The Singing Princess

(aka LA ROSA DI BAGDAD, THE ROSE OF BAGDAD)
(1949, Italy) color animated 76/72 minutes
Ima Film Milano / Artisti Associati
Music: Riccardo Pick Mangiagalli
Cinematography: Cesare Pelizzari
Produced by Anton Gino Domenighini
Directed by Anton Gino Domenighini

English-Language Version:
(1967) Trans-National / Larry Joachim / Daisy Rieger 66/60 minutes
Screenplay: Nina Maguire, Tony Maguire
Lyrics: Nina Maguire, Tony Maguire

Voices: Julie Andrews (Princess Zeila)
Narration: Boris Karloff (uncredited)

Plot Outline: A young flutist, and a magic lamp, help save a beautiful princess from losing her kingdom to an evil wizard.

***

This extremely obscure animated feature holds the world's record for time sitting on a shelf before being released in the US: thirty years!

The influence of Disney's then-recent SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS is clearly evident, in the general look, the plot and the characters, including the musical heroine and three goofy midget-ministers who mimic the Disney dwarves flawlessly.

Otherwise, this tale is strictly Arabian Nights stuff, although there is a nice snake-dance scene.

Sublime, like most animation films of the period, this may be too slow for today's hyperactive wee ones. The latter-day US release must have been rushed to cash in on Ms. Andrew's flash of fame after the blockbuster THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

It's too bad that Boris Karloff's excellent narration goes uncredited; it's one of his last films.

It's hard to appreciate from the faded U.S. prints, but the animation is splendid, not unlike the work of France's Jean Image. The original Italian film, LA ROSA DI BAGDAD, was well received at the 1949 Venice Film Festival.

Thanks to Goodtimes Video, another rare gem saved from oblivion!

Video/DVD availability: VHS (Goodtimes, oop)