Arabian Adventure
| Arabian Adventure | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Kevin Connor |
| Written by | Brian Hayles (screenplay) |
| Produced by | John Dark |
| Starring | Christopher Lee Oliver Tobias |
| Cinematography | Alan Hume |
| Edited by | Barry Peters |
| Music by | Ken Thorne |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Association Film Distribution |
Release date |
|
Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $4 million[1] |
Arabian Adventure is a 1979 fantasy adventure film directed by Kevin Connor and starring Christopher Lee and Oliver Tobias. The film was shot at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire, U.K.
Premise
An evil caliph (Christopher Lee) offers his daughter’s hand in marriage to a prince if he can complete a perilous quest for a magical rose. Helped by a young boy and a magic carpet, Prince Hasan (Oliver Tobias), has to overcome genies, fire breathing monsters and treacherous swamps to reach his prize and claim the hand of the Princess Zuleira (Emma Samms).
Cast
- Christopher Lee as Alquazar
- Milo O'Shea as Khasim
- Oliver Tobias as Prince Hasan
- Emma Samms as Princess Zuleira
- Puneet Sira as Majeed
- Peter Cushing as Wazir Al Wuzara
- Capucine as Vahishta
- Mickey Rooney as Daad El Shur
- John Wyman as Bahloul
- John Ratzenberger as Achmed
- Shane Rimmer as Abu
- Hal Galili as Asaf
- Art Malik as Mamhoud
- Milton Reid as Jinnee
- Elisabeth Welch as Beggarwoman
- Suzanne Danielle as Eastern Dancer
- Roy Stewart as Nubian
Production
The film was the last of several fantasy movies Connor and Dark made together including The Land That Time Forgot, At the Earth's Core and Warlords of Atlantis. Although it had the biggest budget it was far less successful at the box office.[2] The movie was a throwback to Arabian nights films like The Thief of Bagdad.[3]
Brian Hayles wrote Warlords and John Dark and Connor asked him to write an original Eastern fantasy.[4]
"These Eastern tales abound with lovely excursions into pure fantasy," said John Dark. "It was a very beautiful period and a very beautiful territory. We hope to recreate, in our story, the exciting architecture and costumes, as well as some exciting special effects, like an army of flying carpets. It's an amalgam of a lot of stories, a lot of lore, magic mirrors, wicked spells, benign and evil jinnees and one or two very special ideas of our own."[5]
In April 1978 EMI Films announced they would make the film as part of a series of films they wanted to produce with the newly formed Orion Pictures.[6] It did end up being one of Orion's first films, along with A Little Romance, Over the Edge, Promises in the Dark, Heart Beat, The Wanderers and 10.[7]
Filming took place in September 1978.[8]
Christoper Lee returned to Britain for the first time in three years to take the lead role. "I couldn't resist it" said Lee. "It's a very fine screenplay by Brian, falling into the true fairy tale genre of romance and beauty combined with the kind of wickedness and violence which has sent delicious shivers down the spines of children of all nations since time immemorial."[9]
Hayles died during filming, on October 30 1978 shortly after having delivered his first draft of a third original film for Dark and Connor, about pirate ghosts.[9]
References
- ^ "Exclusive Interview With Legendary Director Kevin Connor". Horror Channel. 7 August 2012.
- ^ Ed. Allan Bryce, Amicus: The Studio That Dripped Blood, Stray Cat Publishing, 2000 p 153
- ^ "Arabian Adventure". Fangoria. 1979.
- ^ "Arabian Adventure". Famous Monsters of Filmland (161 ed.). 1980. p. 26.
- ^ "The Ultimate Arabian Adventure". Starlog. No. 20. 1979. p. 11.
- ^ "Orion's star rises in hollywood". New York Times. 19 April 1978.
- ^ Kilday, G. (1978, Nov 01). FILM CLIPS. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/158712364
- ^ The dusky handmaiden. (1978, Sep 04). The Guardian (1959-2003) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/186060271
- ^ a b "News". Starburst. January 1979.
External links
- Arabian Adventure at IMDb
- Arabian Adventure at AllMovie
- Arabian Adventure at Rotten Tomatoes
- Arabian Adventure at Letterbox DVD
- Review at Cinema Retro
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