The Wizard of Baghdad

Last updated
The Wizard of Baghdad
The Wizard of Baghdad.jpg
Directed by George Sherman
Screenplay by Jesse Lasky Jr.
Pat Silver
Based onstory by Samuel Newman
Produced by Sam Katzman
Starring Dick Shawn
Diane Baker
Barry Coe
Cinematography Ellis W. Carter
Edited bySaul A. Goodkind
Music by Irving Gertz
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date
  • December 1960 (1960-12)(United States)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$575,000. [1]

The Wizard of Baghdad is a 1960 American comedy/fantasy film directed by George Sherman and starring Dick Shawn, Diane Baker, and Barry Coe. It was released by 20th Century Fox. [2] [3]

Contents

Plot

A genie turned mortal after his many failures is sent to Baghdad. As his last chance to prove himself, he must help a prince and princess fulfill a prophecy.

Cast

Production

The Wizard of Baghdad was the first film made by Sam Katzman's Clover Productions at 20th Century Fox. He opened offices at Fox in June 1960. (Katzman had spent the past 15 years working almost exclusively for Columbia). The script was written by Jesse Lasy Jr and his wife pat Silver based on an original by Sam Newman [4] Katzman had worked as a set dresser at Fox in the 1920s. [5]

It was the second movie for Dick Shawn, best known as a stage actor. Filming took place in August 1960. [6]

Barry Coe's performance led to Robert Goldstein of Fox signing the actor to a long-term contract with the studio. [7] The movie was part of Goldstein's short tenure while head of Fox, other movies being made including North to Alaska , The Marriage-Go-Round, Sanctuary, The Schnook, Circle of Deception, The Mark, The Millionairess, Esther and the King, The Big GambleReturn to Peyton Place and Flaming Star. [8]

Reception

The Los Angeles Times said the film "should fill the bill as pre Christmas entertainment for the children" through "the funny lines, the slapstick and the trick photography." [9]

The New York Times said the film "is for customers who will laugh at anything, including that singular unfunny man, Dick Shawn... the waste of energy, costumes and backgrounds is truly appalling." [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Wild in the Country</i> 1961 film

Wild in the Country is a 1961 American musical-drama film directed by Philip Dunne and starring Elvis Presley, Hope Lange, Tuesday Weld, and Millie Perkins. Based on the 1958 novel The Lost Country by J. R. Salamanca, the screenplay concerns a troubled young man from a dysfunctional family who pursues a literary career. The screenplay was written by playwright Clifford Odets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Katzman</span> American film producer and director

Sam Katzman was an American film producer and director. Katzman's specialty was producing low-budget genre films, including serials, which had disproportionately high returns for the studios and his financial backers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bella Darvi</span> Polish actress (1928–1971)

Bella Darvi was a Polish film actress and stage performer who was active in France and the United States.

<i>The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm</i> 1962 film by George Pal, Henry Levin

The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm is a 1962 American fantasy film directed by Henry Levin and George Pal. The latter was the producer and also in charge of the stop motion animation. The film was one of the highest-grossing films of 1962. It won one Oscar and was nominated for three additional Academy Awards. The cast included several prominent actors—including Laurence Harvey, Karlheinz Böhm, Jim Backus, Barbara Eden and Buddy Hackett.

<i>It Happened in Athens</i> 1962 film by Andrew Marton

It Happened in Athens is a 1962 American sports comedy-drama film released by 20th Century-Fox. It is directed by Andrew Marton and features Jayne Mansfield, newcomer Trax Colton, Maria Xénia, Nico Minardos, Roger Browne in his debut, and Olympic champion Bob Mathias.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Coe</span> American actor (1934–2019)

Barry S. Coe was an American actor who appeared in film and on television from 1956 to 1978. Many of his movie parts were minor, but he co-starred in one series, titled Follow the Sun, which aired on ABC during the 1961–62 season. He also played "Mr. Goodwrench" on TV commercials in the 1970s and 1980s.

<i>Bachelor Flat</i> 1962 film by Frank Tashlin

Bachelor Flat is a 1962 American DeLuxe Color comedy film directed by Frank Tashlin and starring Tuesday Weld, Richard Beymer, Terry-Thomas, and Celeste Holm. Filmed in CinemaScope in Malibu, California, the film is a revised version of Tashlin's own Susan Slept Here (1954).

<i>Pirates of Tortuga</i> 1961 film by Robert D. Webb

Pirates of Tortuga is a 1961 American swashbuckler film which invented an alternate history for the actual Welsh privateer Henry Morgan. It was released in October 1961 in the United States in CinemaScope.

<i>Return to Peyton Place</i> (film) 1961 film by José Ferrer

Return to Peyton Place is a 1961 American drama film in color by De Luxe and CinemaScope, produced by Jerry Wald, directed by José Ferrer, and starring Carol Lynley, Tuesday Weld, Jeff Chandler, Eleanor Parker, Mary Astor, and Robert Sterling. The screenplay by Ronald Alexander is based on the 1959 novel Return to Peyton Place by Grace Metalious. The film was distributed by 20th Century Fox and is a sequel to their earlier film Peyton Place (1957).

<i>When the Boys Meet the Girls</i> (film) 1965 film

When the Boys Meet the Girls is a 1965 American musical film directed by Alvin Ganzer and starring Connie Francis and Harve Presnell based on the musical Girl Crazy and a remake of MGM's 1943 film Girl Crazy.

<i>Valentino</i> (1951 film) 1951 film by Lewis Allen

Valentino is a 1951 American biographical film directed by Lewis Allen and starring Eleanor Parker.

<i>Mardi Gras</i> (1958 film) 1958 film by Edmund Goulding

Mardi Gras is a 1958 American musical comedy film directed by Edmund Goulding and starring Pat Boone and Christine Carère.

<i>The Right Approach</i> 1961 film by David Butler

The Right Approach is a 1961 CinemaScope drama film directed by David Butler and starring Juliet Prowse, Frankie Vaughan and Martha Hyer.

<i>Doctor, Youve Got to Be Kidding!</i> 1967 film by Peter Tewksbury

Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding! is a 1967 American comedy film directed by Peter Tewksbury and starring Sandra Dee, George Hamilton and Celeste Holm.

<i>All Hands on Deck</i> (1961 film) 1961 film

All Hands on Deck is a 1961 American DeLuxe musical film in CinemaScope directed by Norman Taurog and starring Pat Boone as a naval officer. It is based on the novel Warm Bodies by Donald R. Morris.

<i>A Dog of Flanders</i> (1959 film) 1960 film

A Dog of Flanders is a 1960 American drama film directed by James B. Clark, with stars David Ladd, Donald Crisp and Theodore Bikel. It is based on the 1872 novel of the same name by Ouida. It was released on March 17, 1960, by 20th Century Fox in CinemaScope and Color by De Luxe.

<i>One Foot in Hell</i> (film) 1960 Western directed by James B. Clark

One Foot in Hell is a 1960 American Western and CinemaScope film starring Alan Ladd, Don Murray and Dan O'Herlihy, directed by James B. Clark and co-written by Sydney Boehm and Aaron Spelling from a story by Spelling.

<i>The Thief of Baghdad</i> (1961 film) 1961 American film

The Thief of Baghdad is a 1961 film directed by Arthur Lubin and starring Steve Reeves.

<i>Angel, Angel, Down We Go</i> 1969 film by Robert Thom

Angel, Angel, Down We Go, also known as Cult of the Damned, is a 1969 American film directed by playwright and screenwriter Robert Thom, his sole directorial credit. Thom based his screenplay on an unproduced stage play of the same title that he had written several years earlier as a vehicle for his wife, actress Janice Rule. The film was produced by Sam Katzman's Four Leaf Productions and distributed by American International Pictures.

Peter Levathes was an American film and advertising executive, best known for briefly running 20th Century Fox.

References

  1. Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN   978-0-8108-4244-1. p253
  2. FILMLAND EVENTS: Katzman Company to Film 'Wizard' Los Angeles Times 1 July 1960: 24.
  3. WIZARD OF BAGHDAD, The Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 28, Iss. 324, (Jan 1, 1961): 101.
  4. FILMLAND EVENTS: Katzman Company to Film 'Wizard' Los Angeles Times 1 July 1960: 24.
  5. Stones Preparing New Fire Thriller: Ameche in Return to Screen; Ritz Books Stripper Ann Corio Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 24 June 1960: A9.
  6. Dick Shawn in Hollywood for 'Wizard of Baghdad' Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 16 Aug 1960: b3.
  7. 'Wizard of Baghdad' Pays Off for Coe Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 13 Aug 1960: n_a8.
  8. He Holds Fox Reins: BOB GOLDSTEIN: He Reins Fox Film Empire Alpert, Don. Los Angeles Times 14 Aug 1960: F1.
  9. 'Wizard of Baghdad' Pleasant Little Spoof Stinson, Charles. Los Angeles Times 16 Dec 1960: A11.
  10. Neighborhood Bill Thompson, Howard. New York Times 4 Mar 1961: 16.