You can see elements of great adventure films in this with one sequence where Sinbad tries to evade guards as he searches for the girl within the palace seeming rather like the later adventure in the first Star Wars film of 1977 with Han Solo trying to evade stormtroopers while searching for the girl within the Death Star. George Lucas openly was inspired by all the adventures he saw as a kid and whether this sequence was directly influential or whether it was just an example of the type of scenes which inspired him I do not know. Scenes like that are classic adventure fun but they are few and far between in this rahter dull and confused film. There are plenty of better adventure films from this era and there are better Sinbad films too. The film is not artistically interesting and the story is pretty turgid. Maureen O'Hara is, as always, a sparkling presence, Anthony Quinn is always a good character actor and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is well able to handle the action and humour but there is little material to work with here. I am being generous to award it 4.5/10 for the good elements within this very average film.

The Technicolor Drips off the Screen and the Lavish Costumes are a Sight to Behold. The Sets are Impressive. But Overall the Movie is Cramped, Flat, and Talky. To Call this a Swashbuckler is to be Generous. It is a Mix of Comedy and Tall Tales that comes off as a Boring, Sedimentary Story that is Hardly Engaging and Lacks the Scope that the Best of these Types have to Offer.Even Before Harryhausen's Sinbads this must have been at Best a Disappointment. The Movie is Long and it just doesn't Seem Long it is Long. That's Because Nothing Much Happens Except a lot of Speechifying and Prancing Around.There is Very Little Action and the Intrigue gets Lost in the Length of the Thing. The Cast does Their Part but the Dialog is Strained and the Jabbering goes on Forever. There is Nothing Broad or Bombastic as the Open Seas are Nothing More than a Back Lot Tub of Water and the Whole Movie seems so Stilted it is Stifling.The Color is Beautiful and Nothing Before or Since has Matched the Grandiosity of 1940's Technicolor and it is Displayed Here with as Much Strength as Any MGM Musical. But it is Nothing More than The Arabian Nights Stillborn.

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. (as Sinbad) loves to tell stories, like this one. After a ship's crew is poisoned, Mr. Fairbanks Jr.'s "Sinbad the Sailor" hops on board and finds a map to Deryabar; there, he hopes to find the treasure of Alexander the Great. He also believes he may be the rightful Prince of Deryabar. A greedy couple - the alluring Maureen O'Hara (as Shireen) and her turbaned partner Anthony Quinn (as Emir) get in the way…Colorful lethargy. The stars are much more interesting in other films, although Fairbanks Jr. is somehow engaging; at least, he tries not to look completely bored. The story lacks both focus and humor, and it is way too long. Walter Slezak as "Melik the Hairdresser" is the performance to keep your eyes on, if you watch - he is delicious... ***** Sinbad the Sailor (1/13/47) Richard Wallace ~ Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Walter Slezak, Maureen O'Hara, Anthony Quinn

All during this movie,I was awaiting the special effects,that were not there.I love Arabian night tales,especially Sindbad,but where was the genie in the lamp,the flying carpet,the magical villain.The Thief of Bagdad[1940) is my all time favorites,as it incorporated all of the magic.I did like Walter Slezak in this movie,his tone of speaking is similar to peter Lorre.I did think about this movie long after it was over,so I liked it enough to give it a seven.I loved Maureen O'Hara's makeup and beautiful clothes.Also 40's color has a beauty all of its own.I thought Douglas Fairbanks was weak in this movie,physically speaking,as I envisioned a dark haired more muscular Sindbad.Costumes were outstanding.