Siren of Bagdad
Siren of Bagdad | |
---|---|
Directed by | Richard Quine |
Written by | Robert E. Kent Larry Rhine |
Produced by | Sam Katzman |
Starring | Paul Henreid Patricia Medina Hans Conried |
Cinematography | Henry Freulich |
Edited by | Jerome Thoms |
Music by | John Leipold |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 73 min. |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Siren of Bagdad is a 1953
Plot
This article needs an improved plot summary. (November 2014) |
Kazah the Great, a magician is traveling in Arabia with a circus.
Cast
- Paul Henreid as Kazah the Great
- Patricia Medina as Princess Zandi
- Hans Conried as Ben Ali
- Charles Lung as Sultan El Malid
- Laurette Luez as Orena
- Anne Dore as Leda
- George Keymas as Soradin
- Michael Fox as Telar
- Karl Davisas Morab
- Carl Milletaire as Hamid
Production
Patricia Medina signed a three-picture contract with Sam Katzman, of which this was the first.[2]
Filming started 3 September 1952.[3]
It was Henreid's third swashbuckler for Katzman. The actor later recalled that Quine "wanted to do the film as a satire, a Chaplinesque burlesque of pirate films."[4]
Reception
The movie had a successful preview which Henreid said "Every situation joke worked; the audience howled. I came out beaming, and producer Sam Katzman, Quine and I congratulated one another on the very funny picture."[5]
He said Katzman's wife was the only one who did not think the film would be a success, saying "People who go to pirate pictures want just that, a pirate picture. They aren’t as sophisticated as this preview audience. They want their pictures to follow a strict formula. This picture pokes fun at the sacred formula—and I don’t think they’ll accept that." Henreid said "she was absolutely right. The picture was a flop! "[6][7]
Comic book adaptation
- Eastern Color Movie Love #21 (June 1953)[8]
References
- ^ "Siren of Bagdad (1953) - Richard Quine | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ THOMAS M. PRYOR (Sep 8, 1952). "MISS MEDINA SIGNS 3-YEAR CONTRACT: Actress to Make Three Films Annually for Katzman -- 'Siren of Baghdad' Will Be First". New York Times. p. 18.
- ^ "FREDRIC MARCH SET FOR FOX FILM LEAD: Signs for Top Role in 'Man on a Tightrope,' Anti-Communist Story to Be Made Abroad". New York Times. Aug 2, 1952. p. 7.
- ^ Henreid, Paul; Fast, Julius (1984). Ladies man : an autobiography. St. Martin's Press. p. 203.
- ^ Henreid p 203
- ^ McClelland, Doug (1989). Hollywood Talks Turkey – The Screen's Greatest Flops. Starbrite.
- ^ Henreid p 204
- ^ "Movie Love #21". Grand Comics Database.
External links
- Siren of Bagdad at IMDb
- Siren of Bagdad at AllMovie
- review of film at Variety
- Siren of Bagdad at the TCM Movie Database
- Siren of Bagdad at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films