NOTES: Nominated for the following prestigious Hollywood awards: Krasner, Skall and Greene for Color Cinematography, losing to Leon Shamroy's The Black Swan; Golitzen, Otterson, Gausman and Webb for Color Sets, losing to My Gal Sal; Bernard Brown for Sound Recording, losing to Yankee Doodle Dandy; Frank Skinner for Scoring of a Drama or Comedy, losing to Now, Voyager.
Universal's first three-strip Technicolor feature, and the studio's top domestic box-office attraction of 1942-43.
As for the writing credits, producer Walter Wanger stated at the time of the film's New York release that the story was written by Michael Hogan, True Boardman and Eddie Hartmann from a general outline by Alexander Golitzen. Its only similarity to Burton's classic is the title as Mr. Wanger found the original "dull and dirty".
VIEWER'S GUIDE: Adults. The story is certainly silly enough for kids, but they're likely to take it seriously.
COMMENT: "The woman whose beauty shames the glory of the sunset" (to quote some of the rich dialogue in this delightfully escapist yet ultra-lavish and regally elegant slice of eye-dazzling fantasy), namely Maria Montez, here makes her Technicolor debut. Shortly to be crowned "Queen of Technicolor", Montez presents an exotically fiery, tantalizingly tempestuous personality, extravagantly costumed, exquisitely groomed. That she can't act for toffee and that her accent is often almost impenetrable simply adds to her more-than-mortal allure.
Interestingly, as her box-office appeal was as yet unknown, she is not allowed to dominate the Nights as she did her subsequent films, like White Savage, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Cobra Woman, Gypsy Wildcat, Sudan and Pirates of Monterey.
Here, there's still plenty for Jon Hall and his seemingly acrobatic sidekick Sabu to get their hands on. Turhan Bey, later to take precedence over Jon Hall as the romantic lead, is also in the cast; Leif (pronounced "Life") Erikson and Edgar Barrier enact the villains; whilst some additional comedy relief (the whole film is just one vast howl) is skilfully provided by our favorite (if impermanent) Stooge, Shemp Howard, plus John Qualen and Sneezy Gilbert.
The trailer for this one is also a real hoot, the best of the lot. "Bagdad, city of temptations, where ruler and rogue, slaver and sinner fight for the forbidden Sherazad. A story rich and exotic as the East itself!" And that's just for openers. Mind you, the trailer for Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves runs this one pretty close. How about: "See Bagdad enslaved by Hunnish hordes!" or, as the off-screen commentator breathlessly informs us, "see Romance in the shadow of the torture rack!" Cut to hero Jon Hall as he remarks (with a perfectly straight face) to heroine Maria Montez, "I'm curious why a girl so young, so lovely, should marry the ruthless Khan?"
OTHER VIEWS: Lush color, attractive sets and costumes and plenty of action, somewhat offset by corny dialogue and juvenile plotting. - G.A.
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