Arabian Knights

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Arabian Knights
Arabian knights title.jpg
Title card
Genre Fantasy
Directed by
Voices of
Country of originUnited States
Original languages
  • English
  • French
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes18
Production
Production company Hanna-Barbera Productions
Original release
Network NBC
ReleaseSeptember 7, 1968 (1968-09-07) 
January 4, 1969 (1969-01-04)

Arabian Knights is an animated segment of The Banana Splits Adventure Hour , created by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The series is based on the Arabian Nights , a classic work of Middle Eastern literature. [1] The cast includes Henry Corden, Paul Frees, Frank Gerstle, Shari Lewis, Jay North and John Stephenson. [2]

Contents

Plot: Secret origins

Once a peaceful country, Persia was overrun by the powerful forces of the evil conqueror Bakaar the Black Sultan. When all the states of Persia were overthrown, Bakaar invaded the capital city of Baghdad. Bakaar and his forces breached the royal palace and forcibly claimed the throne from Prince Turhan and ordered the prince to be killed. Prince Turhan fled the palace, pursued by the guards of Bakaar. In his escape, the prince is helped by a magician named Fariik who with his magic slipped away from the guards. On their way to the state of El-Rabaul to seek aid from his uncle the Caliph, Turhan and Fariik meet Raseem while being chased by the guards in the Caves of Doom. Raseem tells them that Bakaar's forces have already usurped the throne of El-Rabaul and imprisoned the Caliph and his daughter Princess Nida. The trio then heads to El-Rabaul on Raseem's donkey Zazuum.

In El-Rabaul, they rescue Princess Nida who is about to be sold into slavery. There, Princess Nida demonstrates her mastery of disguise and voice mimicry by tricking the guards, but they soon find themselves cornered by Bakaar's men. There Bez jumps into the scene, shapeshifts into an elephant, charges through the guards, and carries everyone to safety. In the Caves of Doom, they decide to form a heroic band and swear to protect their land from the tyranny of Bakaar, thus forming an alliance called the Arabian Knights.

Series direction

Arabian Knights was one of several animated miniseries used as filler segments for Hanna-Barbera's Banana Splits Adventure Hour show. Each episode ran between 9 and 10 minutes in length. For the most part, it competed with the other series, namely the animated The Three Musketeers , the part live action, part animated Micro Ventures , and the live action Danger Island segments.

Often, the general thrust of the Arabian Knights adventures deals with the Knights trying to effect some action against Bakaar’s soldiers, finding a means to further complete their goal of turning the tables on the evil dictator, or dealing with another villain set within the Knights' universe.

For the most part, these adventures were done with a semi-serious slant, with a good portion of action and comedy mixed in. Hardly anyone was injured or harmed—save for Bakaar's minions (with a usually comic effect), and the episodes usually had an upbeat, happy ending for the Knights.

Characters

The Arabian Knights

Villains

Episodes

TitleOriginal air date
1"Joining of the Knights"September 7, 1968 (1968-09-07)
This episode tells the secret origins of Bakaar's invasion of Baghdad and how the Arabian Knights came into being.
2"The Ransom"September 14, 1968 (1968-09-14)

After saving Prince Raji (Dick Beals) from the minions of Bakaar, the Arabian Knights go to help his father the Caliph of al-ʻArish who is being held captive for ransom. Vangore takes the Caliph to Baghdad just as the Arabian Knights attack his camp.

3"A Trap for Turhan"September 21, 1968 (1968-09-21)

Vangore tricks Raseem and captures him to set a trap to lure Prince Turhan and his friends to rescue Raseem and fall into Bakaar's evil scheme: a public execution of the Arabian Knights as enemies of the state.

4"The Great Gold Robbery"September 28, 1968 (1968-09-28)
Bakaar frames the Arabian Knights for the gold robbery from the local treasury to lure them into a deadly trap awaiting them.
5"The Wizard Ramnizar"October 5, 1968 (1968-10-05)
Bakaar hires an evil wizard named Ramnizar to wipe out the Arabian Knights from the face of the Earth.
6"Sky Raiders of the Desert"October 12, 1968 (1968-10-12)
Nida is kidnapped by raiders on flying horses. The Arabian Knights are attacked by giant bats, but they fight them off and manage to infiltrate the Sky Raiders' fortress.
7"The Challenge"October 19, 1968 (1968-10-19)

When Bez brings news of Bakaar holding a contest for the strongest man, Raseem cannot help but take the bait, getting him and Turhan captured. The Arabian Knights stealthily infiltrate the camp and deliver to Bakaar a humiliating loss.

8"Isle of Treachery"October 26, 1968 (1968-10-26)

Vangore captures Queen Shaheera and her son Ahmed to lure the Arabian Knights into a trap. Raseem and Bez quietly dispose of the guards to free the others and drive Vangore and his forces away from the palace.

9"The Sultan's Plot"November 2, 1968 (1968-11-02)

Abaddon, the Sultan of Darkness, takes away the city of Kilibad from its Caliph for denying him tribute. Abaddon then has the Arabian Knights trapped in his darkened kingdom. Using a donkey trick, the Arabian Knights cast sunlight on Abaddon's amulet, rendering his power useless.

10"The Reluctant Empress"November 9, 1968 (1968-11-09)

The ruler Shiraz has the means to take Nida to make her his empress by force, but she puts up an active resistance to his seduction with a heroic spirit. The Arabian Knights follow her to the city of Abadon and battle Shiraz and his men.

11"The Coronation of Bakaar"November 16, 1968 (1968-11-16)
Vangore steals the crown of Araby for Bakaar. The Arabian Knights must reclaim the crown before the coronation ceremony takes place.
12"The Great Brass Beast"November 23, 1968 (1968-11-23)
Vangore is intent on destroying Jiwara with a brass war machine in the form of a war elephant. The war machine seems to be unstoppable for the Arabian Knights.
13"The Fabulous Fair"November 30, 1968 (1968-11-30)

The Arabian Knights go undercover to Bakaar's town fair. Each event the Arabian Knights win incites more rebellious murmurings against Bakaar, especially the horse race where Zazuum poses as an Arabian zebra for a disguised Nida to ride on.

14"The Desert Pirates"December 7, 1968 (1968-12-07)
Vangore overpowers and captures Nida and Raseem with his land pirate ship. The remaining Arabian Knights mislead Vangore to Nazir to ambush him.
15"The Jewels of Joowar"December 14, 1968 (1968-12-14)
Vangore has ransacked Joowar and stolen its magical jewels. Turhan and Raseem are caught trying to retrieve the jewels, but the other Arabian Knights release them and proceed to fight off Vangore.
16"The Spy"December 21, 1968 (1968-12-21)

The Arabian Knights foil Vangore's plunder, but not without losing Zazuum to him. Bakaar's court magician Sundar impersonates Zazuum to find the Arabian Knights' hideout. Sundar's disguise does not go unnoticed and the Arabian Knights repel Bakaar's attack while Zazuum returns.

17"The Prisoner"December 28, 1968 (1968-12-28)

With Vangore out to kidnap Princess Tasmin, Nida takes her place, getting herself and Zazuum captured. They both escape and with the rest of the Arabian Knights, fight off Bakaar's guards and briefly take Bakaar prisoner.

18"The Royal Visitor"January 4, 1969 (1969-01-04)

Prince Kamal visits Baghdad unaware that it is under Bakaar's rule. He gets trapped in a pyramid which the abilities of Raseem and Bez have no effect on. Fariik provides the access to enter the pyramid. After going through the labyrinth and rescuing the prince, everyone escapes the pyramid.

Home media

The 1st episode "Joining of the Knights" was released on the DVDs Saturday Morning Cartoons 1970s Vol. 2 & Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1960s-1980s Collection.

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References

  1. Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 109–111. ISBN   978-1476665993.
  2. Lenburg, Jeff (2009). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons (3rd ed.). New York: Checkmark Books. p. 437. ISBN   978-0-8160-6600-1.