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{{Short description|1947 film by Richard Wallace}}
{{Infobox Film |
{{Infobox film
name = Sinbad the Sailor |
image = Sinbad_the_Sailor_1947_film.jpg| | name = Sinbad the Sailor
imdb_id = 0039826 | | image = Sinbad_the_Sailor_1947_poster.jpg
writer = John Twist,<br>George Worthing Yates | | caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = ]
starring = ],<br>],<br>],<br>],<br>],<br>],<br>]|
director = ] | | producer = Stephen Ames
producer = Stephen Ames | | screenplay = ]
| story = John Twist<br/>]
distributor = ] |
| starring = ]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<!--As per original poster-->
released = ] |
| cinematography = ]
runtime = 116 min. |
| editing = Frank Doyle
language = English |
music = Roy Web | | music = ]
awards = | | studio = ]
| distributor = RKO Radio Pictures {{small|(USA)}}
budget =
| released = {{film date|1947|01|13|USA|ref1=<ref name=AFI>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=25350| title=Sinbad the Sailor: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date=April 30, 2014}}</ref>}}
| runtime = 116-118 minutes<ref name=AFI/>
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = $2,459,000<ref name=AFI/><ref name="rko">Richard Jewell & Vernon Harbin, ''The RKO Story.'' New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House, 1982. p217</ref>
|gross = $2.8 million (US rentals)<ref></ref>
}} }}


'''''Sinbad the Sailor''''' is a 1947 American ] ] directed by ] and starring ], ], ], ] and ]. It tells the tale of the eighth voyage of ] in which he discovers the lost treasure of ].
:''This article is about the 1947 film. For other uses please see ]''


==Plot==
'''''Sinbad the Sailor''''' is a ] ] starring ], ], ], and ]. It tells the tale of the "eighth" voyage of ], wherein he discovers the lost treasure of ].
]
Sinbad regales a group of travelers around a nighttime campfire. When his listeners become bored with his tired tales, Sinbad recounts his eighth voyage.


With his friend Abbu, Sinbad salvages a ship whose crew has been poisoned. On board, he finds a map to the lost treasure of ] on the fabled island of Deryabar. However, when he sails to ], the ship is confiscated by the local khan, to be sold at auction. Sinbad obtains an agreement that he may keep the ship if there are no bids. He discourages all of the bidders with insinuations that the ship may be cursed. At the last moment, a veiled woman named Shireen appears, a member of the harem of the powerful emir of Daibul. When Sinbad bids against her, he owes an enormous sum that he cannot pay. He steals the auctioneer's money to pay for the ship.
::'''''"O Masters, O Noble Persons, O Brothers, know you that in the time of the Caliph Harun-Al-Rashid, there lived on the golden shore of Persia a man of adventure called Sinbad the Sailor. Strange and wondrous were the tales told of him and his voyages. But who, shall we surmise, gave him his immortality? Who, more than all other sons of Allah, spread glory to the name of Sinbad? Who else, O Brother, but - Sinbad the Sailor! Know me, O Brothers, for the truth of my words, and by the ears of the Prophet, every word I have spoken is truth!"'''''
:::- from the opening title card of ''Sinbad the Sailor''.


Visiting Shireen that night in her garden, Sinbad learns of a mysterious and deadly person known as Jamal who will stop at nothing to acquire the treasure. Jamal, only vaguely seen behind a curtain, makes an attempt on Sinbad's life. Sinbad escapes and steals the ship, acquiring a rough crew to man it. Strange stories of the evil Jamal circulate among the crew, but no one alive has ever seen him.
==Plot==

{{spoiler}}
After several days, Sinbad sails to another port (that of Daibul) and risks death to visit Shireen in the harem. He is captured, but because the emir believes him to be the prince of Deryabar, he becomes his guest. With smooth talking and some trickery, Sinbad escapes again, taking Shireen along. They set sail for Deryabar but are overtaken and captured by the emir. Sinbad's ship's barber Abdul Melik is revealed to be Jamal, who has memorized and destroyed the map to Deryabar. Forming an uneasy alliance of convenience, they all sail to the treasure island.
The story begins with Sinbad (Fairbanks) regaling a group of travelers around a night-time campfire. When his listeners become bored with his often repeated tales, Sinbad tells them about his "eighth" voyage. With his friend, Abbu (]), Sinbad salvages an abandoned ship which contains a map to the lost treasure of ].

Upon arriving at Deryabar, they convince ], the lone resident of the ruins of Alexander's palace, that Sinbad is his lost son, as evidenced by a medal that Sinbad has owned since childhood. When the emir threatens to kill Sinbad, Sinbad confesses his true identity as an ordinary sailor. Aga capitulates and shows them the hiding place of the fabulous treasure. He later informs Sinbad that he had given his son to sailors to shield him from treasure hunters. Sinbad is indeed his son and the true prince of Deryabar.

When it is discovered that Jamal had intended to poison the emir and his crew in order to have the treasure for himself, the emir forces him to drink the deadly liquid. Sinbad escapes again, boards the emir's ship and frees his crew. The emir is killed by ] catapulted at him from his own ship.

The disbelieving listeners around the campfire accuse Sinbad of telling yet another tall tale, but soon change their minds when he distributes precious jewels and gold. The beautiful Shireen appears and they board the ship for their return to Deryabar as Sinbad relates the moral of the tale: true happiness is found in things other than material wealth.

==Cast==
* ] as Sinbad
* ] as Shireen
* ] as Melik
* ] as Emir
* ] as Abbu
* ] as Pirouze
* ] as Yusuf
* ] as Auctioneer
* ] as Aga
* ] as Moga
* ] as Muallin

==Production==
] and ] lunching together during filming]]
Planning began in March 1944 when '']'' announced that the film was to be produced by William Pereira under the supervision of Jack Gross. RKO borrowed ] from Warner Bros. for the production.<ref name=AFI/> Ellis St. John wrote an original screenplay.<ref>{{cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Warner Bros. to Do Film of San Antonio -- 'The Fighting Seabees' Opens at Globe|work=New York Times|date=Mar 18, 1944|page=18}}</ref>

In October 1945, RKO announced that ] would star in the film. ] was already writing a new screenplay, while Stephen Ames was producing the feature. The film's production budget was set at $2,500,000.<ref>{{cite news|title=MAUREEN 0'HARA GETS 'SINBAD' ROLE: Will Have Leading Feminine Part in RKO Technicolor Film Costing $2,000,000 Of Local Origin|work=New York Times|date=Oct 6, 1945|page=20}}</ref> By December, ] had been cast as the villain. He and O'Hara had starred together in RKO's popular swashbuckler '']'' (1945).<ref>{{cite news|title=FILM VICTORY UNIT TO FOLD ON DEC. 31: Committee of Screen Players Gave 56,286 Free Shows-- Will Entertain Wounded|work= New York Times |date=Dec 19, 1945|page=20}}</ref>

RKO signed ] in December 1945 to star as Sinbad, his first feature-film role after serving five years in the navy during World War II.<ref>{{cite news|title=FAIRBANKS SIGNED FOR RKO'S 'SINBAD': Adventure Film Lead to Be His First Coast Role in 5 Years --10 Arrivals This Week Of Local Origin|work=New York Times|date=Dec 24, 1945|page=19}}</ref> He convinced the studio to engage a number of supporting actors and ] who had worked with his father ] in ]s.<ref name=AFI/>

Fairbanks announced that ''Sinbad the Sailor'' would be the last film in which he would appear for a set salary. As part of his deal, he was afforded an office with a secretary and was allowed input on the screenplay, sets and wardrobe.<ref name="doug">{{cite news|title=Fairbanks Jr., for 'Sinbad': Hollywood LetterBy Frank Daugherty |work=The Christian Science Monitor|date=Mar 8, 1946|page=5}}</ref>

In January 1946, ] agreed to direct the film.<ref>{{cite news|title=MACDONALD CAREY RETURNS TO FILMS: Signed by Paramount=After 3 Years in Marine Corps-- Nine Openings This Week|work=New York Times|date=Jan 21, 1946|page=31}}</ref>


Filming began in February 1946.
When he sails the ship into port, it is confiscated by the local ], to be sold at auction. Sinbad obtains an agreement that he may keep the ship if there are no bids. He scares away all the bidders with not-so-subtle comments about the ship being cursed. At the last moment, one bidder appears, a veiled woman borne by four servants. She is Shireen (O'Hara), part of the harem of a powerful Emir (Quinn). Sinbad bids against her and ends up owing a huge sum he cannot pay. He steals the auctioneer's own money to pay for the ship.


==Release==
Visiting Shireen that night in her garden, Sinbad learns of a mysterious and deadly person known as Jamel (Slezak), who will stop at nothing to acquire the treasure. Jamel, only vaguely seen behind a curtain, makes an attempt on Sinbad's life. Sinbad escapes and steals the ship, acquiring a rough crew to man it. Strange stories of the evil Jamel circulate among the crew, but no one alive has ever seen him.
RKO had originally planned to release the film for the 1946 Christmas season, but a strike at the Technicolor processing plant delayed the processing of the color prints. The release date was therefore moved to January 13, 1947, and RKO instead chose ]'s black-and-white '']'' as its featured 1946 Christmas film.


The film cost $2,459,000 to be produced and returned a modest profit at the box office.<ref name="AFI" /> Douglas Fairbanks Jr. later said: "] told me I'd made a big mistake because nobody was interested in ], and I had to agree. Receipts were thin."<ref name="doug2">{{cite book |last1=Bawden |first1=James |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tkKWCwAAQBAJ&q=douglas+fairbanks+jnr+interview&pg=PA91 |title=Conversations with Classic Film Stars: Interviews from Hollywood's Golden Era |last2=Miller |first2=Ron |date=4 March 2016 |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |isbn=9780813167121 |page=103}}</ref>
After several days, Sinbad sails to another port and goes, risking death, to visit Shireen in the harem. He is captured, but because the Emir believes him to be the Prince of Deryabar, he becomes his "guest"; the Emir hopes that Sinbad will take him to the treasure.


== Reception ==
With his smooth words and some trickery, Sinbad once again escapes, taking Shireen with him. They set sail for Dariabar, but are overtaken and captured by the Emir. It is then revealed that Sinbad's ship's barber is none other than Jamel, who has memorized (and then destroyed) the map to Deryabar. Forming an alliance of convenience, they travel to the treasure island.
In a contemporary review for '']'', critic ] praised Fairbanks: "There is no doubt about it: Mr. Fairbanks makes a reasonable facsimile of his old man. ... In short, it is quite a pleasure—and quite a reminder, too—to watch young Mr. Fairbanks cut loose in a gymnastic role." However, Crowther found fault with the plot: "But, unfortunately the somewhat bookish writers who prepared his lengthy script were no ]s at telling an engaging tale. ... Frankly, we can't quite inform you of the convolutions of a verbal plot which finds Sinbad snarled in complexities in trying to reach a lost island of fabled gold. Nor can we precisely apprise you of the several contenders in the search, one of whom is a beautiful female. The plot is too thick for us—and we rather suspect that it will baffle even more analytic minds."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crowther |first=Bosley |date=1947-01-23 |title='Sinbad the Sailor,' With Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in Title Role, Is New Feature at Palace—Two Other Films Have Premieres |page=31 |work=]}}</ref>


==See also==
There they convince the lone guardian that Sinbad is his lost son, owing to a medallion Sinbad had since childhood. By threatening Sinbad's life, the Emir and Jamel learn the location of the treasure from the man. When it is discovered that Jamel had intended to poison the Emir and his crew, he is forced to drink the deadly liquid himself. Sinbad escapes again, boards the Emir's ship and frees his crew. The Emir is killed by ] catapulted at him from his own ship.
* ]
* '']''


== References ==
The disbelieving listeners around the campfire accuse Sinbad of telling yet another tall tale, but soon change their minds when he distributes precious jewels and gold. The beautiful Shireen, who is now (presumably) his wife, appears and they board the ship for their return to Deryabar.
{{reflist}}


== See also == ==External links==
*] {{commons category|Sinbad the Sailor (1947 film)}}
* {{AFI film|25350}}
*]
* {{IMDb title|0039826}}
*]
* {{TCMDb title|2277}}


{{Richard Wallace}}
== Reference ==
*{{imdb title|id=0039826|title=Sinbad the Sailor}} {{Sinbad the Sailor}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Sinbad The Sailor (1947 Film)}}
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Latest revision as of 05:58, 22 December 2024

1947 film by Richard Wallace
Sinbad the Sailor
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRichard Wallace
Screenplay byJohn Twist
Story byJohn Twist
George Worthing Yates
Produced byStephen Ames
StarringDouglas Fairbanks Jr.
Maureen O'Hara
Walter Slezak
Anthony Quinn
George Tobias
Mike Mazurki
CinematographyGeorge Barnes
Edited byFrank Doyle
Music byRoy Webb
Production
company		RKO Radio Pictures
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures (USA)
Release date
  • January 13, 1947 (1947-01-13) (USA)
Running time116-118 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2,459,000
Box office$2.8 million (US rentals)

Sinbad the Sailor is a 1947 American Technicolor fantasy film directed by Richard Wallace and starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Maureen O'Hara, Walter Slezak, Anthony Quinn and Mike Mazurki. It tells the tale of the eighth voyage of Sinbad in which he discovers the lost treasure of Alexander the Great.

Plot

Fairbanks and O'Hara in the film's trailer

Sinbad regales a group of travelers around a nighttime campfire. When his listeners become bored with his tired tales, Sinbad recounts his eighth voyage.

With his friend Abbu, Sinbad salvages a ship whose crew has been poisoned. On board, he finds a map to the lost treasure of Alexander the Great on the fabled island of Deryabar. However, when he sails to Basra, the ship is confiscated by the local khan, to be sold at auction. Sinbad obtains an agreement that he may keep the ship if there are no bids. He discourages all of the bidders with insinuations that the ship may be cursed. At the last moment, a veiled woman named Shireen appears, a member of the harem of the powerful emir of Daibul. When Sinbad bids against her, he owes an enormous sum that he cannot pay. He steals the auctioneer's money to pay for the ship.

Visiting Shireen that night in her garden, Sinbad learns of a mysterious and deadly person known as Jamal who will stop at nothing to acquire the treasure. Jamal, only vaguely seen behind a curtain, makes an attempt on Sinbad's life. Sinbad escapes and steals the ship, acquiring a rough crew to man it. Strange stories of the evil Jamal circulate among the crew, but no one alive has ever seen him.

After several days, Sinbad sails to another port (that of Daibul) and risks death to visit Shireen in the harem. He is captured, but because the emir believes him to be the prince of Deryabar, he becomes his guest. With smooth talking and some trickery, Sinbad escapes again, taking Shireen along. They set sail for Deryabar but are overtaken and captured by the emir. Sinbad's ship's barber Abdul Melik is revealed to be Jamal, who has memorized and destroyed the map to Deryabar. Forming an uneasy alliance of convenience, they all sail to the treasure island.

Upon arriving at Deryabar, they convince Aga, the lone resident of the ruins of Alexander's palace, that Sinbad is his lost son, as evidenced by a medal that Sinbad has owned since childhood. When the emir threatens to kill Sinbad, Sinbad confesses his true identity as an ordinary sailor. Aga capitulates and shows them the hiding place of the fabulous treasure. He later informs Sinbad that he had given his son to sailors to shield him from treasure hunters. Sinbad is indeed his son and the true prince of Deryabar.

When it is discovered that Jamal had intended to poison the emir and his crew in order to have the treasure for himself, the emir forces him to drink the deadly liquid. Sinbad escapes again, boards the emir's ship and frees his crew. The emir is killed by Greek fire catapulted at him from his own ship.

The disbelieving listeners around the campfire accuse Sinbad of telling yet another tall tale, but soon change their minds when he distributes precious jewels and gold. The beautiful Shireen appears and they board the ship for their return to Deryabar as Sinbad relates the moral of the tale: true happiness is found in things other than material wealth.

Cast

Production

Maureen O'Hara and Anthony Quinn lunching together during filming

Planning began in March 1944 when The Hollywood Reporter announced that the film was to be produced by William Pereira under the supervision of Jack Gross. RKO borrowed George Tobias from Warner Bros. for the production. Ellis St. John wrote an original screenplay.

In October 1945, RKO announced that Maureen O'Hara would star in the film. John Twist was already writing a new screenplay, while Stephen Ames was producing the feature. The film's production budget was set at $2,500,000. By December, Walter Slezak had been cast as the villain. He and O'Hara had starred together in RKO's popular swashbuckler The Spanish Main (1945).

RKO signed Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in December 1945 to star as Sinbad, his first feature-film role after serving five years in the navy during World War II. He convinced the studio to engage a number of supporting actors and stuntmen who had worked with his father Douglas Fairbanks in silent films.

Fairbanks announced that Sinbad the Sailor would be the last film in which he would appear for a set salary. As part of his deal, he was afforded an office with a secretary and was allowed input on the screenplay, sets and wardrobe.

In January 1946, Richard Wallace agreed to direct the film.

Filming began in February 1946.

Release

RKO had originally planned to release the film for the 1946 Christmas season, but a strike at the Technicolor processing plant delayed the processing of the color prints. The release date was therefore moved to January 13, 1947, and RKO instead chose Frank Capra's black-and-white It's a Wonderful Life as its featured 1946 Christmas film.

The film cost $2,459,000 to be produced and returned a modest profit at the box office. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. later said: "Errol Flynn told me I'd made a big mistake because nobody was interested in swashbuckling, and I had to agree. Receipts were thin."

Reception

In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Bosley Crowther praised Fairbanks: "There is no doubt about it: Mr. Fairbanks makes a reasonable facsimile of his old man. ... In short, it is quite a pleasure—and quite a reminder, too—to watch young Mr. Fairbanks cut loose in a gymnastic role." However, Crowther found fault with the plot: "But, unfortunately the somewhat bookish writers who prepared his lengthy script were no Scheherazades at telling an engaging tale. ... Frankly, we can't quite inform you of the convolutions of a verbal plot which finds Sinbad snarled in complexities in trying to reach a lost island of fabled gold. Nor can we precisely apprise you of the several contenders in the search, one of whom is a beautiful female. The plot is too thick for us—and we rather suspect that it will baffle even more analytic minds."

See also

References

  1. ^ "Sinbad the Sailor: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  2. Richard Jewell & Vernon Harbin, The RKO Story. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House, 1982. p217
  3. "Top Grossers of 1947", Variety, 7 January 1948 p 63
  4. "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Warner Bros. to Do Film of San Antonio -- 'The Fighting Seabees' Opens at Globe". New York Times. Mar 18, 1944. p. 18.
  5. "MAUREEN 0'HARA GETS 'SINBAD' ROLE: Will Have Leading Feminine Part in RKO Technicolor Film Costing $2,000,000 Of Local Origin". New York Times. Oct 6, 1945. p. 20.
  6. "FILM VICTORY UNIT TO FOLD ON DEC. 31: Committee of Screen Players Gave 56,286 Free Shows-- Will Entertain Wounded". New York Times. Dec 19, 1945. p. 20.
  7. "FAIRBANKS SIGNED FOR RKO'S 'SINBAD': Adventure Film Lead to Be His First Coast Role in 5 Years --10 Arrivals This Week Of Local Origin". New York Times. Dec 24, 1945. p. 19.
  8. "Fairbanks Jr., for 'Sinbad': Hollywood LetterBy Frank Daugherty". The Christian Science Monitor. Mar 8, 1946. p. 5.
  9. "MACDONALD CAREY RETURNS TO FILMS: Signed by Paramount=After 3 Years in Marine Corps-- Nine Openings This Week". New York Times. Jan 21, 1946. p. 31.
  10. Bawden, James; Miller, Ron (4 March 2016). Conversations with Classic Film Stars: Interviews from Hollywood's Golden Era. University Press of Kentucky. p. 103. ISBN 9780813167121.
  11. Crowther, Bosley (1947-01-23). "'Sinbad the Sailor,' With Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in Title Role, Is New Feature at Palace—Two Other Films Have Premieres". The New York Times. p. 31.

External links

Films directed by Richard Wallace
Sinbad the Sailor
One Thousand and One Nights
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