The Thief of Bagdad (1940)
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- Not Rated
- 1h 46min
- Adventure, Family
- 25 Dec 1940 (USA)
- Movie
After being tricked and cast out of Bagdad by the evil Jaffar, King Ahmad joins forces with a thief named Abu to reclaim his throne, the city, and the Princess he loves.
Directors:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Won 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 4 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Conrad Veidt | ... |
Jaffar
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| Sabu | ... |
Abu
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| June Duprez | ... |
Princess
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| John Justin | ... |
Ahmad
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| Rex Ingram | ... |
Djinn
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| Miles Malleson | ... |
Sultan
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| Morton Selten | ... |
The Old King
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| Mary Morris | ... |
Halima
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Bruce Winston | ... |
The Merchant
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| Hay Petrie | ... |
Astrologer
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Adelaide Hall | ... |
Singer
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Roy Emerton | ... |
Jailer
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| Allan Jeayes | ... |
The Story Teller
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Chick Alexander | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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Joe Bacon | ... |
Palace Guard (uncredited)
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Noble Blake | ... |
Palace Guard (uncredited)
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Frederick Burtwell | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Mad Jack Churchill | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Joseph Cozier | ... |
Man Selling Fish (uncredited)
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Elias English | ... |
Palace Guard (uncredited)
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Toni Gable | ... |
Lady (uncredited)
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| Robert Greig | ... |
Man of Basra (uncredited)
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Henry Hallatt | ... |
Citizen (uncredited)
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Miki Hood | ... |
Citizen (uncredited)
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| Glynis Johns | ... |
Princess' Maid (uncredited)
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Alexander Laine | ... |
Urchin in Bagdad Market (uncredited)
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| Cleo Laine | ... |
Urchin in Bagdad Market (uncredited)
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Sylvia Laine | ... |
Urchin in Bagdad Market (uncredited)
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Dock McGill | ... |
Palace Guard (uncredited)
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Spoli Mills | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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| Leslie Phillips | ... |
Urchin in Bagdad Market (uncredited)
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| Norman Pierce | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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| Tao Porchon | ... |
The Golden Idol (uncredited)
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Morgan Roberts | ... |
Palace Guard (uncredited)
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| John Salew | ... |
Fish Peddler (uncredited)
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Mark Stone | ... |
Masrur (uncredited)
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| Frank Tickle | ... |
Citizen (uncredited)
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Otto Wallen | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Henry Washington | ... |
Palace Guard (uncredited)
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Ben Williams | ... |
Citizen (uncredited)
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Willie Williams | ... |
Palace Guard (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Ludwig Berger | ||
| Michael Powell | ||
| Tim Whelan | ||
| Alexander Korda | ... | (uncredited) |
| Zoltan Korda | ... | (uncredited) |
| William Cameron Menzies | ... | (uncredited) |
Written by
| Miles Malleson | ... | (screen play and dialogue) |
| Lajos Biró | ... | (scenario by) (as Lajos Biro) |
| Miklós Rózsa | ... | (story) (as Miklos Rozsa) |
Produced by
| Alexander Korda | ... | producer |
| Zoltan Korda | ... | associate producer |
| William Cameron Menzies | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Miklós Rózsa | ... | (musical score) (as Miklos Rozsa) |
Editing by
| Charles Crichton | ||
Editorial Department
| William Hornbeck | ... | supervising editor |
| Natalie Kalmus | ... | color director: Technicolor |
| Peter R. Hunt | ... | associate editor (uncredited) |
Production Design by
| Vincent Korda | ... | (production designed in color by) |
Art Direction by
| Vincent Korda | ... | (uncredited) |
Costume Design by
| John Armstrong | ... | (costumes designed by) |
| Oliver Messel | ... | (costumes designed by) |
| Marcel Vertès | ... | (costumes designed by) (as Marcel Vertes) |
Makeup Department
| Stuart Freeborn | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
| Norbert A. Myles | ... | makeup artist: Rex Ingram (uncredited) |
| Guy Pearce | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
| Tom Shenton | ... | assistant makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| David B. Cunynghame | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Geoffrey Boothby | ... | associate director |
| Charles David | ... | associate director |
| Jack Clayton | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| W. Percy Day | ... | scenic backgrounds (as Percy Day) |
| Ferdinand Bellan | ... | associate art director (uncredited) |
| W. Percy Day | ... | associate art director (uncredited) |
| William Cameron Menzies | ... | associate art director (uncredited) |
| Frederick Pusey | ... | associate art director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| A.W. Watkins | ... | sound director |
| John Aldred | ... | sound assistant (uncredited) |
| John W. Mitchell | ... | sound assistant (uncredited) |
| Jack Whitney | ... | special sound effects (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Lawrence W. Butler | ... | special effects director (as Lawrence Butler) |
| Tom Howard | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| Johnny Mills | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Peter Ellenshaw | ... | assistant matte artist (uncredited) |
| Wally Veevers | ... | matte artist (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Osmond Borradaile | ... | associate photographer |
| Georges Périnal | ... | chief photographer (as George Perinal) |
| Henty Henty-Creer | ... | camera operator: exteriors (uncredited) |
| Peter Hopkinson | ... | camera assistant (uncredited) |
| Robert Krasker | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| Cliff Shirpser | ... | assistant camera: Technicolor (uncredited) |
| Bill Wall | ... | chief electrician (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Eugene Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Muir Mathieson | ... | musical director |
| Miklós Rózsa | ... | songs by (as Miklos Rozsa) |
Additional Crew
| Alexander Korda | ... | presenter |
| André De Toth | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Ralph Faulkner | ... | fight choreographer (uncredited) |
| Wendy Toye | ... | dance instructor: mechanical doll dance (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- United Artists (1940) (United States) (theatrical)
- Éclair-Journal (1946) (France) (theatrical)
- Carlotta Films (2011) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Associated British Film Distributors (A.B.F.D.) (1944) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (re-release) (as Ealing Distribution)
- Centrala Wynajmu Filmów (1961) (Poland) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Cire Films (1944) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Deutsche London-Film Verleih (1940) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Film Classics (1947) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Los Artistas Unidos de América del Sur (1940) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Minerva Film (1947) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Nederland NV (1946) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- RKO Radio Films A/S (1946) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Suomi-Filmi (1947) (Finland) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1940) (Canada) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1940) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1941) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Alexander Korda Films (1948) (United States) (tv)
- Anolis Entertainment (2012) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Anolis Entertainment (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
- Canal+ Vidéo (2002) (France) (DVD)
- Canal+ (1994) (France) (tv)
- Elephant Films (2013) (France) (Blu-ray)
- Elephant Films (2013) (France) (DVD)
- Embassy Home Entertainment (1987) (United States) (VHS)
- Finnkino (1997) (Finland) (VHS)
- Future Film (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (1994) (United States) (VHS)
- Koch Films (2022) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (United States) (VHS)
- Nelson Entertainment (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Network (2015) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray)
- Pioneer Entertainment (1996) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Spectrum (West Germany) (VHS)
- The Criterion Channel (2019) (United States) (tv) (digital)
- The Criterion Collection (2008) (United States) (DVD)
- The Samuel Goldwyn Company (1996) (United States) (tv)
- Topanga Canyon Films (2018) (Spain)
- Vértice 360 (2006) (Spain) (DVD)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1961) (Finland) (tv)
- e-m-s the DVD-Company (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (acknowledgement)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In Bagdad, the young and naive Sultan Ahmad is curious about the behavior of his people. The Grand Vizier Jaffar convinces Ahmad to walk through the city disguised as a subject to know his people. Then he seizes the power telling to the inhabitants that Ahmad has died while he sends his army to arrest the Sultan that is thrown into the dungeons and sentenced to death. Ahmad befriends the young thief Abu that helps him to escape from the prison. They flee to Basra and plan to travel abroad with Sinbad. However Ahmad stumbles upon the beautiful princess and they fall in love with each other. But the evil Jaffar has also traveled to Basra to propose to marry the princess. When they see each other, Jaffar uses magic to blind Ahmad and turn Abu into a dog. Is their love doomed? Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
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| Taglines | One thousand and one sights from the thousand of one nights.... See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Box Office
| Cumulative Worldwide Gross | $268,948 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Filming began in Britain, but because of the Blitz - the German air raids on London - the production relocated to Hollywood. There was such a long break in production that Sabu's early scenes had to be reshot because he had grown several inches. See more » |
| Goofs | In the Land of Legend, the Old King says that he will give two signs of kingship to Abu the thief. Abu is then given three items: a magic crossbow, a quiver, and a small, ornate box, like a jewelry box. No mention is made in the dialogue of this box, but it can be seen in Abu's right hand as he talks to the Old King and also on the flying carpet as Abu flies away to rescue his friends. Apparently the crossbow and quiver were only one, not two, of the Old King's signs of kingship, and the other sign was the mysterious box, whose magical powers and purpose were lost on the cutting room floor. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Thief of Bagdad (2023). See more » |
| Soundtracks | I Want To Be A Sailor See more » |
| Quotes |
Djinn:
You're a clever little man little master of the universe, but mortals are weak and frail. If their stomach speaks, they forget their brain. If their brain speaks, they forget their heart. And if their heart speaks [laughter] Djinn: ... they forget everything. See more » |