More fabulous adventure than the tales of the Arabian Nights , more exciting than the travels of Marco Polo, more spectacular than the splendors of Kubla Khan. This wonderful Oriental adventure deals with the princess Shamar, Debra Paget , the flame that ignited Egypt . And well starred by those sensational new stars , Debra Paget and Jeffrey Hunter . It is set 1249 Egyt, where the son of the caliph of Baghdad , Jeffrey Hunter, arrives in order to keep peace and order, along the way he helps the beautiful princess to rid the Bedouin invaders led by Michael Rennie .Meanwhile , Shamar takes a double identity , both as a wealthy princess and disguising as an expert dancer, dancing at market place.
This is a typical oriental movie produced by 20th Century Fox with intrigue , fights , sword-crosses and colorful scenarios, though mostly shot in studios . The two sensational new young stars give passable interpretations. Debra Paget is marvelous as the gorgeous princess striving to gain her aims, to rid the Bedouin conquerors, as she practices her intriguing skills, both at the slums and at the royal court . Paget starred a lot of adventure movies for 20th Century Fox , outstanding her exotic beauty and dancing skills, such as : Bird of paradise, Anne of the Indians, Prince Valiant, Demetrius and the Gladiators, Omar Khayyam and the exceptional dyptic : Tiger of Snapur and The Indian tomb by Fritz Lang . While her partenaire Jeffrey Hunter as a brave hero is fine, but inferior to Paget. Support is frankly well , such as Michael Rennie, Jack Elam , Michael Ansara, Edgar Barrier as Shaman, Dona Drake and uncredited Lee Van Cleef.
It packs a colorful and brilliant cinematography in Technicolor by Lloyd Ahern Sr. , adding fastuous production design, though some of the sets were used from Demetrius and the gladiators. As well as an evocative and thrilling musical score by Lionel Newman. The motion picture was professionally directed by Harmon Jones. He was a producer , production manager, editor and filmmaker. As Harmon directed all kinds of genres, drama, thriller, Noir, Western, comedy
. . such as : Wolf Larsen, The beast of Budapest, Gorilla at large, Target Zero, Canyon river, City of bad men, A day of fury , The silver whip , The pride of St Louis, As young as you feel, Bloodhounds of Broadway . He also directed several episodes from known TV series such as : Land of giants, Death valley, Voyage to the bottom of the sea, The Virginian , Perry Mason, Gunslinger, Daniel Boone , Iron horse, The Monroe, The Zorro, among others. Rating : acceptable and passable. Well worth watching. The flick will appeal to Debra Paget and Jeffrey Hunter fans
