Watch A Thousand and One Nights

A Thousand and One Nights is a 1945 American adventure film directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Evelyn Keyes, Phil Silvers, and Adele Jergens. The film is loosely based on the collection of Middle Eastern and South Asian stories known as The Arabian Nights, which includes tales such as Aladdin's Lamp, The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor, and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.

The film begins with a prologue in which the famous Persian poet Omar Khayyam (played by Dennis Hoey) is introduced. He explains that he has been commissioned by the sultan of Baghdad to write a new epic poem, but he is struggling to come up with inspiration. As he contemplates the night sky, he is transported back in time to the world of his own stories.

As the film proper begins, we meet Aladdin (Silvers), a penniless street urchin who dreams of a life of luxury and ease. He gets his chance when he discovers a magic lamp with a genie inside (played by Rex Ingram). With the genie's help, Aladdin becomes a wealthy and powerful prince, but he soon learns that money and power cannot buy happiness.

Meanwhile, the sultan of Baghdad (played by Turhan Bey) has fallen in love with Scheherazade (Keyes), a beautiful young woman who tells him a new story every night to keep him entertained. The sultan has vowed to marry and then execute Scheherazade after 1,001 nights, but Scheherazade hopes to win his heart and save her own life.

As the film progresses, we meet other characters from the Arabian Nights tales, including Sinbad the Sailor (Cornel Wilde) and Ali Baba (Philip Van Zandt). These characters all have their own adventures and struggles, but they are all united by a sense of wonder and magic.

A Thousand and One Nights is a lavish, colorful film that captures the spirit of its source material. The sets and costumes are sumptuous, and the cinematography is filled with exotic landscapes and vividly realized locations. The film's cast is also notable, with Keyes turning in a strong performance as Scheherazade and Silvers bringing his trademark comedic charm to the role of Aladdin. Ingram is also memorable as the genie, bringing a sense of mystery and otherworldliness to the character.

One of the film's strengths is its handling of the Arabian Nights stories themselves. Rather than trying to cram in as many tales as possible, the filmmakers have chosen a few key stories and used them as the basis for a larger narrative. This approach allows for a more cohesive and satisfying film, and it also gives each story room to breathe and develop.

Overall, A Thousand and One Nights is a classic adventure film that captures the magic and wonder of the Arabian Nights tales. It is a timeless tale that will appeal to audiences of all ages, and it proves that the power of storytelling knows no bounds.

A Thousand and One Nights is a 1945 adventure movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1.