''The Veils of Bagdad'' is a 1953 American

adventure film An adventure film is a form of adventure fiction, and is a genre of film. Subgenres of adventure films include swashbuckler films, pirate films, and survival films. Adventure films may also be combined with other film genres such as action, an ...

directed by

George Sherman George Sherman (July 14, 1908 – March 15, 1991) was an American film director and producer of low-budget Western films. One obituary said his "credits rival in number those of anyone in the entertainment industry." Biography George Sherma ...

and starring

Victor Mature Victor John Mature (January 29, 1913 – August 4, 1999) was an American stage, film, and television actor who was a leading man in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. His best known film roles include ''One Million B.C.'' (1940), '' My Darlin ...

and

Mari Blanchard Mari Blanchard (born Mary E. Blanchard, April 13, 1923 – May 10, 1970) was an American film and television actress, known foremost for her roles as a B movie femme fatale in American productions of the 1950s and early 1960s. Early life and c ...

Plot

In 1560, Antar is sent by Selima, head of the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

, to prevent Pasha Hammam from attempting to overthrow the emperor. Selima blames Hammam and his assassin Kasseim for the death of her father. Kasseim's wife, Rosanna, falls in love with Antar, but he wants Selima for himself.

Cast

as Antar *

as Selima *

Virginia Field Virginia Field (born Margaret Cynthia Field; 4 November 1917 – 2 January 1992) was a British-born film actress. Early years An only child, born in London, her father was Sir John Field. He was the judge of Leicester County Court Circuit. H ...

as Rosanna *

Guy Rolfe Guy Rolfe (born Edwin Arthur Rolfe, 27 December 1911 – 19 October 2003) was a British actor. Career Rolfe was born in Kilburn, London. Before turning to acting at the age of 24 he was a professional boxer and racing driver, making his stage ...

as Kasseim *

Leon Askin Leon Askin (; born Leon Aschkenasy, 18 September 1907 – 3 June 2005) was an Austrian Jewish actor best known in North America for portraying the character General Burkhalter on the TV situation comedy ''Hogan's Heroes''. Life and career A ...

as Hammam *

James Arness James Arness (born James King Aurness; May 26, 1923 – June 3, 2011) was an American actor, best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon for 20 years in the CBS television series '' Gunsmoke''. Arness has the distinction of having played the ...

as Targut * Palmer Lee as Osman *

Nick Cravat Nicholas Cuccia (pronounced ''coo-cha''; January 10, 1912 – January 29, 1994), better known by his stage name Nick Cravat, was an American actor and stunt performer. Early life Nicholas Cuccia was born in Manhattan, New York City. His real ...

as Ahmed *

Ludwig Donath Ludwig Donath (6 March 1900 – 29 September 1967), was an Austrian actor who appeared in many American films. Life Born to a Jewish family, Donath graduated from Vienna's Academy of Dramatic Art and became a prominent actor on the stage i ...

as Kaffar * Howrd Petrie as Karsh * Charles Arnt as Zapolya *

Jackie Loughery Jacqueline V. "Jackie" Loughery (sometimes credited as Evelyn Avery, is a retired American actress and former beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned "Miss Rockaway Point" in 1949 before becoming crowned Miss New York USA 1952 and later, was ...

as Handmaiden *

Thomas Browne Henry Thomas Browne Henry (November 7, 1907 – June 30, 1980) was an American character actor known for many guest appearances on television and in films. He was active with the Pasadena Community Playhouse and was the older brother of actor ...

as Mustapha * David Sharpe as Ben Ali * Sammy Stein as Abdallah *

Bobby Blake Bobby Blake (born Edgar Gaines; August 11, 1957) is a Baptist elder who acted in gay pornography until 2000. Biography Blake appeared in over 100 releases.. Retrieved on 2007-12-14. Bobby Blake was a long time partner with Flex-Deon Blake. B ...

as Beggar boy *

Glenn Strange George Glenn Strange (August 16, 1899 – September 20, 1973) was an American actor who mostly appeared in Western films and was billed as Glenn Strange. He is best remembered for playing Frankenstein's monster in three Universal films d ...

as Mik-Kel * Charles Wagenheim as Bedouin spy * Chester Hayes as Wrestler * Thomas A. Renesto as Wrestler * Hans Schnabel as Wrestler * Vic Holbrook as Wrestler * Russ Saunders Troupe as Acrobatic Act

Production

The film was originally known as ''Prince of Bagdad'' and was based on an original story. In July 1952 Universal announced Victor Mature would star and

Maureen O'Hara Maureen O'Hara (; 17 August 1920 – 24 October 2015) was a native Irish and naturalized American actress and singer, who became successful in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood from the 1940s through to the 1960s. She was a natural ...

was his "likely" co-star. Victor Mature was borrowed from

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

. He made it after completing ''

The Glory Brigade ''The Glory Brigade'' is a 1953 American war film directed by Robert D. Webb. It stars Victor Mature and Alexander Scourby. The film was referred to in ''M*A*S*H'' (1970), directed by Robert Altman. Plot US Army engineer Lt. Pryor's detachmen ...

'' and before ''The Robe'' - however release was held up until after ''The Robe'' had been released. In October, George Sherman was assigned to direct. Eventually Maureen O'Hara asked to be relieved of the assignment and her role was taken by Universal contract player Mari Blanchard. James Arness was borrowed from Wayne-Fellows. The film also featured a young

Stuart Whitman Stuart Maxwell Whitman (February 1, 1928 – March 16, 2020) was an American actor, known for his lengthy career in film and television. Whitman was born in San Francisco and raised in New York until the age of 12, when his family relocated to ...

, who had just signed a long term contract with Universal.Scoutmaster Duty Now Likely for Webb; Lauren Bacall to Bait Tycoons Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 13 Dec 1952: 11

References

External links

* * *
Veils of Bagdad
at BFI 1953 films 1950s English-language films Films directed by George Sherman Films shot in California 1950s historical adventure films Films set in the 1560s Films set in Baghdad Films set in the Ottoman Empire Universal Pictures films American historical adventure films 1950s American films {{adventure-film-stub