Aladdin
and his Magic Lamp
(aka VOLSHEBNAYA LAMPA ALADDINA, ALADDIN'S MAGIC LAMP)
With: Boris Bystrov (Aladdin), Dodo Chogovadze (Princess Budhar), Andrei Fajt (as "Andre Faith") (Magribinets), Otar Koberidze (the Sultan), Ekaterine Verulashvili (Aladdin's mother), Georgi Millyar (Naimudrejshij), Gusejn Sadykhov (The Wazir, Mubarak's father), Valentin Bryleyev (Mubarak), Yuri Chekulayev (Mustafa), Sarry Karryev (The Djinn), Otar Bilanishvili (Storozh)
English-Language Version:
Plot Outline: In ancient Baghdad, An evil magician tricks a young man, Aladdin, into procuring a magic lamp for him from a magic city. From the lamp comes a wonderful Genie, who grants the holder anything he wishes. The magician steals the lamp, while Aladdin meets the beautiful Princess Bodura. Aladdin and the Princess fall in love, and must prove their worthiness to the Sultan of Baghdad. Aladdin conquers the evil magician, frees his Genie, and marries his beloved.
***
ALADDIN AND HIS MAGIC LAMP is a remarkable fantasy film, full of magic and amazing effects, certainly one of the "biggest" films which Childhood Productions ever released.
Originally a Russian production (VOLSHEBNAYA LAMPA ALADDINA), ALADDIN is easily on par with other noted Russian fantasies such as THE SWORD AND THE DRAGON (ILJA MUROMETS) and THE MAGIC VOYAGE OF SINBAD (SADKO). It is unfortunate that ALADDIN is far more obscure than its more glorious cousins.
Combining amazing outdoor sets with miniatures, opticals and animation, ALADDIN is a smorgasbord of awe-inspiring visuals, and boasts a lively, affable screenplay which juggles satire and slapstick effortlessly.
Early on, the evil magician talks to the very stars themselves in an amazing optical effect. The Baghdad sets are simply beautiful. When Aladdin travels to an enchanted (invisible) city to retain the magic lamp, the city has a vaguely expressionistic feel about it which is quite wondrous. One of many gorgeous process scenes features the Genie and Aladdin sitting together at sunset, contemplating their fates.
The magic Lamp itself is a somewhat odd-looking item, a rather nondescript vertical container, looking more like a spittoon than the stereotypical, sleek oil-lamp we have come to associate with this fable.
When the Genie finally materializes, the effect is both impressive and scary, utilizing an uncanny mixture of live-action and animation, with deep red filtering. There are some virtually stunning close-ups of the Genie.
After many struggles for our three heroes (Aladdin, Bodura and Genie), the film ends happily yet ironically, with a big Wedding, followed by Aladdin and the Princess entering their chambers to begin their honeymoon. The voice of the Genie interrupts, however, pleading: "Not yet! There are children in the theatre!"
A bizarre and wonderful fantasy which deserves another look by everyone interested in the maligned, neglected fantasy genre. Luckily, this public domain gem has been released by several different video and DVD comnpanies, both in the U.S. and elsewhere. See our "Aladdin Video Box Art Gallery!"
Video/DVD availability: VHS (Kid Rhino Video, various). DVD (Image Entertainment, various). Also available in original Russian
Links of related interest:
the original tale (Burton translation)
Arabian Nights Resource (includes film list)
(1966, U.S.S.R.) color/Cinemascope 84 minutes
Gorky Film Studios
Screenplay: Viktor Vitkovich, Grigory Yagdfeld
Music: Aleksai Muravlyov
Cinematography: Vasili Dultsev, Lev Ragozin
Directed by Boris Rytsarev
(1968) Childhood Productions 69 minutes (February release)
National Screen Service #68-133
Another Review
(04-26-05) Check out these amazing stills we recently acquired from Bruce Hershenson at emovieposter.com:
