DouglasFairbankssparednoexpenseforwhatmaybethemostlavishfantasymovieevermade.Inspiredbytheflying-carpeteffectsofFritzLang'ssomberbutspectacularDerMüdeTod,Fairbanks(everthecannybusinessman)boughttheAmericanrights,thenhidthefilmawayashecreatedhisownshow-stoppingadventure,anadaptationofAThousandandOneNightsinwhichthemagic-carpetridewasbutoneofmanyfantasticmarvels.Swaggeringthroughmassivemarketplacesetsandcavernousthroneroomsasanincorrigiblethiefandpickpocket,hescalestoweringwalls(withthehelpofamagicrope)andleadsamerrychasethroughcrowdedbazaarsinhispursuitofloot--untilhefallsinlovewiththebeautifulprincessandvowstowinherheart.Thisjauntyopeningisbutmerepreambletothespectacularsecondact.Asthreekingsscourtheglobetoretrievetheraresttreasuresknowntoman,therepentantthiefembarksonanodysseythroughcavernsoffireandunderwatercaves.The...
