The Thief of Bagdad
1940 · Movie · NR · 107 min · ★ 7.1 · 95% critics
After a ruthless takeover leaves a royal figure blinded and driven from Bagdad, he teams up with a quick-witted thief to survive and fight back. Their journey becomes a sweeping fantasy adventure filled with daring escapes, strange wonders, and a quest to reclaim both a rightful place and a longed-for love.
Based on The Thief of Bagdad
Also known as The Thief of Bagdad: An Arabian Fantasy in Technicolor · The Thief of Bagdad: An Arabian Fantasy
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Details
- Years
- 1940
- Release date
- 1940-02-19
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Max quality
- SD
- Critic score
- 95/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.1/10 (296 votes)
About
If you enjoy classic, gentle fantasy adventures with vivid visuals, playful humor, and a clear good-versus-evil quest, this should satisfy; Not for you if you want gritty realism or constant intensity like The Sea Hawk.
Pros: bright vivid colors; gentle engaging story; delightful fantasy adventures | Cons: effects used sparingly; broad theatrical moments; light comedic tone
Themes
- princess
- love at first sight
- giant spider
- flying horse
- sultan
- flying carpet
- bagdad
- djinn
- orient
- thief
- baghdad
- blindness
- +7 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Special Effects · 1941
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography, Color · 1941
- Academy Award — Best Art Direction, Color · 1941
- Academy Award — Best Original Score · 1941 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography, Color · 1941 · nominated
Show all 7 awards →
- Academy Award — Best Art Direction, Color · 1941 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Special Effects · 1941 · nominated
Cast & crew
Conrad Veidt
as Jaffar
Sabu
as Abu
June Duprez
as Princess
John Justin
as Ahmad
Rex Ingram
as Djinn
Miles Malleson
as Sultan
Morton Selten
as The Old King
Mary Morris
as Halima
Bruce Winston
as The Merchant
Hay Petrie
as Astrologer
Directed by Tim Whelan, Michael Powell, Ludwig Berger