Arabian Nights (1942)
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66% of users liked it
(481 ratings)
In a harem in a Middle Eastern palace, the guardian leads the women he protects in telling the tale of Halroun-Al-Raschid (Jon Hall), the Caliph of Bagdad, who found himself an enemy close to home in the form of his half-brother Kamar (Leif Erickson), who was ineligible for the throne because of his… More In a harem in a Middle Eastern palace, the guardian leads the women he protects in telling the tale of Halroun-Al-Raschid (Jon Hall), the Caliph of Bagdad, who found himself an enemy close to home in the form of his half-brother Kamar (Leif Erickson), who was ineligible for the throne because of his mother's having been a slave. Halroun and his followers initially put down Kamar's attempt at usurpation, until Halroun's ambitious vizier Nadan (Edgar Barrier) changes sides. In the confusion of the ensuing battle, Halroun is wounded -- spotted by the young acrobat Ali (Sabu), he is sheltered by a group of traveling players led by Ahmad (Billy Gilbert), whose ranks also include a player and storyteller (and, if he is to be believed, former sailor) named Sinbad (Shemp Howard) and a man named Aladdin (John Qualen) who is searching for a magic lamp -- and a dancer named Scheherazade (Maria Montez), who had beguiled Kamar and welcomes his ascent to the throne, because she has been told that she is destined to marry a king. She loves the wounded man in her care, whose identity she doesn't know, but is intent on marrying Kamar, now that he is Caliph. But her plans are thwarted by Nadan, who wants no competition from her in his sway over Kamar, and has arranged to have her killed; but when an avaricious officer (Turhan Bey)instead sells her and the entire performing troup to a dishonest slave trader (Thomas Gomez). From that moment, complications ensue for all concerned, as the new Caliph goes after his beloved, the deposed king Halroun tries to protect her and regain his throne, and Nadan hopes to come out sitting on the throne himself. Treachery and narrow escapes, and even a few thwarted plans ensue on all sides as the hero Haroun has to watch out for Scheherazade and himself from several sides at once, all while keeping his identity from her. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi
- Directed By
- John Rawlins
- Genres
- Classics, Action & Adventure
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1942 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This Universal's multi Oscar-nominated tale was very popular in the 1940s
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
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Cast
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Jon Hall
as Haroun al Raschid
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Maria Montez
as Scheherazade
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Leif Erickson
as Kamar
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Sabú
as Ali ben Ali
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Billy Gilbert
as Ahmad
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Edgar Barrier
as Nadan
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Richard Lane
as Corporal
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Turhan Bey
as Captain
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John Qualen
as Aladdin
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Shemp Howard
as Sinbad
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William "Wee Willie" Davis
as Valda
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Thomas Gomez
as Hakim the Slave Trader
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Jeni Le Gon
as Dresser to Sherazad
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Charles Coleman
as Eunuch
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Adia Kuznetzoff
as Slaver
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Emory Parnell
as Harem Sentry
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Harry Cording
as Blacksmith
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Robin Raymond
as Slave Girl
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Carmen D'Antonio
as Harem Girl
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Acquanetta
as Ishya
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John Berkes
as Blind Beggar
- André Charlot
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Ken Christy
as Provost Marshal
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June Ealey
as Harem Girl
- Frances Gladwin
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Robert Greig
as Eunuch - Story Teller
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Eloise Hardt
as Virgin
- Jamiel Hasson
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Elyse Knox
as Duenna
- Frank Lackteen
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Murdock MacQuarrie
as Bidders
- Art Miles
- Mary Tyler Moore
- Veronika Pataky
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Eva Puig
as Old Woman
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Mickey Simpson
as Hangman
- Pat Starling
- Jean Trent
- Crane Whitley
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Ernest Whitman
as Nubian Slave
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Duke York
as Archer
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Alaine Brandes
as Street Slave Girl
- Cordell Hickman
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Paul Clayton
as Black Boys
- Virginia Engels
- Patsy Mace
- Anthony Blair
- Helen Pender
- Robert Barron
