The Sword Of Ali Baba (1965)

In the year 1258, the Mongols invade Baghdad but the Caliph (Moroni Olsen) and his young son (Scotty Beckett) escape and evade capture. But the Caliph is betrayed by his friend Prince Cassim (Frank Puglia) and killed. However, the young boy escapes into the desert where he is raised by a group of bandits and as a young man (Peter Mann), he is known as Ali Baba, a champion of the repressed people. Directed by Virgil Vogel (THE MOLE PEOPLE), the film is a scene for scene remake of the 1944 ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES with Frank Puglia playing the same part he played in 1944. Not only that but the film's first 17 minutes (excluding the credits) is lifted intact from the 1944 film. After that, copious amounts of footage from the 1944 movie are generously used. As for the film itself, the acting is shockingly bad. After watching the wooden Peter Mann in the Jon Hall role and the pouting Jocelyn Lane in the Maria Montez role, you'll never badmouth Hall or Montez's acting ability again. The only real "acting" comes from Gavin McLeod (THE LOVE BOAT) who gives an enjoyably campy (whether intentional, I can't say) performance in brownface as the villainous Mongol leader. With Greg Morris (MISSION IMPOSSIBLE), Frank DeKova, Peter Whitney, Frank McGrath and Irene Tsu.