The Thief of Bagdad (United Artists) (1924)

ExplottfMon Suggestions—The Cast and Synopsis Various Exploitation Ideas VARIOUS EXPLOITATION IDEAS. BANKS AND SAFETY DEPOSIT VAULTS. “Thieves will get your valuables unless you see that they are properly protected. Our services are at your command.” This is the idea to sell to the bank and then it must be linked up with the theatre. SODA FOUNTAINS should be interested in a “Thief of Bagdad” drink. To be most appropriate it should contain apple, such as the use of Appleju or a sundae with a whole or sliced apple. If the mer¬ chant wants to put in a window to advertise the drink, he can do so by following the ideas suggested for the fruit stores, etc. “ADVICE FROM A THIEF.” Any company handling direct, or as brokers, burglary insurance should be interested locally in a tie-up based on the title of the picture. Mailing lists of policy holders and prospective ones can be secured for a letter beneficial to the theatre and the insurance agent. One effective campaign would be to have a scrawly letter written advising against burglary and mailed from the city in which the state penitentiary is located and captioned, “Advice from a Thief.” The advice would be to see the picture, etc. PAPER BAGS. The old gag of having the theatre and a mer¬ chant store share the expense of printing paper bags with suitable wording, could be used on this picture. The largest users of paper bags are fruit stores, and fruit stands and this ties in with the magic apple idea. One merchant in Baltimore who used this stunt bought over 250,000 during the run of a picture. Many of these bags are used several times as the women taking home fruit, keep the bags for the children to use for their lunches. NEWSPAPER TEASERS. Use of one column one inch reverse plate reading “HAPPINESS MUST BE EARNED.” This should be followed later with an ad tying up the campaign. Use a padlock with title of picture across it. The padlock in black and letters white. On account of the odd shape of the padlock, it will be conspicuous in the theatre ads. Another teaser ad which would show up to advantage would be one of the title of the picture written across prison bars. This could be used twice, first with just the wording “Watch for the Thief” and follow this up with “The Thief of Bagdad” is coming. FOR LOBBY DISPLAY. Have an enlargement made of Doug¬ las Fairbanks wearing the suit of silver cloth. This should be life size, colored, using silver paint to bring out the beauty of the picture. At night throw a beautiful light upon the enlargement and the dress material. A color wheel travelling across the spot light used would greatly enhance the beauty of the display. BOOK STORES. It should be possible to arrange with book stores for a display of copies of “The Thief of Bagdad,” with stills of picture and perhaps one of the rug cut-out suggested for rug stores. FLORISTS. Take a copy of the book, “The Thief of Bagdad” (A. L. Burt & Co.) and mount it on a heavy cardboard easel. Glue a piece of baby ribbon in a loop around the title and run it to another cardboard on which is printed “-and so the Princess’ choice of a husband depended upon a rose” and run to a basket of roses against which leans a card of the florist. Personnel of the Douglas Fairbanks Company During the Production of “THE THIEF OF BAGDAD” Elton Thomas. Raoul Walsh . Arthur Edeson. Lotta Woods . Dr. Arthur Woods . Edward Knohlock.. Richard Holahan 1 P. H. Whitman f .... Kenneth MacLean J William Cameron Menzies. Irvin J. Martin. Anton E. Grot Paul Youngblood H. R. Hopps Harold W. Grieve Park French William Utwich Edward M. Langley Leisen.. Mortimer Wilson. Theodore Reed.. Robert Fairbanks......... Hampton Del Ruth.. James O’Donohue.. William Nolan. Paul Burns. Albert Wayne. Charles Warrington. Howard MacChesney ] Clinton Newman f .... Walter Pallman J. C. Watson J .....—Author .Director .Photographer ...Scenario Editor ..Research Editor ...Consultant .Associate Photographers .Art Director ...Consulting Art Director ..Associate Artists .Designer of Costumes .Composer of Musical Score .Manager of Production ..Technical Director .Director of Mechanical Effects .Assistant Director .Cutter ..Master of Wardrobe and Properties ...Master Electrician .Still Photographer . . . Technicians The Players The Thief of Bagdad. His Evil Associate. The Holy Man.. The Princess... The Mongol Slave. The Slave of the Lute...... The Slave of "the Sand Board.. The Caliph.. His Soothsayer. The Mongrol Prince. His Counselor... His Court Magician. The Indian Prince.. The Persian Prince. His Awaker. The Sworder. The Eunuchs . ....Douglas Fairbanks ..Snitz Edwards .Charles Belcher -Julanne Johnston .Anna May Wong .Winter-Blossom .Etta Lee .Brandon Hurst .Tote Du Crow .So-Jin .K. Nambu .Sadakichi Hartmann .Noble Johnson .M. Conant .Charles Stevens .Sam Baker Charles Sylvester Scott Mattraw Jess Weldon Synopsis for “The Thief of Bagdad” In Bagdad, Magic City of the East, dwells Ahmed the Thief. He is an audacious rascal, living by his wits. He wanders into a Temple where the Holy Man is expounding the theory that “Happiness must be earned.” The Thief flouts this philosophy but carries away an impression that is vaguely disturbing. Aided by the Magic Rope, which he has stolen, he gains entrance to the Palace of the Caliph. While looting a chest of jewels, he is intrigued by the sound of sweet music. He follows it to the bed chamber of the Princess who lies sleeping. He kneels beside her couch. Her slumber becomes restless; her hand touches his. With a cry of alarm she wakes and throws aside the silk coverlid which falls over the crouching Thief. He is thus hidden from the guards who rush in. The Mongol Slave Girl espies him, but he threatens her to silence with his dagger—and escapes. Meanwhile, three Princes from afar have come to woo the Princess. She sends them away for a journey of seven moons, agreeing to wed the one who returns with the rarest treasure. One of the suitors, a Mongol Prince, plots to raise a secret army and capture Bagdad and is aided by a treacherous Mongol Slave of the Princess’ bed chamber. The Thief, in magnificent stolen raiment and aided by his Evil Associate, has the audacity to call himself Prince of the Isles of the Seven Palaces, in which guise he presents himself as a suitor for the hand of the Princess. He wins favor in her eyes. While in her presence, his better self asserts itself and he resolves to be no longer a thief. He confesses his deception to the Princess. Meanwhile, the young Mongol slave, who has recognized him, gives the alarm. He is seized, beaten, and thrown out of the palace. Filled with remorse, he makes his way to the mosque where the Holy Man consoles him and tells him he can yet win the .Princess if he will go to the end of the way and bring back the Magic Chest of Nazir. The Thief sets out on his journey, which takes him through the Valley of Monsters, to the Crystal Realm beneath the sea, and up the Flight of a Thousand Stairs; he rides the Flying Horse up to and through the clouds, and braves the Cavern of Fire. He is beset with temptation and attacked by beasts, but he wears the armor of Righteous Intent and comes through victorious, bringing with him the Magic Chest of Nazir. This chest contains his birthright—True Man¬ hood and Power Over Men. Meanwhile, the suitors for the hand of the Princess obtain their treasures. The Indian Prince has a Magic Crystal; The Mongol Prince a Golden Apple that will cure all ills and the Persian Prince the Magic Carpet. At the end of the sixth moon, the three Princes foregather and compare treasures. In Bagdad, the Princess has been poisoned by order of the Mongol Prince. The Indian Prince, through his Magic Crystal sees that the Princess lies dying. On the Persian Prince’s Magic Carpet, they fly to her aid, and with the Golden Apple of the Mongol Prince, they cure her. The Mongol Army now rises and in a surprise attack, captures the city. This news reaches the Thief who rushes to Bagdad. He now makes use of his Magic Chest of Nazir, creating from nowhere an imposing army that retakes the city and restores the Caliph. Wearing his Cloak of Invisibility, he is able to reach the Princess, and on the Magic Carpet, they sail together over the housetops headed for the Land of Love, and we see them gliding gracefully toward th Star-Studded sky, in which the twinkling beacons of night spell out the words: “Happiness Must Be Earned!”