I'am well pleased that this particular film "The Thief of Bagdad" with Steve Reeves is now in my possession, finally I have had the chance to view this film. The Vermont Movie store was where and how I finally found this film after giving up hope of ever being able to find it. A time ago I did many searches in an effort to find numerous Motion Pictures with "The Thief of Bagdad" being one of those films. I would do searches for the film and often enough, I looked some more only to come up empty handed, time and time again. I stated a little earlier that I had given up hope of finding this particular film however often "Sabu" and even the version with Douglas Fairbanks would surface but none with Steve Reeves. This was the film that as a young boy that I saw and it was this film that I most cared for. There were many particular attributes that "The Thief of Bagdad" had, that made the film an imaginative and worthy tale of both adventure, heroics and maybe even the hand of the Princess Amina, portrayed by Italian Actress "Giorgia Moll". The music has much the equal of its own identity as it is an appeal that should be mentioned. I felt perhaps that the colorful way by which the film opened with "The Thief of Bagdad", Steve Reeves pilfering the pockets of any passerby was a bit humorous and yet though this was not a tale of "Robin Hood" it was a worthy discovery to see that with each theft Karim gave the goods to the poor to help alleviate some outstanding tax issue. I liked that straight away ,however the stretch in these matters was that the film was always aware that theft was a sin with the film suggessting that karim was a Hero as a result of helping a particular individual out of a particular jam. The enjoyment increased when the rather mean spirited Prince Osman arrived and was made to look foolish as both he and his servent sufferred at the hands of Karim, as Karim in a manner of speaking raided the pantry while both the Prince and his servent were tied up. The use of "Raided the Pantry" was more to suggest the enjoyment that watching "Karim work around and make off with a ton of jewels and jewelry perse dealing with every dignitary of the Sultans Court, most certainly a nervy business to be certain. I like the Sultan,(Portrayed by Antonio Battistella) he was a very kind and even affable figure with one of the greater goods soon to be revealed in the Sultans Great Uncle , portrayed by "Georges Chamarat". Though Prince Osman was the meaner spirit throwing threats as a result with conquering with his army and so on, it was the Sultan who from time to time appeared not to be entirely sold on all the bluster that Prince Osman was threating the Sultans Court. I enjoyed that a good deal. During this fiasco Karim had the audacity to flim flam the Princess Amina and as things would have it the Princess liked Karim though she was to learn the truth because Karim offered the Princess as a token of his as it were appreciation a stolen piece of jewelry. The Princess smiled when that Hijinks was revealed. The scenes are both colorful and possessing a unclutterred appeal. The splendour of the Sultans palace is spacious, life as such is not omnipresent, It is not opulent. The Princess Amina is use to life in the Sultans court, to be certain she is somewhat spoiled however that does'nt take away from her appeal and appealing she most certainly is. Prince Osman tries to win the Princess through the use of some potion only to have the Princess fall ill, in the meantime Karim has been captured and is now grinding wheat in the stock yards. He here's of a journey to help save the life of the Princess Amina, to capture what is a most rare, a "Blue Rose". He tricks his way out of the stock yards and joins a very large contingent of warriors all pledging to search for the "Blue Rose". The first door can be seen where it is not. This dear reader is when things really begin in earnest as Karim earns his stripes, each door combines intelligence, resolve most certainly cunning and perhaps most of all the determination to know why you are there. He deals with the invisible(a scene on a bridge is particularly undaunting as Karim uncloaks a character billed as a Monster-the characters actual name is Chignone and though he is a muscle bound problem he is not a monster). Karim deals with what appears as the fires of Hell, there is something like a smoke and mirror problem, there is living matter that comes alive however the one that more than all the others I wanted to mention. There is a introduction of a women, portrayed by actress "Edy Vessel" whose court is filled with other lovely women who dance about and she entices Karim to join her if for only a toast. I'am sure Karim saw a statue very nearby of one of the heroic warriors who started out to search for the blue rose, yet he is now a statue. Karim watches as this attractive and alluring women drops a particular poison into a drink, he switches glasses in the blink of an eye and this women and her Kingdom are a thing of the past. All in all we are all the while encouraged by things as Karim continues on his journey. He now emerges from the victory of overcoming the challenges offered by the seven doors but now he must confront the reality that indeed Prince Osman meant what he said and has taken the Princess Amina by force, his army is positioned outside the Sultans Castle. Here is perhaps the hero of this film, he is revealed, it is in the spirit of a departed Uncle who having in faith a witness in hand without knowing who he is talking to is given a gift and this gift provides for an imaginative treatment of an entire army of warriors. When I first saw "The Thief Of Bagdad" and this miraculous army materializes it to me was a real adventuresome enjoyment. There is much here in a loving spirit, and even the claiming of the heart of Princess Amina. The "Blue Rose" is indeed more so a symbol as those who truly Love possess the authority to make a White Rose in fact a Blue Rose. Nearing the film completion Karim and The Sultan are conversing when Karim see's a figure head that is an identical look alike to someone who has provided wisdom and even spirit as would be a "Guardian Angel" through-out Karims journey. This is a very enjoyable motion picture and though there is much here in word, there is as much and more to see in this most delightful film. Though this film maybe more fitting as made for children , which to me it may indeed be, it is billed as a tale of Arabian Knights.
Review of The Thief of Baghdad
