The Thief of Bagdad

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The Thief of Bagdad

1924

2h 35m

Fantasy

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

68 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

A thief sneaks into a royal palace, where he sees and falls instantly in love with a beautiful princess. Pretending to be a prince, the thief woos the princess, who becomes enamored with him, but when guilt eats at him, the thief confesses to a holy man, who commands him to find a magic chest as penance. As he battles many obstacles to win the chest, the thief uses its powers to save Baghdad from a foreign invader and rescue his beloved.

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Critics Consensus

It requires some viewing commitment, but this beautifully assembled showcase for Douglas Fairbanks' acting offers some splendid treats for classic film fans.

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Edwin Schallert

Los Angeles Times

10/22/2022

Never its like has been seen before; never its like will be viewed again for many a day. It is the first and the last, the magical height and the iridescent depth of fantasy.

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Jack Pulaski

Variety

10/22/2022

Fairbanks as the thief gives a corking performance... Anna May Wong... proved herself to be a fine actress.

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Desmond MacCarthy

New Statesman

10/21/2022

This is the kind of thing that the cinema, and only the cinema, can do.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

09/16/2024

7/10

It’s difficult to dismiss the influence this picture had on subsequent fantasy and adventure yarns, not just due to Fairbanks’ popularity, but also with the epic nature of the project’s construction.

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George Blaisdell

Exhibitor's Trade Review

03/16/2023

As a spectacle The Thief of Bagdad is magnificently and thrillingly impressive. Almost it may be said it is pure magic.

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Star Staff

Washington Star

10/26/2022

Two hours of superb diversion.

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Elliott B.

@Ebrown Apr 12

This film is magic. Even in its pacing, which doesn't feel like 3 hours. A magic we may never see again in any other era in cinema.

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Ads T

@RT11627483 Dec 22

Spectacular special effects for the time and a robust performance from Fairbanks, the film does demand viewer concentration for some stretches though.

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acsdoug D

@acsdoug 07/26/2025

Spectacular. Well, the underwater monster spider was kind of silly, but this impressive film making in any era.

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Teddy B

@RT38636458 10/06/2024

A special extravaganza that really deserves more attention in the mainstream. Douglas Fairbanks makes even the longer scenes captivating with his irresistibly charming performance. The visuals are a masterclass in production design and most certainly deserve to be studied.

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Leaburn O

@RT35452347 11/10/2023

It starts excellently but starts to drag towards the end. Still, it is pretty good stuff given it was filmed 99 years ago. Watched this classic silent film on Prime but also to be found on YouTube.

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Alexander B

@RT91585287 02/20/2023

The middle of the film is a little boring but the beginning and ending are really a joy to watch. Some of the special effects are really impressive for the time it was made as well.

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Raoul Walsh

Director

Douglas Fairbanks

The Thief of Bagdad

Snitz Edwards

His Evil Associate

Charles Belcher

The Holy Man

Julanne Johnston

The Princess

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Synopsis

A thief sneaks into a royal palace, where he sees and falls instantly in love with a beautiful princess. Pretending to be a prince, the thief woos the princess, who becomes enamored with him, but when guilt eats at him, the thief confesses to a holy man, who commands him to find a magic chest as penance. As he battles many obstacles to win the chest, the thief uses its powers to save Baghdad from a foreign invader and rescue his beloved.

Director: Raoul Walsh
Producer: Douglas Fairbanks
Screenwriter: Douglas Fairbanks, Lotta Woods
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Douglas Fairbanks Pictures
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 23, 1924, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 4, 2012
Runtime: 2h 35m
Aspect Ratio: Academy (1.33:1)