Product Description
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Legendary producer Alexander Korda's marvel The Thief of Bagdad,
inspired by The Arabian Nights, is one of the most spectacular
fantasy films ever made, an eye-popping effects pioneer brimming
with imagination and technical wizardry. When Prince Ahmad (John
Justin) is blinded and cast out of Bagdad by the nefarious Jaffar
(Conrad Veidt), he joins forces with the scrappy thief Abu (the
incomparable Sabu, in his definitive role) to win back his royal
place, as well as the heart of a beautiful princess (June
Duprez). With its luscious Technicolor, vivid sets, and
unprecedented visual wonders, The Thief of Bagdad has charmed
viewers of all ages for decades.
Special Features
* - SPECIAL EDITION DOUBLE-DISC SET FEATURES:
* - New digital transfer, from restored film elements
* - Two audio commentaries: one featuring renowned directors
Francis Ford Cla and Martin Scorsese, and one with film and
music historian Bruce Eder
* - Visual Effects,, a documentary about the technical
achievements of The Thief of Bagdad
* - The Lion Has Wings (1940), Alexander Korda's propaganda film
for the English war effort, created when The Thief of Bagdad went
into production hiatus
* - Excerpts from codirector Michael Powell's audio dictations
for his autobiography
* - Excerpts from a 1976 radio interview with composer Miklos
Rózsa
* - Stills gallery featuring rare images of the film's
production and photos in Dufaycolor Optional music and
effects track
* - Theatrical trailer
* - PLUS: A booklet featuring new essays by film scholars Andrew
Moor and Ian Christie
.com
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Often hailed as the greatest fantasy film ever made, The Thief
of Bagdad (1940) was producer Alexander Korda's crowning
achievement. Deservedly winning Academy Awards for art direction,
color cinematography, and special effects, this Arabian Nights
adventure appeals to all ages with its fantastical tale of Abu
(Sabu), the little thief who befriends the prince of Bagdad (John
Justin) and foils the nefarious plans of the evil grand vizier
(Conrad Veidt), who seizes control of Bagdad and covets the
princess of Basra (Joan Duprez). From its gorgeous, epic-scale
sets to flying horses, magic carpets, and, best of all, Rex
Ingram's towering jinni of the bottle, this Thief has all the
magic of the tales that inspired it, and vibrant Technicolor
brings it all to life in dazzling style. Six esteemed directors
worked on this infamously troubled production, but the final
result exceeded all expectations, becoming an instant classic
that endures to this day. --Jeff Shannon
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Set Contains:
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Like other classic fantasy films such as Wizard of Oz, The Thief
of Bagdad in Technicolor is an experience that many consider
formative to their visual senses of cinema. In it, benevolent
Prince Ahmad (John Justin) is blinded by Jaffar (Conrad Veidt)
out of jealousy over the Princess of Basra (June Duprez), and
embarks on adventures with loyal friend Abu (Sabu) to save the
Princess and recl Bagdad. Famous sequences featuring Abu
commanding the genie, Djinn, and riding the magic carpet are
ubiquitous in the minds of children and adults alike. Originally
screened in black and white, Criterion Collection has, of course,
opted to re-package the vivid color version, but the extras
invented for this release, namely interviews and commentary with
everyone to Ray Harryhausen to Francis Ford Cla to Martin
Scorsese, offer extraordinary in into the film's making. In
turn, the extra disc here is an educational foray into the
history of not only this film but of all cinema, from its segue
into color to the special effects that make The Thief of Bagdad
so famous. Cla and Scorsese's commentaries range from
Cla's historical trivia about producer Alexander Korda and
Hungarian cinema to Scorsese's conceptual ruminations about "eye"
imagery throughout the film. But the short documentary, "Visual
Effects," starring Harryhausen, Craig Barron, and Dennis Muren is
the most enlightening special feature. Harryhausen discusses how
The Thief of Bagdad shaped his very ideas of filmmaking, while
Barron explains Technicolor's influence on the film as well as
the invention of blue screen. Film sequences in black and white
are shown alongside the color to elucidate how the miniature sets
and painted backdrops work as optical illusions. Another short,
"The Lion Has Wings," Korda's propaganda film for England's Royal
Air Force, is a good historical tidbit but counteracts the deep
study of fantasy. Audio from Miklos Rozsa and co-director Michael
Powell adds further historical context, though the strength of
these extra materials lies in the notion of The Thief of Bagdad
as a breakthrough example of cinema magic. --Trinie Dalton
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