A Thousand And One Nights (1945)

Nothing goes right for Aladdin (Cornel Wilde) when attempting to win the heart of a Princess (Adele Jergens) ... until he discovers the magic lamp that houses a wisecracking  genie (Evelyn Keyes). But when the genie falls in love with him, she thwarts his romantic plans for the Princess. Directed by Alfred E. Green (THE JOLSON STORY). Universal studios pretty much owned the Arabian fantasy genre in the 1940s with movies like ARABIAN NIGHTS and ALI BABA AND THE 40 THEIVES. So instead of doing it straight, Columbia decided to satirize the genre and the result is this movie. It's an anachronistic movie with Phil Silvers wearing horn rim glasses and using words like groovy and referencing Lana Turner. Evelyn Keyes' lovesick genie is petty and vindictive which renders her unappealing. Actually the basic narrative is good and if the film had been done straight instead of comedic, I would have found it more enjoyable. A truly odd film. Ray Rennahan's (GONE WITH THE WIND) Technicolor cinematography is quite attractive. With Dennis Hoey, Rex Ingram, Jeff Donnell and Nina Foch.