Blog - Charles Lamont

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Bagdad (1949) Starring Maureen O'Hara, Paul Christian

Posted by Milo on Jul 23rd 2016

Bagdad (1949)

Starring Maureen O'Hara, Paul Christian

A Bedouin princess returns to Bagdad after being educated in England, only to find that her father has been treacherously murdered by the head of the Black Robes, a group of renegades. She is hosted by the Pasha, who is the corrupt representative of the national government. She is also courted by Prince Hassan, who is falsely accused of the murder. The plot revolves around her attempts to bring the killer to justice while being courted by the Pasha.

Director: Charles Lamont
Writers: Tamara Hovey (story), Robert Hardy Andrews (screenplay)

Stars: Maureen O'Hara, Paul Hubschmid, Vincent Price, John Sutton, Jeff Corey

Bambi Awards 1953

3rd place Best Actress - International: Maureen O'Hara

Songs include

Bagdad
Music by Frank Skinner
Lyrics by Jack Brooks
Performed by Maureen O'Hara

Love Is Strange
Music by Frank Skinner
Lyrics by Jack Brooks
Performed by Maureen O'Hara

Song of the Desert
Music by Frank Skinner
Lyrics by Jack Brooks
Performed by Maureen O'Hara

The film was originally meant to star Yvonne de Carlo.

Charles Lamont's 'Bagdad' set the tone for Maureen's 1950s film career. In past adventure movies, she had been merely the irritable and decorative female lead. Now she moved into the full limelight, demanding the screen title once held by Maria Montez, and more recently by Yvonne DeCarlo, as Queen of the period adventure tales. More than Montez and DeCarlo, Maureen is a spirited and robust actress who can stand up to any hero. She combines her surprising screen beauty with an athletic finesse that allow her to move smoothly from a star with dramatic ambition to a Queen of the adventure movies.

An Oriental fantasy film in glorious Technicolor that celebrates every blue, red and green the camera can get hold of. "Bagdad" doesn't look real for a second with those carnival costumes and false beards, but it is fun all the way.