The Magic Carpet (1951)

When the Caliph (Leonard Penn) is assassinated during a political coup by the henchman (Raymond Burr) of his rival (Gregory Gaye), he makes sure his infant son is taken to safety. When he grows into manhood, the young man (John Agar) is unaware of his birthright and becomes a doctor. But he is also secretly the Scarlet Falcon, a revolutionary who leads a group of rebels in an attempt to end the reign of the wicked false Caliph. This low budget Arabian Nights potboiler is shot in a hideous color process called Supercinecolor that lacks the vivid palette of Technicolor. Saddled with the supremely bland and uncharismatic John Agar as its hero guarantees that it's not going to be much fun. Topbilled Lucille Ball is the film's femme fatale, the Caliph's sexually brazen sister. Reputedly Columbia head Harry Cohn gave Ball the script as her next assignment (she owed Columbia one more film under her contract) fully expecting her to turn it down but Ball, eager to end the contract, called his bluff. It was her last film before she turned to television and I LOVE LUCY made her one of the icons of TV comedy. It's a rather silly fantasy (the flying carpet effects are rather cheesy) but it might appeal to very young children and Ball completists. Directed by Lew Landers (1935's THE RAVEN). With Patricia Medina as the feisty heroine and George Tobias.