	Alexander Korda
Written by	Lajos Biró Miles Malleson
Starring	Conrad Veidt Sabu John Justin June Duprez
Music by	Miklós Rózsa
Cinematography	George Perinal
Editing by	Charles Crichton
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date(s)	December 5, 1940 U.S.A. December 25, 1940 UK
Running time	106 min
Country	U.K.
Language	English
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This is about the 1940 film starring Sabu. There was also a 1924 version starring Douglas Fairbanks. In addition, there was a TV movie made in 1978 starring Roddy McDowall as the Thief, Kabir Bedi as the wronged Prince, Terence Stamp as the evil Wazir, and Peter Ustinov as the Caliph.

The 1940 film version of The Thief of Bagdad is notable for its use of Technicolor and its special effects, which were impressive for the time and have held up far longer than those in contemporary cinema.

The Thief of Bagdad was produced by Alexander Korda's company London Films in England, but due to the outbreak of World War II filming was completed in California in the United States. It was directed by Ludwig Berger, Michael Powell and Tim Whelan and starred child actor Sabu, John Justin, and Conrad Veidt. The film won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Art Direction and Special Effects. It was also nominated for the Academy Award for Original Music Score.

Although this and the 1924 version have some similarities there are also significant differences. The most notable is that in the 1940 version the thief and the prince are separate characters.

John Justin plays Ahmad, the King of Bagdad. His evil Grand Vizier Jaffar tricks him into going out into the city disguised as a poor man (in the manner of Haroul el-Raschid.) Jaffar then has Ahmad arrested and thrown into a dungeon, where he is soon joined by Abu the thief (son of Abu, the thief, grandson of Abu, the thief.) Abu arranges their escape. They flee to Basra, where Ahmad dares to lay eyes on the Princess (June Duprez). They both fall in love. However, Jaffar has journeyed to Basra also, for he loves the Princess and intends to win her hand. Confronted by Ahmad, he blinds him and turns Abu into a dog...they will both be changed back only when the Princess kisses him...