This was a really nice rediscovery on UK DVD for me; I remember I've watched 'Arabian Adventure' on TV in the 1980s but not since then. I mean, you get flying carpets, jinns, belly-dancers, a beautiful princess to save and Christopher Lee as an evil wizard turning people into toads ("You call yourself my servant?") - what more could you ask for? 'Arabian Adventure' knows the genre standards and delivers. Lest I forget, fire-breathing metal monsters and Peter Cushing with a silly beard are in it as well. One has to admit that the limited budget shows in the set decoration, as the palace looks more like cardboard than marble, and then some effects like the superimposed jinn are rather TV quality than big screen. But fairy tales from 1001 Nights don't need realism that much, I found I could successfully switch into fantasy mode and simply enjoy it. It's an old-fashioned production like they did in the 1940s and 50s, maintaining the same naive charm and that's fine for such kind of things.
24 Reviews
Nice movie
an0nym198528 June 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Director Kevin Connor shot a nice movie for 4.000.000 US$: Arabian Adventure. If one keeps in mind that this film was produced a long time before CGI and for such a "low" budget (if one compares is with other ones), one could say that this film is really successful and a great fun to watch.
The story is a simple fairy of Arabic nights and one night. A young hero loves the attractive daughter of a bad magician. To marry this young lady he has to find a talisman and bring it to the father of this princess. Some of his friends help him to do this job, but one of this "helpers" is a traitor. After a long journey, a lot of dangers and fights he marries his princes and everybody is happy ...
The actors aren't that good, many of them haven't a lot of experience and in those days the stunts were not as successful as they are today. But all in all they were OK.
If the team had the technical possibilities of today, the special effects would have been quiet good. But for those days, they were really successful.
The set-design and the clothes were really very good. One can't say anything against them.
I highly recommend this film to all fairy fans. The film keeps what the title promises, it's a real Arabian Adventure.
The story is a simple fairy of Arabic nights and one night. A young hero loves the attractive daughter of a bad magician. To marry this young lady he has to find a talisman and bring it to the father of this princess. Some of his friends help him to do this job, but one of this "helpers" is a traitor. After a long journey, a lot of dangers and fights he marries his princes and everybody is happy ...
The actors aren't that good, many of them haven't a lot of experience and in those days the stunts were not as successful as they are today. But all in all they were OK.
If the team had the technical possibilities of today, the special effects would have been quiet good. But for those days, they were really successful.
The set-design and the clothes were really very good. One can't say anything against them.
I highly recommend this film to all fairy fans. The film keeps what the title promises, it's a real Arabian Adventure.
if you are a fan of 70's and 80's fantasy, then go see this
fanan45015 July 2018
A beautiful movie, simple story that was well written and directed , of course it will not won an oscar , but after 39 years from it produced and with those old special effects back then, I guarante to all , you will not regret, you will enjoy as I really enjoyed watching it with my kids, it's simple ,charm, magic and funny, that the kind of movies we are missing in these days, it's really worth your time .
Solid children's film.
Blueghost7 April 2008
I saw this many years ago when it was first released, and though I thought the SFX were dated even for its time, I still enjoyed the film as a whole. The score was above average for a film like this, and the acting was respectably comic for the genre; kids'-adventure.
Some familiar faces make their appearance; Ratzenbergger (Cliff from "Cheers"), legend Christopher Lee, Mickey Rooney, Emma Sams and more, adding an amusing and delightful bit of levity to the film.
All in all it's an okay film for kids, but today's young ones may get somewhat impatient with some dated effects--notably some of the process shots and miniature work.
Still, if I had a copy on DVD I'd most certainly add it to my collection. It's worth taking a look at with your kids on a rainy afternoon or lazy Sunday.
Enjoy :-)
Some familiar faces make their appearance; Ratzenbergger (Cliff from "Cheers"), legend Christopher Lee, Mickey Rooney, Emma Sams and more, adding an amusing and delightful bit of levity to the film.
All in all it's an okay film for kids, but today's young ones may get somewhat impatient with some dated effects--notably some of the process shots and miniature work.
Still, if I had a copy on DVD I'd most certainly add it to my collection. It's worth taking a look at with your kids on a rainy afternoon or lazy Sunday.
Enjoy :-)
Good fun, for fans of the fantasy genre.
Hey_Sweden3 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Although "Arabian Adventure" is not up to some of the classics ("The 7th Voyage of Sinbad", "Jason and the Argonauts", etc.), it does show its audience a pretty good time. Yes, some of the effects and sets do show their age, and were probably done on a limited budget. Also, it doesn't look like our heroes have to overcome very many obstacles or challenges on the way to achieving their mission. As it is, it's mainly for a family audience, and kids are sure to be charmed. Overall, this is fairly harmless with very little violence and absolutely no gore, although rest assured, the guilty do not go unpunished.
Sir Christopher Lee is devilish fun as an evil ruler in the ancient years of the Middle East. He needs to obtain a magical rose in order to solidify the hold of evil on the world, and a young man (Oliver Tobias) who claims to be a Prince is willing to go on the mission. Provided, of course, that he gets to win the hand of the lovely Princess Zuleira (beautiful Emma Samms of future 'Dynasty' fame). Joining Tobias on his journey will be a snivelling toady (Milo O'Shea) and a spunky kid named Majeed (the appealing Puneet Sira, who ultimately walks away with the movie).
Adults will delight in a first-rate cast: Capucine, Peter Cushing, Mickey Rooney, John Ratzenberger ("Cliff Clavin" plays a despicable heel in this one), Shane Rimmer, Elisabeth Welch, Suzanne Danielle, Art Malik, Milton Reid, John Wyman, etc. Tobias is an amiable, studly good guy, although it must be said that Sira emerges as the true hero of the piece. This is a child with a good heart who often knows the right thing to do and say.
There's a glorious score composed by Ken Thorne, with much of the shooting done at Pinewood Studios in London. The director is Kevin Connor, who in the space of a few years had become an old hand at this type of genre fare. His other credits include "At the Earth's Core", "The Land That Time Forgot", "The People That Time Forgot", and "Warlords of Atlantis". He makes this good, agreeable entertainment, with one original element: the good guys and the bad guys duelling high above the ground while riding magical flying carpets.
Seven out of 10.
Sir Christopher Lee is devilish fun as an evil ruler in the ancient years of the Middle East. He needs to obtain a magical rose in order to solidify the hold of evil on the world, and a young man (Oliver Tobias) who claims to be a Prince is willing to go on the mission. Provided, of course, that he gets to win the hand of the lovely Princess Zuleira (beautiful Emma Samms of future 'Dynasty' fame). Joining Tobias on his journey will be a snivelling toady (Milo O'Shea) and a spunky kid named Majeed (the appealing Puneet Sira, who ultimately walks away with the movie).
Adults will delight in a first-rate cast: Capucine, Peter Cushing, Mickey Rooney, John Ratzenberger ("Cliff Clavin" plays a despicable heel in this one), Shane Rimmer, Elisabeth Welch, Suzanne Danielle, Art Malik, Milton Reid, John Wyman, etc. Tobias is an amiable, studly good guy, although it must be said that Sira emerges as the true hero of the piece. This is a child with a good heart who often knows the right thing to do and say.
There's a glorious score composed by Ken Thorne, with much of the shooting done at Pinewood Studios in London. The director is Kevin Connor, who in the space of a few years had become an old hand at this type of genre fare. His other credits include "At the Earth's Core", "The Land That Time Forgot", "The People That Time Forgot", and "Warlords of Atlantis". He makes this good, agreeable entertainment, with one original element: the good guys and the bad guys duelling high above the ground while riding magical flying carpets.
Seven out of 10.
Quite fun but not great
GusF30 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
It's pretty fun but it's let down by its slowly paced (though still quite good) script, the less than stellar direction of Kevin Connor and its low budget look. The special effects were not terribly good by 1979 standards but I was more concerned with the cheap sets. I hoped that it would be as outrageously fun as Connor's previous film "At the Earth's Core" or a Ray Harryhausen film but it wasn't, I'm afraid.
None of the Caucasians make very convincing Arabs - particularly John Ratzenberger and, of all people, Mickey Rooney - but it was a good idea not to overdo the make-up. Christopher Lee, Milo O'Shea (even if his Irish accent seems particularly incongruous!) and, in a nice cameo, Peter Cushing are certainly the strongest cast members. Oliver Tobias and Emma Samms are not very engaging leads but they're fine. The same is true of the child actor Puneet Sira, now a successful Bollywood director. It also features nice, small appearances from Shane Rimmer and a very young Art Malik.
6.5/10, maybe 7/10 if I'm feeling generous.
None of the Caucasians make very convincing Arabs - particularly John Ratzenberger and, of all people, Mickey Rooney - but it was a good idea not to overdo the make-up. Christopher Lee, Milo O'Shea (even if his Irish accent seems particularly incongruous!) and, in a nice cameo, Peter Cushing are certainly the strongest cast members. Oliver Tobias and Emma Samms are not very engaging leads but they're fine. The same is true of the child actor Puneet Sira, now a successful Bollywood director. It also features nice, small appearances from Shane Rimmer and a very young Art Malik.
6.5/10, maybe 7/10 if I'm feeling generous.
The Rose Of Arabia.
hitchcockthelegend7 January 2017
Arabian Adventure is directed by Kevin Connor and written by Brian Hayles. It stars Christopher Lee, Milo O'Shea, Oliver Tobias, Emma Samms and Puneet Sira. Music is by Ken Thorne and cinematography by Alan Hume.
A prince is sent by an evil sorcerer (Lee) on a quest for a magical rose. Should he succeed, he hopes that as a reward he will win the hand of the princess.
Sometimes to moderately enjoy a film of this type, you just got to take yourself back to a time when simple children's adventure movies were made with simple film making techniques. This obviously doesn't hold up well these days, where even given the year it was made it was way behind advancements that were being made in special effects. Thus it's highly unlikely that the prepubescents of today would have the patience or care for such a production. Yet it doesn't lack for charm.
Is charm enough? Well it's not a great or very good film, it's heavy on chatter, the effects are indeed a little crude, acting and accents are borderline dire, and it seems to take an age to get going, yet it's not insulting like many far bigger budget pictures have been: even nowadays! It's best just to roll with it, enjoy the whimsy and the many small roles by the likes of Peter Cushing, Mickey Rooney, Capucine and, erm, John Ratzenberger.
Forgettable once it's over, but harmless with it. 5/10
A prince is sent by an evil sorcerer (Lee) on a quest for a magical rose. Should he succeed, he hopes that as a reward he will win the hand of the princess.
Sometimes to moderately enjoy a film of this type, you just got to take yourself back to a time when simple children's adventure movies were made with simple film making techniques. This obviously doesn't hold up well these days, where even given the year it was made it was way behind advancements that were being made in special effects. Thus it's highly unlikely that the prepubescents of today would have the patience or care for such a production. Yet it doesn't lack for charm.
Is charm enough? Well it's not a great or very good film, it's heavy on chatter, the effects are indeed a little crude, acting and accents are borderline dire, and it seems to take an age to get going, yet it's not insulting like many far bigger budget pictures have been: even nowadays! It's best just to roll with it, enjoy the whimsy and the many small roles by the likes of Peter Cushing, Mickey Rooney, Capucine and, erm, John Ratzenberger.
Forgettable once it's over, but harmless with it. 5/10
Hasn't worn well
neil-4765 April 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Prince Oliver Tobias will be granted permission to marry Princess Emma Samms if he succeeds in a quest to find a magic flower for her father, wicked Caliph Christopher Lee. However, the wicked Caliph has contrived to send along duplicitous Milo O'Shea to make sure the quest fails.
This fantasy adventure features special effects which weren't all that special back at the time (back projected backgrounds behind flying carpets with wiggly edges, and models which scream "I am a model!" chief among them), some dodgy fighting, some screamingly though unintentionally funny dialogue, not massively heroic performances from Tobias and Samms, Mickey Rooney overacting as if his life depends on it, and beautifully understated villainy from Christopher Lee.
For all that, there is a naïve enthusiasm about it which pleases and, at the time, we had nothing better. But these days we are used to our fantasy being a little less unsophisticated.
This fantasy adventure features special effects which weren't all that special back at the time (back projected backgrounds behind flying carpets with wiggly edges, and models which scream "I am a model!" chief among them), some dodgy fighting, some screamingly though unintentionally funny dialogue, not massively heroic performances from Tobias and Samms, Mickey Rooney overacting as if his life depends on it, and beautifully understated villainy from Christopher Lee.
For all that, there is a naïve enthusiasm about it which pleases and, at the time, we had nothing better. But these days we are used to our fantasy being a little less unsophisticated.
Remake of Thief of Bagdad
malcolmgsw2 October 2019
A reminder of summer movies past...
AdamJezard24 June 2019
Love this undemanding kids' fantasy. The least of the John Dark-Kevin Connor films, it's still a fun reminder of summer holidays spent watching such stuff.
Great to see Lee and Cushing in any film, if not on screen at the same time, and Ken Thorne's score sets the whole thing off nicely.
Great to see Lee and Cushing in any film, if not on screen at the same time, and Ken Thorne's score sets the whole thing off nicely.
Bargain basement kid's fantasy flick
Leofwine_draca8 July 2015
An unimaginative title is a pre-warning that this movie isn't much cop, and it even makes Kevin Connor's previous outings - which include the incredibly tacky AT THE EARTH'S CORE - look like Oscar contenders. A kiddie fantasy film full of stock characters, an overload of cheap effects work, poor comedy, and cardboard sets conspire to sink it from the start. I usually get a kick out of this genre, but everything is so by-the-book and unimaginative - did I mention cheap? - that it just doesn't offer up any interest whatsoever. Even the fight scenes are boring.
The biggest disgrace is the waste of a good cast in this dull outing. Whoever decided to cast Milo O'Shea (THEATRE OF BLOOD) as an Irish Arab needs shooting, but that's just the start of the problems that plague this movie. Oliver Tobias (COBRA MISSION) is handsome but ineffectual as the leading man, his acting weak. Christopher Lee makes one of those embarrassing latter-day performances that plague his career (POLICE ACADEMY 7 anyone?) as the evil Sultan, Alquazar, but the film doesn't stretch his talents at all - instead he just looks bored, with silly headgear, a villain distinctly lacking in villainy.
Elsewhere we have a bland love interest, an annoying cute Indian kid and his pet monkey, a before-he-was-famous appearance from Art Malik, and of course wasted turns from British character actors including Shane Rimmer. Even Peter Cushing puts in a cameo role as a prisoner (!), only two years after STAR WARS and he was reduced to this level - a sad state of affairs.
The special effects are typically appalling, the nadir being the magic carpet rides which are achieved via some really poor and unconvincing back projection. There's supposed to be a "chase" between these carpets, but they move at a snail's pace so any excitement is non-existent. There's also a sandstorm in which people supposedly fly through the air but are instead suspended by really obvious wires and a giant genie which is just a bald overweight man with his face painted blue superimposed over the background. What the?!
On the plus side, there's a cool scene in which three mechanical fire-breathing monsters appear over the top of a mountain range to menace our heroes like they're come from some Toho flick, some interesting matte work and good location scenery, and colour filters which give the setting an other-worldly look. Unfortunately these aren't enough; ARABIAN ADVENTURE is a waste of talent and money, and a sad reminder of the level British cinema had fallen to by 1979.
The biggest disgrace is the waste of a good cast in this dull outing. Whoever decided to cast Milo O'Shea (THEATRE OF BLOOD) as an Irish Arab needs shooting, but that's just the start of the problems that plague this movie. Oliver Tobias (COBRA MISSION) is handsome but ineffectual as the leading man, his acting weak. Christopher Lee makes one of those embarrassing latter-day performances that plague his career (POLICE ACADEMY 7 anyone?) as the evil Sultan, Alquazar, but the film doesn't stretch his talents at all - instead he just looks bored, with silly headgear, a villain distinctly lacking in villainy.
Elsewhere we have a bland love interest, an annoying cute Indian kid and his pet monkey, a before-he-was-famous appearance from Art Malik, and of course wasted turns from British character actors including Shane Rimmer. Even Peter Cushing puts in a cameo role as a prisoner (!), only two years after STAR WARS and he was reduced to this level - a sad state of affairs.
The special effects are typically appalling, the nadir being the magic carpet rides which are achieved via some really poor and unconvincing back projection. There's supposed to be a "chase" between these carpets, but they move at a snail's pace so any excitement is non-existent. There's also a sandstorm in which people supposedly fly through the air but are instead suspended by really obvious wires and a giant genie which is just a bald overweight man with his face painted blue superimposed over the background. What the?!
On the plus side, there's a cool scene in which three mechanical fire-breathing monsters appear over the top of a mountain range to menace our heroes like they're come from some Toho flick, some interesting matte work and good location scenery, and colour filters which give the setting an other-worldly look. Unfortunately these aren't enough; ARABIAN ADVENTURE is a waste of talent and money, and a sad reminder of the level British cinema had fallen to by 1979.
Refreshing
fieryangel214 August 2019
Refreshing not to have the ghastly Disney versions destroying all our fairy tales with their celebrity genies trying desperately to be hip and embarrassingly street cred with modern audiences , ticking boxes of political correctness , doing everything on computer and having not an iota of charm . This film ,beautifully designed, beautifully costumed , has the simplicity and innocence of a real children's story and is all the more magical for that .
And blessedly no American accents
Arabian Adventure
CinemaSerf5 June 2023
This last film of the Kevin Connor/John Dark series of fantasy adventures, which I recall fondly from my childhood, sees Christopher Lee as "Alquazar", an evil sorcerer who manages to trick the lovestruck Oliver Tobias ("Prince Hasan") into setting off on a perilous journey for the all-powerful "Rose of Elil" which will earn him the hand of the beautiful Emma Sands ("Princess Zuilera"). Along the way he has a many adventures on his magic carpet; picks up the obligatory street-rat "Majeed" (Puneet Sira) and encounters magic and evil as he tries to fulfil his quest. It's a traditional Arabian Nights type story with sumptuous costumes and sets, and Lee is great as the baddie. A marvellously obsequious Milo O'Shea, Peter Cushing, Capucine and an all-too-brief series of scenes with Mickey Rooney make this more of an adventure story than a romantic one; and I quite enjoyed it.
what a pile of Pooh
shanee25sdc17 February 2005
this film is pathetic the acting (if you could call it that is cardboard and predictable) the plot again is predictable and so clichéd (with no real attempt to even disguise the cliché). I didn't know that thieves had cockney accents in 'arabia'. what makes it even worst is that all the actors are supposed to be Arab but just have lots of fake tan on. it looks like everything from every fantasy and storybook has been thrown into a bag and pulled out in some random order. the story doesn't seem to focus on one magic thing to the next this is too dull a film to mention in fact i couldn't get through the whole thing without giving up and deciding that this is a wholesale waste of my time. i was very surprised to see that this film had been made in 1979. i mean, star wars had been made by then, Indiana Jones wasn't far off. jaws had been made and yet the effects in this film are pathetic. i could not justify giving this film any more than a one as a rating.
well......
alligator30 November 2000
I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!...Yet I haven't been able to find a copy of it for years.. As a child I watched this movie constantly, esp' due to my love of LEE..And it has remained as a special movie to me. It seemed to be one of those movies back then, that was one of the newer 'style' movies in the late 70's (effects and stuff)..so back then i just loved it..It's a true fantasy!! I think most children would absolutly love this film..though if i saw it now, i'd proberly laugh at the effects! But no one i've met has ever heard of it..I think it's a hidden gem..hopefully not lost forever!!!
An interesting take on Aladdin
akoaytao123411 September 2021
Such a beautiful film and given the time it was made, that's shocking. It has a rather crisp color palette that I think is only found with Archer films. Sadly, the film chose to make creative differences from the original and more known version of story. Thus, the film starts as a confusing tale with an expectation for Aladdin-esque or Thief of Baghdad-esque story but got a weird smorgasbord of different highlights of those film and that really shifts expectation. It also has a weird structure and a lack of focus in major players that is unexpected for a film of this level and production. Not good but respectable.
The prince of getting knocked out
acesfilms20 April 2021
Oliver Tobias (prince hassan) is the prince of getting knocked unconscious in this film. Seriously, keep a count. The real hero of the story is the little child Majid. Excellent evil performance by Christopher Lee as the the evil sultan. The start of the film with the scenes in the market place are nicely done, but the rest of the movie is a bit of a let down - The scenes with Mickey Rooney are weird and could have easily been left out. Acting by Oliver Tobias is quite wooden and ruins the film. Some nice little cameos by Peter Cushing and a young Art Malik. Watch Thief of Baghdad (1977) instead.
Flying carpets n tons of it but still boring.
Fella_shibby15 September 2021
I first saw this in the late 80s on a vhs.
Revisited it recently with my seven year old nephew.
I am generous with a 4 for the childhood memories.
This one hasnt aged well.
Even my nephew didn't like it that much.
Terrible acting, too much chatting, very less action, laughable genie aka a blatant rip off from Thief of Baghdad.
The lil boy in this one did a terrible job. He ain't no match to Sabu from Thief of Baghdad.
Peter Cushing is totally wasted.
Basically this one is a poor man's Thief of Baghdad.
Revisiting Ray Harryhausen and Charles H. Schneer's movies are better options.
Revisited it recently with my seven year old nephew.
I am generous with a 4 for the childhood memories.
This one hasnt aged well.
Even my nephew didn't like it that much.
Terrible acting, too much chatting, very less action, laughable genie aka a blatant rip off from Thief of Baghdad.
The lil boy in this one did a terrible job. He ain't no match to Sabu from Thief of Baghdad.
Peter Cushing is totally wasted.
Basically this one is a poor man's Thief of Baghdad.
Revisiting Ray Harryhausen and Charles H. Schneer's movies are better options.
Downhill from the start
falangsabai2 November 2022
This movie could have been so much better. It had all the right story ingredients: exotic locale, evil wizard, beautiful princess, valiant prince, magic carpet, good genies and bad genies, lots of magic. Unfortunately they were not brought together in an interesting or remotely enjoyable way. The first few minutes showed promise, but it was all downhill from there. I realize this was done over fifty years ago, but the special effects were totally hokey and poorly done. The script is very weak, and the scenes are too long. I'm a fan of Mickey Rooney but I was truly embarrassed for the part he played. In short, stupid and boring.
Aesthetic escapism and entertainment
m-ozfirat5 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
The film though done with a limited budget is a classic and the last of a kind we do not see anymore as I will explain. Before the 1970s Arabs and other nations of the Middle East were represented in an exotic and romantic manner with a curious interest of the areas culture in terms of the literature of the Arabian Nights classics and European accounts of the Classical Arab Empire.
The film is well produced with a good cast especially Christopher Lee, Emma Samms and Oliver Tobias who can pass as Arabs and do a good representation and acting along with the rest of the costume and background setting of the film with protocol and respect. The story is interesting and takes its inspiration from the original stories that fascinated Europe with Arabic literature on its themes of adventure, mysticism and imaginative content looking for a rose along with good chemistry with the differing characters protagonist and antagonist.
The film is not politically incorrect or prejudice rather it a fair and positive representation of Arabs and Muslims at their classical zenith that is entertaining and interesting. The minor faults i find with the film is the characters are slightly clichéd and in some parts it is cheesy that only targets a particular audience rather then a broad one. With the negative stereotyping of all things Middle Eastern in today's Films and Media this film deserves more credit and attention then is given.
The film is well produced with a good cast especially Christopher Lee, Emma Samms and Oliver Tobias who can pass as Arabs and do a good representation and acting along with the rest of the costume and background setting of the film with protocol and respect. The story is interesting and takes its inspiration from the original stories that fascinated Europe with Arabic literature on its themes of adventure, mysticism and imaginative content looking for a rose along with good chemistry with the differing characters protagonist and antagonist.
The film is not politically incorrect or prejudice rather it a fair and positive representation of Arabs and Muslims at their classical zenith that is entertaining and interesting. The minor faults i find with the film is the characters are slightly clichéd and in some parts it is cheesy that only targets a particular audience rather then a broad one. With the negative stereotyping of all things Middle Eastern in today's Films and Media this film deserves more credit and attention then is given.
Up, Up, and Away...My Beautiful, My Beautiful...Magic Carpet
BaronBl00d11 September 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I generally agree with most of the former reviews that Arabian Adventure is a cheaply-made, decently made story about a wicked sultan(I think) played with gusto by Christopher Lee who wants to basically take over the world. In order to do so he must gather some cheap-looking rose that is protected by three mechanical, very unconvincing robots that look like some kind of bizarre animals. The story is all over the place at times, little exposition or character depth is painted, and the acting is not great. Lee is good but knows what he is working with. We also get Milo O'Shea as his toadie...he hasn't much to work with either but is entertaining. Emma Samms plays a hidden princess and prize to whomever can retrieve the magical rose. She is beautiful if nothing else(and you get virtually nothing else from her!) Her "boyfriend" Oliver Tobias, on the other hand, as the hero is as wooden as they come. His acting range goes from 1 to 2. Capucine and Peter Cushing have cameos as does Mickey Rooney. The three are pleasant spots in this film. Cheer's John Ratzenberger plays one of Lee's henchman in an early performance, and he is very noticeable with his accent and look being very out-of-place in this film. The young boy with the monkey who befriends Tobias, gets a date(not the female or male variety but the fruit kind)(again I think) that turns into a magic non-red sapphire which houses a woman that grants him three life protecting wishes is played very nicely by Puneet Sira. He has some presence on film and a great "little" voice. Director Kevin Connor works well despite the budgetary concerns. some of the special effects, for 1979, are pretty decent. The flying carpet scenes are generally good. I liked the layout of Lee's labyrinth of evil, if you will, and thought the village scenes were nicely done too. Yes, the story is childish, the acting amateurish generally, and the production values less than stellar but Arabian Adventure has heart which is something you don't always get but should always expect when creative peoples get together to make art. It also is another film where Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing are together - though do not share a scene. I think the only film after this one where they are in the same film is House of Long Shadows.
For those who loved Sabu, Maria Montez and Jon Hall.
mark.waltz20 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Where was this in my movie theater community in 1979? I recall seeing advertisements for this in various papers, teeny tiny little marker said it was playing at some neighborhood theater, but going to the movies a lot in does not have surely would have gone to see it. Those colorful Universal action films which starred the trio I mentioned above were preliminary versions of what special effects master Ray Harryhausen was noted for over 20 years, and while this may not be on the level of those films as far as technical achievements, it is simply gorgeous to look at and truly engaging from start to finish.
Puneet Sira could charm the venom out of a cobra as the little Aladdin like boy who assists the handsome Oliver Tobias and a pre-"General Hospital*/"Dynasty" Emma Samms in their fight against princess Samm's evil stepfather (Christopher Lee). The journey that they go on to defeat Lee is amazing even though some moments are very silly and some of the casting is questionable. Milo O'Shea is amusing as Tobias's sidekick, but his Irish dialect is obvious. Peter Cushing is on and off screen so fast that you barely have time to really acknowledge his presence. Mickey Rooney's brief characterization does have a point but he plays it with such self grandeur that it almost becomes deprecating to the film. It does explains on how the metallic monsters are able to move around and spitfire, sort of reminding me of Dick Van Dyke as the inventor in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang".
Another great sequence involves an evil genie whom Tobias and O'Shea deal with in an amusing fashion. Tobias certainly is handsome and rugged and a great hero, but I do question his casting as well as the very beautiful Samms whose British accent also gets in the way. But it's easy to get past these flaws because the film is fast-moving and enjoyable and filled with gorgeous sets and costumes and a terrific fantasy environment. Don't expect "Aladdin" (2019) going into this but I can see elements of the live action movie that may have not been copied but are certainly obvious. So put aside your 2020 demand for high-tech and loud special effects and just enjoy this for the elegant carpet ride it is. With that attitude, you cannot be disappointed.
Puneet Sira could charm the venom out of a cobra as the little Aladdin like boy who assists the handsome Oliver Tobias and a pre-"General Hospital*/"Dynasty" Emma Samms in their fight against princess Samm's evil stepfather (Christopher Lee). The journey that they go on to defeat Lee is amazing even though some moments are very silly and some of the casting is questionable. Milo O'Shea is amusing as Tobias's sidekick, but his Irish dialect is obvious. Peter Cushing is on and off screen so fast that you barely have time to really acknowledge his presence. Mickey Rooney's brief characterization does have a point but he plays it with such self grandeur that it almost becomes deprecating to the film. It does explains on how the metallic monsters are able to move around and spitfire, sort of reminding me of Dick Van Dyke as the inventor in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang".
Another great sequence involves an evil genie whom Tobias and O'Shea deal with in an amusing fashion. Tobias certainly is handsome and rugged and a great hero, but I do question his casting as well as the very beautiful Samms whose British accent also gets in the way. But it's easy to get past these flaws because the film is fast-moving and enjoyable and filled with gorgeous sets and costumes and a terrific fantasy environment. Don't expect "Aladdin" (2019) going into this but I can see elements of the live action movie that may have not been copied but are certainly obvious. So put aside your 2020 demand for high-tech and loud special effects and just enjoy this for the elegant carpet ride it is. With that attitude, you cannot be disappointed.
Fun fantasy adventure romp
Woodyanders19 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Evil and treacherous sorcerer Coliph Alquazar (ably played with suavely sinister aplomb by Christopher Lee) convinces noble Prince Hasan (a likeable performance by Oliver Tobias) to embark on a quest to obtain a powerful magical rose that Alquazar needs to achieve his full potential as a cruel ruler.
Director Kevin Connor keeps the enjoyable and engrossing story moving along at a constant pace, maintains an engaging lighthearted tone throughout, stages the exciting sword fights with rip-roaring gusto, and further spruces things up with an amusing sense of amiable humor. Moreover, it's acted with zest by an enthusiastic cast: Milo O'Shea as slimy and spineless toady Khasim, Puneet Sira as spunky little boy Majeed, Capucine as helpful genie Vahishsta, Mickey Rooney as zany inventor Daad El Shur, John Ratzenberger as the sniveling Achmed, John Wyman as vicious flunky Bahloul, and Milton Reid as a fearsome brute. The ravishing Emma Samms makes for an extremely fetching and appealing fair maiden as Princess Zuleira. Peter Cushing has a nice bit as resigned prisoner Wazir Al Wuzara. The (not so) special effects are admittedly pretty dodgy, but nonetheless still possess a certain endearingly rinky-dink charm. Ken Thorne's robust score hits the rousing spot. Alan Hume's handsome cinematography gives this picture a pleasing polished look. A real treat.
Director Kevin Connor keeps the enjoyable and engrossing story moving along at a constant pace, maintains an engaging lighthearted tone throughout, stages the exciting sword fights with rip-roaring gusto, and further spruces things up with an amusing sense of amiable humor. Moreover, it's acted with zest by an enthusiastic cast: Milo O'Shea as slimy and spineless toady Khasim, Puneet Sira as spunky little boy Majeed, Capucine as helpful genie Vahishsta, Mickey Rooney as zany inventor Daad El Shur, John Ratzenberger as the sniveling Achmed, John Wyman as vicious flunky Bahloul, and Milton Reid as a fearsome brute. The ravishing Emma Samms makes for an extremely fetching and appealing fair maiden as Princess Zuleira. Peter Cushing has a nice bit as resigned prisoner Wazir Al Wuzara. The (not so) special effects are admittedly pretty dodgy, but nonetheless still possess a certain endearingly rinky-dink charm. Ken Thorne's robust score hits the rousing spot. Alan Hume's handsome cinematography gives this picture a pleasing polished look. A real treat.
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