THE THIEF OF BAGDAD (1924)

Country: U.S.A.

Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Epic / Fantasy

Director: Raoul Walsh

Cast: Douglas Fairbanks / Sojin / Julanne Johnston

Plot

A devil-may-care thief embarks on a death defying series of adventures in order to win the hand of a beautiful princess.

What I Liked

Among the most expensive films ever made to that point, there’s not a frame of “The Thief of Bagdad” movie that doesn’t include some kind of spectacle.  Built on the largest Hollywood set of all time, this was the premier special effects extravaganza of the silent era, replete with exotic costumes, elaborate sets, daring stunts, and giant monsters.  Its influence on adventure films for decades to follow is plain to see.  The various Sinbad movies, all of the Ray Harryhausen stop-motion effects adventures, "Aladdin," "Clash of the Titans," and the 1940 remake come to mind.

The film also has a marvelous sense of simple fun to it.  Douglas Fairbanks’ thief has a carefree zest for life and an arrogant self-confidence that bring a lighthearted charm without which the film’s 153 minutes would have been unbearable.  Even with the incredible production values, it is Fairbanks’ playful antics and stunts that form the true foundation for the film’s entertainment value.

What I Didn’t Like

Despite Fairbanks being one of the most famous movie stars of his day, “The Thief of Bagdad” was apparently a box office flop upon its release in 1924, presumably because it was just too long.  Looking back on this black and white silent film with a pair of twenty-first century eyes only exacerbates that length.  This is really a simple story and, once the plot’s conflict is introduced, there’s never any doubt as to how it will turn out.  Even in 1924, great spectacle alone cannot keep audience members in their seats for a full 153 minutes.

Additionally, despite the sense of fun he brings to the film and despite how much the film benefited from his considerable creative input, Fairbanks’ acting is just too hokey to have any sort of real impact on a modern viewer.  While silent films required a great deal of pantomime from its actors to convey the needed story and emotions, Fairbanks goes way over the top.  Even comedy actors of the day like Chaplin and Keaton, who one would surmise would embellish their own physical performances for the humor, don’t even come close to Fairbanks in hamming it up to ridiculous proportions.

Most Memorable Scene

Early in the film, the Thief finds, steals, and uses a magic rope which can be charmed into standing straight up in the same manner a snake would for a snake charmer.  The Thief (and the filmmakers) put the rope to use in a couple of marvelous sequences that, nearly 90 years later, still had me wondering “how did they do that?”

My Rating: 3 out of 5