Sinbad the Sailor (1947)

Sorry, this movie sucks

Just perfect...

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

You can see elements of great adventure films in this with one sequence where Sinbad tries to evade guards as he searches for the girl within the palace seeming rather like the later adventure in the first Star Wars film of 1977 with Han Solo trying to evade stormtroopers while searching for the girl within the Death Star. George Lucas openly was inspired by all the adventures he saw as a kid and whether this sequence was directly influential or whether it was just an example of the type of scenes which inspired him I do not know. Scenes like that are classic adventure fun but they are few and far between in this rahter dull and confused film. There are plenty of better adventure films from this era and there are better Sinbad films too. The film is not artistically interesting and the story is pretty turgid. Maureen O'Hara is, as always, a sparkling presence, Anthony Quinn is always a good character actor and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is well able to handle the action and humour but there is little material to work with here. I am being generous to award it 4.5/10 for the good elements within this very average film.

Sinbad the Sailor sees Douglas Fairbanks Jr in dashing form moving around with gusto and grace telling stories of his voyages to a audience in a bazaar in Basra that mixes it with tales of the Arabian nights. In a sense there is a hint of the German film of Baron Munchausen with his telling of tall tales.The film is told in Technicolour flashbacks involving a scheming Emir (Anthony Quinn), another schemer (Walter Slezak) who along with Sinbad are looking for the lost treasure of Alexander the Great in the fabled island of Deryabar. A sultry Maureen O'Hara plays Shireen a member of the Emir's harem but who falls for Sinbad.The film has great production values and looks good in colour but the plot is convoluted, it is also a bit silly and hammy as well. You get the feeling that its less of a swashbuckler with the added knockabout comedy which makes the film drag and the film would had been better if it had been reduced by 30 minutes.Fairbanks gives the role of Sinbad his all, Quinn plays his part well as the calculating villain whereas other members of the cast look ill suited as darkened up Arabs.

The storyteller Sinbad the Sailor (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) is gathered with other men in the harbor telling his adventure seeking the island of Daryabar, where the treasure of Alexander the Great is hidden. In his journey with his friend Abbu (George Tobias), Sinbad rescues and claims property of a drifting boat; he meets the ambitious and gorgeous Shireen (Maureen O'Hara) and falls in love for her; he is chased by the evil Emir (Anthony Quinn) that is seeking the treasure to become one of the most powerful men in the world; and he meets the dangerous Melik (Walter Slezak) that also wants the treasure."Sinbad the Sailor" is a delightful adventure, in a type of naive movie that Hollywood seems to have forgotten in the present days. However, the success of the franchise "Pirates of Caribbean" proves that this genre is still attractive for the younger generations. The athletic Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is excellent in the lead role, showing a great chemistry with the gorgeous Maureen O'Hara and Anthony Quinn and Walter Slezak are great villains. The final twist in the very end is extremely pleasant, closing with golden key this entertaining movie. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Simbad, o Marujo" ("Sinbad the Sailor")

Simply stated, Douglas Fairbank, Jr. makes this film an effective tribute to his father's much more enjoyable classic "The Thief of Bagdad". Everything from the setting, the story, and the characters mirror that classic silent film. Fairbank, Jr.'s gestures, movements, and most notably his mock laughter towards his adversaries denote his father's performance.Sadly, the film itself does not so nobly mirror "Thief". From bad dialog, poor effects, and an uninspired story we're left with an average adventure film. Only the performances of the actors and the beautiful Technicolor photography raise this film from mediocrity.Maureen O'Hara as the "princess" provides a strong, sexy female lead to this male dominant cast. Walter Slezak chews up the scenery as a slimy heavy. Even Anthony Quinn gets into the act as a competitor to Fairbanks for O'Hara and the inevitable "treasure".Fairbanks provides the best performance of the cast, one more compelling if you've seen any of his father's films. He captures his father's charm brilliantly. Unfortunately, he lacks his father's physical prowess as is evident by the abundant use of stunt doubles.I casually recommend this film to anyone who enjoys Fairbanks, Sr. films, pirate films, or to anyone who just likes looking at Maureen O'Hara--in Color! If you can find a copy of this film on video check it out.