Absolutely Fantastic

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

This takes place in ancient Arabia. Something about a handsome man (Jon Hall) and his brother both in love with beautiful Scheherazade (Maria Montez). One is rich and powerful and the other one is poor but really loves her. Who will she choose? The plot isn't really important here. This was made to entertain audiences and giving them colorful mindless escapism...and it does that! It's shot in absolutely beautiful Techicolor--every single frame looks gorgeous. The picture never stops moving, there's plenty of action and a loud pounding score driving things along. As for the acting it's not that great. Hall and Montez are incredibly beautiful to look at but neither of them were good actors. Sabu pops up here and there helping things along. He can't act either but he's so full of energy and youth he's hard not to like. But worst of all is Shemp Howard (late one of the Three Stooges!) playing Sinbad!!!! To say he's miscast is an understatement. Still this is colorful and fast-moving--lots of fun! I give it an 8.

Arabian Nights is one of the best early Technicolor efforts out of Hollywood and it really shows. It is great fun with a little something for everyone. The DVD is an excellent transfer and the color is beautiful on my new plasma HD TV. For the kids, its a simple action film with good good caliphs and bad caliphs. For the men, there's the gorgeous Maria Montez (OK, so the boys will enjoy her too.) For the ladies, the costuming will simply amaze you. This film can be watched by everyone except small children (a couple of killings - non graphic and 1 torture scene - also non graphic). Highly recommend for families with children 8 and over yrs old. Us older folks will enjoy it too. You can watch this many times. It won't get old.

This ancient fantasy of two brothers who are caliphs-in-waiting is a dazzling, colorful film presented in lush Technicolor. Maria Montez is the beautiful and exotic Sherazade who desires the trappings of wealth and power as she aspires to marry a caliph. Jon Hall is a virile and likable hero and Leif Erickson and Edgar Barrier are also good in supporting roles but it is Sabu who leaves the best impression in this picture. Nature's beauty of deep blue skies, thick white clouds and golden desert sand dunes are well-served in this yarn of palace intrigue and murder as the brothers battle for the kingdom's throne. Chase scenes, sword fights and comedy are sprinkled throughout the story but it is the vibrant color interiors and exteriors that arrest all attention in this film.

I do not understand why the video movie pack shows John Hall when really movie 80% begin to Maria Montez and 20% to Sabu. The story (Boardman and Hogan), an inoffensive comedy in the orientalism way from the 40', the same that decorates and costumes. Very caracterist in that Hollywood era. Splendid technicolor and adequate music from Frank Skinner.