Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves 08/08/20

As long as Kino continues turning out these Technicolor beauties in such good quality, let’s enjoy Charlie Largent’s take on Universal’s glowing, heavy breathing Maria Montez feature. The Arabian Nights tale gives the leading lady’s main squeeze Jon Hall some heavy competition: handsome Turhan Bey was a wartime heartthrob for millions. Ms. Montez, she of the mangled English pronunciation, comes with a variety of brightly colored diaphanous veils (not Covid-approved). Also: flashy special effects, fierce battles where nobody gets hurt PLUS Andy Devine as the most convincing Middle Eastern yokel imaginable — what could be better?   With an audio commentary by Phillipa Berry. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
08/08/20