This version is a remake of the 1924 Douglas Fairbanks silent epic that was a benchmark for cinematic fantasy in its day. While the central figure is the same, there are big changes in the characters and the events that take place. The biggest difference is the inclusion of the genie of the lamp and the evil Grand Vizier Jaffar, elements that would appear over 50 years later in Disney’s ALADDIN. Then there’s the use of old school Technicolor, the grand score of Miklos Rosza, and the performances of all the principal characters.
The young Indian actor Sabu, fresh from his successes in ELEPHANT BOY (1937) and THE DRUM (1938) was cast as the title character while German silent film legend Conrad Veidt, who had just mastered English, is perfect as Jaffar. Black actor Rex Ingram is a most imposing genie while English romantic lead John Justin is a suitably clueless sultan who is aided by Abu the thief. June Duprez (in a role intended for Vivien Leigh before GONE WITH THE WIND) is the Princess who achieves true love after many trials.
It is amazing to see how seamless the film is considering that it had 5 directors (2 uncredited) and was started in England but had to be finished in America due to the outbreak of World War II. It just goes to show that the film was the product of its visionary producer, Alexander Korda, rather than a movie by an auteur director like Orson Welles or Alfred Hitchcock. It also marks the first time that the use of bluescreen (actors in front of a blue background to be filled in later) was employed in a movie. Blue has since been replaced by green.
I have deliberately not given a plot synopsis as it is readily available elsewhere and, personally, I feel the movie is best enjoyed the first time if you know very little about it. That’s how I first saw it and how I showed it to my 2 children who were very taken with it especially my daughter who watched it many times after that first viewing. She still fondly remembers it today over 20 years later. Originally released as a DVD from MGM, it is now available on Blu-Ray from Criterion with an improved soundtrack and loads of extras.
The Capsule Critic 