The Thief of Bagdad (1940 film)

Produced by Alexander Korda, directed by Michael Powell, Ludwig Berger, and Tim Whelan, and screenplay Miles Malleson from a story by Miklos Rozsa and an idea by Lajos Biro, The Thief of Bagdad is the story of a prince who teams up with a scrappy thief in reclaiming his throne after being casted out. The film is a fantasy film that is told in a reflective manner as a prince tries to deal with his situation. Starring Conrad Veidt, Sabu, June Duprez, John Justin, Rex Ingram, Miles Malleson, and Morton Selten. The Thief of Bagdad is a glorious and enchanting film from Alexander Korda.

The film is partially a reflective story of a blind prince who had been dethroned by a royal official in the Grand Vizier named Jaffar (Conrad Veidt) as he is aided by a young thief who wants to help him realizing the severity of the situation. It’s a fantasy-adventure film that follows two men who find themselves in a situation where the prince goes blind and the thief briefly turns into a dog all due to this man trying to win over a princess who is interested in this prince. Miles Malleson’s screenplay does start off as a back-and-forth narrative in which Prince Ahmad (John Justin) is seen blind begging for anything with a dog at his side where he would tell his story to a group of women including a servant of Jaffar in Hamila (Mary Morris) who realizes what is going on. The first act play into Prince Ahmad becoming concerned with his rule as he is aware of his people not being enamored with them.

Taking Jaffar’s advice by pretending to be a normal citizen, it proves to be a set-u when Prince Ahmad is sent to a dungeon where he meets the thief Abu (Sabu). Abu is a common thief that knows how to get by as he helps Prince Ahmad knowing that he’s really an honorable man. The two would embark on a journey to reclaim Prince Ahmad’s throne but also pursue the elusive princess (June Duprez) whose father is obsessed with mechanical toys which Jaffar would use to win his approval. The film’s third act is about Abu and a journey he would take when he and Prince Ahmad become lost during their pursuit of the princess and Jaffar. Even as he would find a mysterious object that would give him the chance to prove his worth as a person.

The film’s direction under the supervision of its producer Alexander Korda who would do un-credited work along with his brother Zoltan and art director William Cameron Menzies who would both be un-credited for their contributions to the film’s production. Much of the work would be under the direction of Michael Powell, Ludwig Berger, and Tim Whelan with Powell providing much of the material that was filmed mainly on studio sets with some desert scenes shot on Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, and Bryce Canyon in the U.S. While there are some wide shots for the large fantasy scenes and to get a scope of the palaces, it’s the usage of close-ups and medium shots in the way the characters interact or in their encounter with certain locations. The film do play into this idea of fantasy while Bagdad is presented as something otherworldly despite its sense of repression towards its people which Prince Ahmad learns and wants to rectify. The scenes in the third act where Abu meets a genie (Rex Ingram) would be a showcase for some primitive yet effective visual effects as it add to the sense of adventure that Abu would encounter. Even as the film’s climax is filled with a lot of visual splendor in its compositions as well as maintaining a sense of adventure. Overall, Korda creates a majestic and exhilarating film about a thief helping a blind prince reclaim his throne.

Cinematographer George Perinal, with Technicolor direction by Natalie Kalmus, does incredible work in the cinematography with its gorgeous Technicolor approach to the visuals including some scenes set at night as well as the attention to detail in the look of the colors. Editor Charles Crichton does excellent work with the editing as it is largely straightforward with some rhythmic cuts for some of the action. Production designer Vincent Korda, with scenic background by Percy Day, does brilliant work with the set design in creating lavish sets that would play into the colors of the backgrounds.

Costume designers Oliver Messel, John Armstrong, and Marcel Vertes do amazing work with the costumes as it play into the element of fantasy and in the time period as it help play into the vibrancy of the film’s look. The special effects work of Lawrence Butler does fantastic work with the visual effects as primitive as it was in the late 1930s/early 1940s as it have some wonderment in the effects as it relates to the genie flying as well as the mechanical toys in the film. The sound work of A.W. Watkins does superb work with the sound in the scenes with crowds as well as the sound effects of the toys that Jaffar brings to the sultan. The film’s music by Miklos Rozsa is phenomenal for its bombastic and heavy orchestral score filled with loud drums and percussions and sweeping orchestral arrangements as it is one of the film’s major highlights.

The film’s marvelous cast feature some notable small roles from Adelaide Hall as a singer for the princess, Allan Jeayes as a storyteller talking about the need for a rebellion, Mary Morris in a dual role as Jaffar’s agent Halima and a mechanical toy known as the Silver Maid, and Morton Selten as an old king that Abu would meet late in the film. Miles Malleson is terrific as the Sultan of Basra as a man that is obsessed with mechanical toys as he is swayed by Jaffar in getting a toy in exchange for Jaffar to have the princess. Rex Ingram is superb as the genie as a man who had been inside a lamp for 2000 years as he has issues with humans but is willing to grant Abu three wishes for freeing him. John Justin is fantastic as Prince Ahmad as a young man trying to understand the world he’s ruling and its people only to be usurped by Jaffar and become humble over his situation in his pursuit to reclaim his throne and win the heart of the princess.

June Duprez is excellent as the princess as a woman of such beauty that it is forbidden for regular people to see her as she is pursued by Prince Ahmad whom she sees as a man that is right for her while not wanting to be with Jaffar. Sabu is brilliant as Abu as this young thief that meets Prince Ahmad and wants to help while taking on a journey of his own where his enthusiasm and courage is key to Sabu’s performance. Finally, there’s Conrad Veidt in an amazing performance as the Grand Vizier Jaffar as a mysterious sorcerer who is intent on ruling Bagdad and other places while proving to be powerful and cunning as it’s just Veidt bringing a lot of charisma to a villainous character.

The Thief of Bagdad is a spectacular film from producer Alexander Korda. Featuring a great cast, gorgeous visuals, a sumptuous music score, and an engaging story of adventure and fantasy. It is truly one of the finest films of the fantasy genre as well as a visual marvel that is stunning in its imagery and sense of imagination. In the end, The Thief of Bagdad is a phenomenal film from Alexander Korda.

© thevoid99 2018

The Sound Barrier

Directed by David Lean and written by Terence Rattigan, The Sound Barrier is the story of a test pilot who takes part in an experiment with aircraft designers to try and break the sound barrier where its owner is hoping for the experiment to succeed. The film is a mixture of drama mixed in with documentary footage about the attempts to break the sound barrier in the aftermath of World War II. Starring Ralph Richardson, Ann Todd, Nigel Patrick, John Justin, and Denholm Elliott. The Sound Barrier is a riveting film from David Lean.

The film follows the son-in-law of a wealthy aircraft design company owner who becomes a test pilot as they embark on breaking the sound barrier. It’s a film with a simple premise yet it is more about a man’s obsession with wanting to do the impossible just as World War II is about to end as he sees that his daughter’s new husband might be the right person to break the sound barrier. Terence Rattigan’s screenplay explore the sense of ambition as well as the desire to do something new and see if the impossible can be overcome. Yet, there is also some conflict over these ambitions where the protagonist in the owner John Ridgefield (Ralph Richardson) who is looking into the future as he is already on board on the emerging jet engine at the time.

Though he had plans for his son Chris (Denholm Elliott) to be the test pilot, it would be his new son-in-law Tony Garthwaite (Nigel Patrick) that would take on the role but becomes conflicted as he has just started a blissful life with Ridgefield’s daughter Susan (Ann Todd). The heart of the film is this conflict between Susan and her father as the former disapproves of her father’s ambitions just as she and Tony are making a life of their own with a child on the way. Tony is caught in the middle of this conflict as he wants to do the things as a test pilot but is also aware of the risks when he reads about a test pilot’s death in the second act. Even as the events in the third act where Susan and her father become estranged due to the former’s disdain for what her father wants showcase some of the fallacies of ambition despite Ridgefield’s good intentions.

David Lean’s direction is definitely stylish in some respects where it has some gorgeous compositions for the dramatic moments in the film while the aerial scenes are exquisite in its mixture of documentary footage and in re-created fashion. Much of the film is shot at Shepperton Studios with some of it shot on various locations in the British countryside near airfields as the scenes set in the ground have an intimacy in its close-ups and medium shots in how some look into the way planes are being flown as well as the meetings between the family. Especially in scenes where there is tension looming between Susan and Ridgefield as it play into this conflict of Susan wanting something where men in her family don’t have to live under the shadow of her father which is something Chris struggles with. The aerial scenes definitely have this vast look where Lean would use not just documentary footage of Britain’s own experiment with jet engines but also try and create moments where it could happen as some of it is inspired by actual events. Notably the film’s climax where a test pilot would try to break the sound barrier as it proves into what could be done. Overall, Lean crafts an engaging yet thrilling film about an aircraft owner’s desire to see the sound barrier broken.

Cinematographer Jack Hildyard does brilliant work with the film‘s black-and-white photography for the gorgeous look of some of the aerial scenes including the shots overlooking some of the locations as well as some of the interior scenes set at night along with the exterior nighttime scenes. Editor Geoffrey Foot does excellent work with the editing as it is straightforward with some intricate rhythmic cutting for some of the aerial sequences. Art director Joseph Bato does amazing work with the look of the airfield including Ridgefield‘s office and his home which is quite lavish as it play into his big personality. Costume designer Elizabeth Hennings does nice work with the costumes from the air force uniforms and suits as well as the clothes that Susan wears. The sound work of John Cox and sound editor Winston Ryder is incredible for the way jet engine sounds as well as some of the sparse moments at the homes of some of the characters. The film’s music by Malcolm Arnold is superb for its orchestral score that is bombastic with its string arrangements as well as in some of the somber moments for the dramatic aspects of the film.

The film’s wonderful cast include some notable small roles from Joseph Tomelty as aircraft designer Will Sparks, Dinah Sheridan as one of the test pilot’s wife in Jess Peel, John Justin as an inventive test pilot in Philip Peel, and Denholm Elliott as Susan’s brother Christopher who is reluctant to be his father’s premier test pilot. Nigel Patrick is excellent as Tony Garthwaite as an accomplished war pilot who is hoping for a great life with his new bride Susan while given the chance to do the impossible where he isn’t sure about taking such a grand risk. Ann Todd is brilliant as Susan as the daughter of an aircraft design mogul who is eager to start a new life with her husband while coping with the massive expectations and ambitions of her father as it relates to her husband and brother. Finally, there’s Ralph Richardson in a phenomenal performance as John Ridgefield as an aircraft design mogul who is eager to look into the future as he hopes he can give the British air force something new as well as break the speed barrier unaware of his faults in his thirst to see the impossible become possible.

The Sound Barrier is a remarkable film from David Lean. Featuring a great cast, exhilarating aerial sequences, and a compelling story of ambition and glory. It’s a film that explore the emergence of the modern world as well as man’s desire to do make the impossible possible. In the end, The Sound Barrier is a sensational film from David Lean.

David Lean Films: In Which We Serve - This Happy Breed - Blithe Spirit - Brief Encounter - Great Expectations (1946 film) - Oliver Twist (1948 film) - The Passionate Friends - Madeleine (1950 film) - Hobson's Choice - Summertime (1955 film) - The Bridge on the River Kwai - Lawrence of Arabia - Doctor Zhivago - Ryan's Daughter - (Lost and Found: The Story of Cook’s Anchor) - A Passage to India - (The Auteurs #74: David Lean)

© thevoid99 2017