Arabian Nights (1942)

The caliph of Baghdad must go into hiding with a group of traveling performers when his brother usurps the throne. Both brothers desire a beautiful dancing girl, who is torn between power and true love.

Director:

John Rawlins

Writers:

Michael Hogan (story), Michael Hogan (screenplay)

Stars:

Jon Hall, Maria Montez, Sabu

Nominated for 4 Oscars.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jon Hall	...	Haroun-Al-Raschid
Maria Montez	...	Sherazade
Sabu	...	Ali Ben Ali
Leif Erickson	...	Kamar (as Leif Erikson)
Billy Gilbert	...	Ahmad
Edgar Barrier	...	Nadan
Richard Lane	...	Corporal
Turhan Bey	...	Captain
John Qualen	...	Aladdin
Shemp Howard	...	Sinbad
William 'Wee Willie' Davis	...	Valda
Thomas Gomez	...	Hakim
Jeni Le Gon	...	Dresser
Robert Greig	...	Eunuch
Charles Coleman	...	Eunuch

Storyline

Dancer Scheherazade was told by the stars that she will become wife of the caliph in Bagdad. She tells Kamar, brother of caliph Haroun. He planned a coup d'etat, which failed at first, but supported by the wazir he finally succeeds. Haroun is injured and gets help from Ahmad's actor troupe, where he is nursed by Scheherazade, who doesn't recognize him. When she hears that Kamar is looking for her she goes to him, but is sold with the complete troupe of actors to slavery. They're able to escape, but Haroun is still in danger. To save him, Scheherazade agrees to poison Kamar, but Haroun tries to establish his rulership first.

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Plot Keywords:

1001 nights | arabian nights | two word title | arabia | persia | 

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Taglines:

Dashing Thieves of Baghdad...riding out of the magic and splendor of

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film marks the first use of three-strip Technicolor by Universal.

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Goofs

In the 'city' in the desert, there is a sulphur-crested cockatoo in the harem. This bird is a native of Australia, and not known elsewhere until several centuries later.

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Quotes

Aladdin: [to Corporal] If you have to leave, don't go until you come back.

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Connections

Featured in Rock Hudson's Home Movies (1992)

User Reviews

Technicolor escapist tale...

...with an unpretentious appeal to the child in many of us. In ancient times, the caliph of Baghdad, Haroun-Al-Raschid (Jon Hall), has his throne taken from him by his treacherous brother Kamar (Leif Erickson). The caliph is a fugitive marked for death, but he's rescued by acrobatic performer Ali Ben Ali (Sabu) who introduces the former leader to beautiful dancing girl Sherazade (Maria Montez). All three team up to win back the caliph's throne.

This goofy distraction was a big hit with wartime audiences looking to escape the horrors and worries of the time. And this is certainly "leave your brain at the door" entertainment, has little in common with the source stories, and is targeted at the least discerning of viewers. It fails to live up to the overheated camp heights of the noted Montez-Hall team-up Cobra Woman, though, and that lack of kitsch makes this a more tedious slog. Maria Montez may have been, to put it kindly, limited as an actress. But she had an exotic appeal that made her perfect for these kinds of cheesy sand-and-sex costume adventures churned out by Universal during the war.

Billy Gilbert's performance, in which he seems to scream most of his dialogue, also becomes nails-on-a-chalkboard irritating. As ridiculous as the movie is, it earned 4 Oscar nominations, for Best Score, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, and Best Art Direction.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1943 (UK)

Also Known As:

Arabian Nights

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$904,765 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Walter Wanger Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1