DouglasFairbankssparednoexpenseforwhatmaybethemostlavishfantasymovieevermade.Inspiredbytheflying-carpeteffectsofFritzLang'ssomberbutspectacularDerMüdeTod,Fairbanks(everthecannybusinessman)boughttheAmericanrights,thenhidthefilmawayashecreatedhisownshow-stoppingadventure,anadaptationofAThousandandOneNightsinwhichthemagic-carpetridewasbutoneofmanyfantasticmarvels.Swaggeringthroughmassivemarketplacesetsandcavernousthroneroomsasanincorrigiblethiefandpickpocket,hescalestoweringwalls(withthehelpofamagicrope)andleadsamerrychasethroughcrowdedbazaarsinhispursuitofloot--untilhefallsinlovewiththebeautifulprincessandvowstowinherheart.Thisjauntyopeningisbutmerepreambletothespectacularsecondact.Asthreekingsscourtheglobetoretrievetheraresttreasuresknowntoman,therepentantthiefembarksonanodysseythroughcavernsoffireandunderwatercaves.Themarvelousspecialeffects--fromthesmoke-belchingdragonandunderwaterspidertotheflyinghorseandmagicarmiesarisingfromthedust--mayshowtheirseamsbutglowwithatimelesssenseofwonder.WilliamCameronMenzies'smagnificentsetsappeartohaveleaptfromthepagesofastorybook.Astheadventureconcludesinatorrentofmoviemagicthatcascadesnonstopthroughthebreathlessfinalhour,Fairbankscommandsthescreenwithaheartylaughandgracefulathleticism,thecinema'sfirstactionherotriumphant.Kino'srestorededitionistintedandfeaturesanorganscorebyGaylordCarter.--SeanAxmaker