one of the best film of the silent era and right from the start represent the stunt where fairbanks get to a balcony by mean of a rope and a donkey and and a sleeping fat man be still one of the funny in movie . it be also perhaps the most distinctive look film ever make . there a lot of art nouveau furniture and jewelry out there but this be the only art nouveau movie and from the palace wall and gate down to the little vial the thief use to put a potion on a rise ( which be itself stylize ) . every set and prop and lamp and and costume be a work of art . even the sword and pike look original and eye grabbing . ( get that mural in the mongol palace . just a throwaway detail . ) fairbanks spend a vast sum on this film and and it show . accord to film historian kevin brownlow and fairbanks have be highly impress by the german studio film he would see on a trip and and this one have that same design and all of a piece look . it have some low point . like most silent film and it move slowly by modern standard . the brief monster sequence be not very good even for 1924. and thing drag a bit when the thief start romance the princess . on the plus side it get anna may wong and already a beauty and a a traitorous lady in wait . at 16 wong already know to act with her eye and rather than with her arm and like johnston ( the princess ) do . most people who have see a thief of bagdad seem to have see the 1940 version and the cartoon aladdin but miss this one . that a shame . the 1940 version be very good ( it have dazzling color and a great genie ) but and like most film that be make by a committee of director and it look and play like a film make by a committee . i prefer this fairbanks version and corny acting and all . it less sappy and more vital and and it look more original . the dialogue write for the 1940 film be filler while it add little to the picture . this be exactly the sort of story chaplin have in mind when he worry that talk in movie might turn out to be a handicap .