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Sinbad, the Sailor More at IMDbPro »

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28 reviews in total

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22 out of 24 people found the following review useful:
Very good movie from a time when dialog was king!, 9 July 2004

Author: steve-matlock

This is not an action adventure movie like the more recent Sinbad the Sailor movies (with the Ray Harryhausen special effects). This is a movie with great wit and outstanding dialog. Grand set design makes it visually exciting; remember, it's from the 40's so don't expect the kind of special effects we're use to today.

This is really a romantic comedy set in the time of the Arabian Nights. Sinbad is more rogue than adventure hero. You get the impression that some of his exploits are more 'tall tale' than fact. Most of all I liked the dynamic between Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Maureen O'Hara. Walter Slezak and Anthony Quinn are also very good. If you like good dialog, and romantic adventure - give it a try.

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23 out of 27 people found the following review useful:
Florid Classic, 2 July 2002

Author: telegonus from brighton, ma

After I first saw this charming film I was puzzled by its relative obscurity. It isn't exactly unknown, but scarcely anyone regards it as a classic. Aside from me, that is. The Technicolor photography of George Barnes is Oscar-worthy, with its bright blues and reds it evokes the best of Wyeth and Pyle. On its color alone the movie can bear comparison with the best of Powell and Pressburger, and yet no one the best of my knowledge has ever made such a comparison. The sets are grand, and the lost island kingdom makes a lovely visual set-piece. Art directors Clark and D'Agostino deserve special mention as well. John Twist's script cannot be called brilliant, but it is reasonably clever, and if not particularly inspired, neither are the scripts of most of the better known swashbucklers that Flynn and Power made. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. is suitably dashing as the wily Sinbad. His is a graceful, even gracious presence, and he has a bird-like swiftness to him that I find pleasing, appropriate to his character's basic elusiveness, and he never overdoes it. While he looks at times a bit mature for such a boy's hero type it's worth keeping in mind that a too-youthful Sinbad wouldn't be a good thing, either, as it's as important that the character convey experience as it is for him to engage in swordplay. That this take on Sinbad presents him as somewhat of a philosopher, it's just as well that Fairbanks appears to be in early middle age, and therefore to have had some years to reflect on life.

Richard Wallace directs the film capably. The pace isn't as quick as one might always wish, yet this is more than compensated for by the movie's visual lushness. Maureen O'Hara makes an agreeable if incongruously Hibernian leading lady, while Anthony Quinn is more quiet than usual as a bad guy. Walter Slezak, as the devious Melik, steals the film acting-wise, giving an outrageously effete yet disciplined performance, with subtle hints of homosexuality, that is as good as anything that Rathbone or Laughton ever did, and far less hammy. Many of the supporting players,--Sheldon Leonard, George Tobias, Ben Welden, Mike Mazurki--suggest Damon Runyon in the Orient, and while absurd they are no worse than the standard-issue Brits that usually played these kinds of roles. They are also, like the film itself, a lot of fun, and a delightful change of pace.

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22 out of 26 people found the following review useful:
Intelligent, Colorful, Consistently-Interesting Adventure, 6 August 2005

Author: silverscreen888

When I assess the popularity of this film in the postwar period of its release and then compare viewers' reactions recently registered to that approbation, I must assert that U.S. viewers appear to have suffered two serious losses over the last 50 years. First, they apparently can no longer listen to intelligent dialogue nearly as well as they once could; and second, viewers seem to have abandoned categories of fiction for emotional predilections, for or against subject matter, actors, etc. I believe that "Sinbad the Sailor" is an interesting, beautifully-photographed and well-acted film. I suggest Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is very good in the title role, although he adopted a device of moving his hands often that is graceful but distracting. Contrary to some adverse comments, if one ignores Maureen O'Hara's Irish brogue, she is excellent, rising to one of her most rewarding earlier parts, one that taxes her to play several moods and many nuances. Walter Slezak is very fine as always as a charismatic villain, Anthony Quinn underplays a villain who only reveals his depths of evil gradually. Also, George Tobias makes nearly the perfect foil for Fairbanks' agile Sinbad. The production is much-admired, with a rich teal blue to the sea in the process shots that many never tire of enjoying.. The elaborate costumes by Edward Stevenson and Dwight Franklin are a delight; the cinematography by George Barnes and the art direction by Albert d'Agostino and Carroll Clark as well as the set decorations by Claude E. Carpenter and Darrell Silvera are all outstanding. Roy Webb contributed fine original music and the direction by Richard Wallace is to my mind intelligent and swift-paced throughout. In fact, he plays with rates of the passage of time unusually well. The convoluted script for the film retailing Sinbad's "eight' voyage" was written by John Twist from a story created by him with George Worthing Yates. The plot theme involves "being true to the best that is in oneself". To feature this, the story-line retails the finding of a derelict ship with a dead crew. Sinbad, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and his partner Tobias, boarding the ship after being marooned, manage to bring the vessel to port where it is impounded. They had found the crew had been poisoned by the ship's water. But who poisoned it, they wonder. The entire film is told as a flashback by Sinbad, recounting his unknown latest adventure. His hints about plague to potential buyers of the ship, causes no one to buy the vessel--except himself, using money stealthily stolen from the auctioneer's own purse. A beautiful woman, O'Hara, it turns out, wants to marry a wealthy prince and also wants the vessel. Meanwhile Sinbad is trying to solve a riddle, involving the broken half of an amulet that had been found about his neck when he was an abandoned baby. The image found there also appeared on a map to a fabled island where lies the treasure of Alexander the Great--a map that later disappeared from the vessel. O'Hara is being sought by the Emir, Quinn; and believes Sinbad can lead her to the wealth.And he Emir wants it and her very badly. What follows is Arabian Nights adventure I suggest at its best-- captures, ship chases, escapes, arguments between male and female, the revelation that Melik, who has sailed with Sinbad, is the poisoner, a man obsessed with the treasure also, etc. The uneasy allies all arrive at last at the mysterious island of Derriabar. Sinbad is discovered to be the ruler-philosopher's long-lost son. He must somehow save the island from the Emir, who plans to use its wealth to make himself master of the entire world. Melik has a fine death scene.Sinbad prefers honesty and O'Hara as Shireen prefers him and the ending is very obviously satisfying. This is a film about ethics, mystery, romance, adventure, dialogue, humor and misassumptions. I recommend it highly to anyone adult enough to listen to it; it was a big hit for RKO when first released. In the good cast also are Seldon Leonard, John Miljan, Jane Greer, Mike Mazurki, Alan Napier and George Chandler.  

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18 out of 20 people found the following review useful:
Great swashbuckler with humor and almost over-literate dialog., 3 August 2005

Author: hardybing from United States

This movie is an adult oriented swashbuckling tale in the guise of a children's movie. The harem scene is quite erotic and suggestive for its time. The script is very literate, almost too much so for a children's film, but there is plenty of colorful action for the kids too. The relationship between the O'Hara and Fairbanks character is very fiery, at times a little over-abusive, but they seem to made for each other. Slezak uses his intelligence to take an over-the-top character and make him believable and interesting. There is a lot of romance, combined with an inner-spective questioning of what true treasure is, and where true happiness comes from; everyone can learn from this. In this sense, it is a very moralistic tale, without preaching, but "showing". Kids will enjoy the action, adults who can get into the spirit of the tale will enjoy the sexual excitement and subtleties of the story and script. And to the casual viewer, it's just a fun film. It is underrated, and deserves a view by the entire family.

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16 out of 19 people found the following review useful:
That Eighth Voyage of Sinbad, 16 March 2006

Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

During his film career Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. could probably have done more films along the line of Sinbad the Sailor. But my guess is that he didn't want to be typecast in quite the same way as his father was. Still it's a treat to watch him in this and in other films like The Fighting O'Flynn, The Exile, and The Corsican Brothers where there's more than a hint of his inheritance.

Sinbad the Sailor is the Baron Munchausen of the Islamic world. The stories of his seven voyages are a large part of the Arabian Nights fables.

Fairbanks shows him spinning the tall tales to the listening crowd in Basra and when they tell him to give them something new, Fairbanks relates the latest tale of his eighth voyage. Doing it in flashback that way kind of spoils the ending because it does say that he will survive to tell the tale. Nevertheless it's quite a story involving a greedy emir in Anthony Quinn and an evil magician in Walter Slezak who along with Sinbad is seeking the fabled treasure that Alexander the Great, that noted infidel, amassed during his conquests.

Of course there is that redheaded Kurdish princess played by Maureen O'Hara who has her own agenda working. In her recent memoirs Maureen full realized the ridiculousness of casting her in roles like these. But she said her philosophy was keep working and eventually the good parts will come your way.

It's an enjoyable film however as Fairbanks makes that final journey and finds what true love and happiness are all about.

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9 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
Used to be my favorite Sinbad, 29 December 2003

Author: Don W from Long Island Motor Parkway

I saw this film perhaps three times on TV, as a kid in the 1950s. I always thought it was black & white, because I saw it only on a B&W TV. I rewatched it recently for the first time in over 40 years, & it sure has changed! Or more likely, I sure have changed. Of course, it's in color, not B&W. What seemed like a great mystery to me then is now fairly obvious. And Fairbanks Jr., who seemed to me the best of all Sinbads, now seems a bit over the top in his role. Not that those are bad comments, they're just different than I had remembered. The colors are amazingly bright & vivid for a 1947 film, which both adds interest & takes away from the mystery of what I had seen in B&W. Fairbanks grandiose character portrayal (arm flourishes & almost ballet-like movements) actually works well, because Sinbad is a braggart who is disbelieved by many, & has a self- confident air; he's also a fellow who's had eight amazing voyages & has escaped dozens of monsters & difficult situations. Sinbad refers to some of his previous exploits (the Roc & the Cyclops, for example); it would have been nice to see a couple of monsters or mythical beings in this film. With minimal special effects, the plot becomes rather talky, & there's a repetition of escapes & fight scenes that lack variety & seem too staged. I would call this a kid's film, although the dialog is a bit too poetic & difficult for many kids. As a film for adults, it's a bit too soft with too little action, although there's lots of romantic elements for those viewers who enjoy that. There are three nice surprises to the plot which still hold up well, so stick with it to the end. I would no longer call this my favorite Sinbad film, but it's still enjoyable as a light adventure-romance. I rate it 6/10.

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12 out of 15 people found the following review useful:
Classic Film With Great Actors!, 22 October 2004

Author: whpratt1 from United States

Have not seen this film in years and decided to look at all the great Classic actors who were all very young and at the height of their careers! Douglas Fairbanks,Jr.(Sinbad),"Red & Blue",'67, played an excellent Sinbad and followed in his fathers footsteps, Fairbanks Senior. Maureen O'Hara,(Shireen),"Big Jake",'71, was beautiful and put her heart and soul into her role as a captured lady among savages on old sailing vessels. Walter Slezak,(Melik),"Black Beauty",'71, played a crafty old fox who was able to find treasure that no one ever thought he was capable of finding. Anthony Quinn(Emir),"Last Action Hero",'93 kept after Sinbad and tried to capture the heart strings of Shireen and plenty of wealth! Great Classic film to enjoy, the background scenery is very typical 1947!

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8 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Delightful Adventures of a Storyteller, 4 February 2008

Author: Claudio Carvalho from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The storyteller Sinbad the Sailor (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) is gathered with other men in the harbor telling his adventure seeking the island of Daryabar, where the treasure of Alexander the Great is hidden. In his journey with his friend Abbu (George Tobias), Sinbad rescues and claims property of a drifting boat; he meets the ambitious and gorgeous Shireen (Maureen O'Hara) and falls in love for her; he is chased by the evil Emir (Anthony Quinn) that is seeking the treasure to become one of the most powerful men in the world; and he meets the dangerous Melik (Walter Slezak) that also wants the treasure.

"Sinbad the Sailor" is a delightful adventure, in a type of naive movie that Hollywood seems to have forgotten in the present days. However, the success of the franchise "Pirates of Caribbean" proves that this genre is still attractive for the younger generations. The athletic Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is excellent in the lead role, showing a great chemistry with the gorgeous Maureen O'Hara and Anthony Quinn and Walter Slezak are great villains. The final twist in the very end is extremely pleasant, closing with golden key this entertaining movie. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Simbad, o Marujo" ("Sinbad the Sailor")

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11 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
Sinbad not bad, 5 March 2005

Author: nickeydoowop from United States

The Picture is fine,the acting is good.Besides,you had to know your craft then.Technology wasn't falling all over. The color was brilliant.Acting done by real actors.Costumes are fantastic.Much was left to the imagination though.I give this picture a big 10.The movie lines caught me. The sets were imaginative engaging. Other versions of Sinbad the sailor have out done this one,still I'll watch it again.Sound effects carried me along and tumbling antics a pleasure. Leaping and dancing abound. Thick makeup is forgotten from one humorous scene to the next.Extras are not just background fluff.Sparkle,twinkle This Sinbad is worth a watch.Motionless background actors stop and go with a magically flow.

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7 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Sinbad takes audience along for a voyage of humor, adventure ,and romance, 6 January 2007

Author: mlraymond from Durham NC

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

This movie had an overwhelming impact on me as a kid of about five or six. It might well be the first movie I can remember seeing. I was totally caught up in the over the top, grand, theatrical style of the performances and dialogue. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. turns every sentence into a speech, whether discouraging the marketplace crowd from bidding on the ship he claims is haunted, to his sarcastic verbal duels with Maureen O'Hara, and his spur of the moment romantic overtures. He is a romantic con man, who makes himself believe his own exaggerated tales and flowery, stylized wooing of beautiful maidens.

A great supporting cast includes Anthony Quinn as a sinister prince with world conquering ambitions, George Tobias as the nervous, bumbling sidekick to Sinbad, sly, secretive Walter Slezak as a mysterious barber, ferocious looking Mike Mazurki as one of Sinbad's crew, Alan Napier as the dignified old hermit of the lost island, and many other familiar faces from Hollywood's past.

There are exciting sea chases and battles, sword fights and daring escapes, enough swashbuckling adventure for three or four movies. One of the most amusing running gags is a mynah bird belonging to Anthony Quinn's evil ruler. This talkative fowl always seems to fly into a scene in the midst of the action to squawk out cryptic bits of information, such as seafaring advice, or the names of different characters. The spooky, unseen villain known as Jamal lurks throughout the movie, his identity a secret. It's hard to explain the hilarious effect of the mynah bird suddenly flying over the characters' heads and yelling " Jamal! Jamal!" This is a fabulously entertaining movie. See it if for no other reason than to watch Douglas Fairbanks Jr. obviously having a ball playing Sinbad.

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