Scanialara
You won't be disappointed!
Harockerce
What a beautiful movie!
Humbersi
The first must-see film of the year.
Brennan Camacho
Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.
JohnHowardReid
Copyright 31 December 1946 by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. New York opening at the Palace: 22 January 1947. U.S. release: 13 January 1947. U.K. release: 18 August 1947. Australian release: 25 September 1947. 10,724 feet. 119 minutes.SYNOPSIS: On his 8th voyage, Sinbad finds himself competing with a beautiful princess, a blood-thirsty emir, a scheming barber and a mysterious thug called the Jackal for a treasure buried in the long-lost palace of Alexander the Great.NOTES: Negative cost: a staggering $2,460,000 - all of which is up there on the screen to enjoy and admire. Initial domestic rentals gross: around $3 million, which after paying print, advertising and distribution costs, probably broke even or made a small loss which overseas rentals would have turned into a very modest profit overall.COMMENT: I don't suppose we should be surprised that Sinbad was not nominated for any prestigious Hollywood award, though it easily outshone The Yearling in both the Color Cinematography and Color Art Direction categories. The trouble is of course that Sinbad was conceived purely as entertainment, not as "prestige". And what great entertainment it offers. True, the script is a trifle wordy, but I mean, who's listening all that intently when such breathtaking scenery and exotic costumes are constantly drifting past the camera? The dialogue has a poetic ring to it, and a lightly perfumed flavor of the Arabian Nights. Not a heavily authentic flavor it is true, but it will pass with all but the most finicky Burton scholars. And the performances are totally right. Fairbanks is perfect as the bragging Sinbad, Miss O'Hara surprisingly comes through with flying colors in a tricky role as a scheming princess who uses her beauty and romance as a tool, whilst Walter Slezak gives one of the most riveting portraits of his villainous career as a double-edged barber with more than close shaving on his mind. The support cast is full of familiar (if impenetrably bearded) faces, which just adds further pleasure to an already overcrowded slice of derring-do. Roy Webb's lyrical music score is a further major asset.OTHER VIEWS: A cleverly written, impishly played, and lightly directed romp through the exotic pages of your Arabian Nights. Mr Fairbanks plays with the right tongue-in-cheek bravado, Miss O'Hara is a Turkish delight to dazzle the eye, Mr Slezak the sort of smooth-talking, fast thinking villain to keep the action simmering (with a slight assist from the more openly mercenary Anthony Quinn) for 117 minutes. Sumptuous sets and costumes round out the tale very nicely thank you, though we do miss a few of the more exotic creatures of the Nights such as giants and djinns, monsters and wizards.
-J.H.R. in Photoplayer.
Wizard-8
This retelling of the famed Arabian Nights hero seems to have been mostly forgotten today, and I think I know the reason why. Let me make clear that this is not a BAD movie. In fact, it gets some of the ingredients needed for a good Sinbad movie right. The movie looks pretty lavish, with excellent sets and superb Technicolor photography. Even better than those things is the actor cast as Sinbad. Douglas Fairbanks Junior is the ideal Sinbad, having a sense of humor and much enthusiasm in every scene, and when he's thrown into action, he also does well.However, Fairbanks does not get to be thrown in action all that much. While there is occasionally some action, the movie for the most part is surprisingly a gabfest, with various characters engaging in pretty dry chat. And there is less travel to exotic lands than you would think - much of the movie takes place in civilization, which is dull as well as disappointing.To sum up, if you are a fan of fantasy films from the golden age of Hollywood, this Sinbad movie will be an okay way to pass the time. If you are a more casual fan of the genre, you might want to look elsewhere.
ptb-8
Visually breathtaking, this RKO Technicolor fantasy is a sumptuous feast, funny, campy and deliriously entertaining. There is really no reason or point to complain about any silly thing in this gloriously silly and funny film because it is produced like that already. But, wow, a Technicolor treat of truly 'gasp out loud' art design and set construction reactions, and hilarious for kids as well. Maureen O'Hara makes as unlikely a princess (think, casting) as anyone else thoroughly enjoying themselves in this expensive storybook feast. Made for $2.6m in 1946 and all of it there on screen, this film boasts a wondrous supporting cast of character players... even Sheldon Leonard as a startled auctioneer, and sexy Jane Greer all dressed in harem finery. The real art deco splendor of the Arabian styled art direction really kicks into high spectacle when they sail to Daraynbar and go to the Princess' palace... there is a green corridor with a incredible spiral staircase: scenes where I found myself repeating just to believe what I was seeing. This is a really beautiful funny film and a lot of fun... but the color the costumes and the sets are beyond belief in their Hollywood fantasy imagery. I guess after the Universal series of similar films with Maria Montez and even Monogram's success with THE SULTAN'S DAUGHTER it seems RKO wanted to top the lot for sheer dazzling screen imagery and fantasy screen fun. They succeeded!
wes-connors
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. (as Sinbad) loves to tell stories, like this one. After a ship's crew is poisoned, Mr. Fairbanks Jr.'s "Sinbad the Sailor" hops on board and finds a map to Deryabar; there, he hopes to find the treasure of Alexander the Great. He also believes he may be the rightful Prince of Deryabar. A greedy couple - the alluring Maureen O'Hara (as Shireen) and her turbaned partner Anthony Quinn (as Emir) get in the way
Colorful lethargy. The stars are much more interesting in other films, although Fairbanks Jr. is somehow engaging; at least, he tries not to look completely bored. The story lacks both focus and humor, and it is way too long. Walter Slezak as "Melik the Hairdresser" is the performance to keep your eyes on, if you watch - he is delicious... ***** Sinbad the Sailor (1/13/47) Richard Wallace ~ Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Walter Slezak, Maureen O'Hara, Anthony Quinn