ALADDIN AND HIS LAMP (1952)
Article 2636 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 6-24-2008
Posting Date: 10-31-2008
Directed by Lew Landers
Featuring Johnny Sands, Patricia Medina, Richard Erdman
Country: USA

Aladdin uses the power of a genie to help win the hand of princess Jasmine.

Actually, I’m a bit amazed that low-budget studio Monogram would actually attempt an Arabian Nights epic, especially one in color. It’s a pity I can’t enjoy the color myself; my print is so faded it might as well be in black-and-white. I’m not surprised it’s cheesy and rather clumsy; I’d expect that from a Monogram movie directed by Lew Landers. Still, I do have to admire the attempt to pack so much story in one movie that runs little more than an hour. And I have to admit a real admiration for one plot element in particular; in this version of the story, every wish made of the genie has a catch, and that is that the genie will get a chance to kill the man who made the wish in an attempt to free himself from his curse. I pretty much figured that this plot element was going to play a part in a “deus ex machina” ending, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not a clever idea; I just wish the script made better use of it than it does. The cast also features the familiar face of John Dehner as Prince Bokra.