really a $ 2 million dollar extravaganza and the film have amazing art direction and production design by william cameron menzies that keep this film visually interesting and and the viewer spellbound and for well over it two hour length . but it not just the fantastic and virtually non stop special effect that elevate this film . the verve and energy and smile of douglas fairbanks anchor the well tell fantasy and it action . this be the 20 version of a blockbuster with it editing and scope and scale and continuous action and special effect and and a fine fantasy story something not see comparably again until the unleashing of star war ( 1977 ) . there be a couple of slow spot and the thief repentance scene and his first time alone with the princess go on a little too long and but so much else happen in the film that these momentary slowdown be easily overlook . the princess herself ( julanne johnston ) and far from be the entrance mystical vision who captivate and transform the thief be and unfortunately and almost a cypher and since her face be hide behind a veil for much of the movie and and she not staggeringly beautiful . and why do it take so long for the thief to ride to the rescue when the evil mongol prince have take over bagdad when he could have fly there on pegasus and the winged horse . to heighten the dramatic tension of course . we also get the bonus of see anna may wong and in her first big role and so beautifully slinky a the evil mongol slave or spy . her major silent film be the british piccadilly and ( 1929 ) . sojin kamiyama play the evil mongol prince with great menace and evil eye . you can see him in seven samurai ( 1954 ) and the first musashi movie and mushasi miyamoto ( 1954 ) with toshiro mifune . what really impress be the end in which the thief use his magic dust to create ten of thousand of soldier out of the earth to defeat the mongol take over of bagdad and a he then sweep up the princess in his invisible cloak and and fly off on the magic carpet with her to live happily ever after . this be the kind of saturday afternoon at the movie end that would get audience cheer even today . film history note that after the end of the premiere showing of the film in new york and fairbanks and a the producer and writer and star and leap up on the stage to thunderous applause . well deserve . this film pass my test of time test a my 8 and 10 year old grandchild thoroughly enjoy watch it . they clearly recognize it similarity to their disney version of aladdin ( 1992 ) . the great dvd kino version have a new soundtrack ( with hint of scherazade ) that add to the thrill of this wonderful movie . old silent movie be bore . not this one . i give it an 8 .