• LIKE THIS THEME? You can buy it on StudioPress.
  • About
  • Contact

Celluloid and Lipstick

Classic Film and Cinema Style

  • The Actresses
    • Classic Actresses
    • Modern Actresses
  • Actors We Love
    • Classic Actors
    • Modern Actors
    • Allison’s British Actors
  • Favorite Films
    • Classic Films
    • Modern Movies
    • Independent Films
    • Foreign Films
    • Musicals and Dance
  • Style
    • Fashion Trends
    • Red Carpet Fashion
    • Vintage Style
    • Old Hollywood
    • Jewelry
  • Books
    • Biographies and Memoir
    • Photography

Stylish Movies: Sinbad the Sailor (1947)

August 21, 2016 by Allison Leave a Comment

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) has something for everyone: swashbuckling romance, action and adventure, mystery, fantasy, and lavish costumes and sets. This RKO Radio Pictures release stars Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Maureen O’Hara in a good, old fashioned popcorn movie filmed in eye-popping, glorious Technicolor.

In Persia, during the time of the Caliph Harun-Al-Rashid, lived Sinbad the Sailor (played with great style and verve by Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) As the film begins, Sinbad regales a group of men with tales of his many adventures. When they grow tired of listening to the same old stories, Sinbad spins a yarn about his “eighth voyage.”

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

The Story of Sinbad the Sailor

One day near Basra, Sinbad and his friend Abbu (the amusing George Tobias) salvage a baggala (or ship) whose crew has been mysteriously poisoned. Exploring the baggala, Sinbad discovers a map with directions to the lost treasure of Alexander the Great located on the island of Deryabar.

He also notices that one of the ship’s stained glass windows contains the royal seal of Prince Ahmed, the lost ruler of Deryabar. Since the royal seal matches the pattern on the medallion he has been wearing since childhood, Sinbad (who doesn’t know who his parents are) wonders if he could be Prince Ahmed!

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Sinbad decides to follow his fate and sail to Deryabar but the map suddenly disappears.

As the story unfolds, Sinbad becomes involved with other characters that can help him find the way to Deryabar. He falls for the beautiful Shireen (Maureen O’Hara), mistress of the ruthless and powerful Emir of Daibul (Anthony Quinn), but she and Emir both want to claim the treasure.

Sinbad The Sailor (1947) Anthony Quinn Maureen O'Hara Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Shireen, The Emir of Daibul and Sinbad

Shireen has shifting loyalties, between Sinbad, the Emir and her own self interest, and can Sinbad really trust her?

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Maureen O'Hara Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Sinbad’s barber Melik (played by Walter Slezak in a skillfully acted supporting role) claims to have seen and memorized the stolen map to Deryabar. Melik also wants to get his hands on the fortune. Then there is a shadowy murderous figure known only as “Jamal” who will stop at nothing to seize the treasure of Alexander the Great (Jamal is revealed near the end of the movie.)

Sinbad The Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Walter Slezak

Sinbad on the baggala with Melik

The storyline revolves around this quest for lost riches. The film culminates with the main characters arriving in Deryabar at the ruins of Alexander the Great’s palace. There Sinbad meets his father the Aga and learns his true identity, Shireen must decide between the Emir and Sinbad, and Melik and Emir seek tremendous wealth.

Sinbad’s father says that true happiness (the real “treasure”) is found in the mind and the heart, not in material things, and that’s the moral of the story. Indeed, we see that characters greedy for money and power are destroyed, while those who love unselfishly without a thought to gold and priceless treasures are rewarded with joy and fulfillment.

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Maureen O'Hara Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) was Douglas Fairbanks Jr.’s first film after five years in the Navy. With The Prisoner of Zenda, The Corsican Brothers and Sinbad the Sailor on his acting resume, he moved firmly into swashbuckling territory. However, box office results for Sinbad were modest, reflecting the post war audience’s declining interest in the type of swashbuckler films that made his father Douglas Fairbanks a superstar.

Sinbad has some swashbuckling, but it’s hampered by a script that emphasizes verbosity over thrilling action, so it never reaches the level of a masterpiece like Fairbanks Sr.’s The Thief of Baghdad (1924).

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Doug Jr.’s Sinbad is an homage to his famous father Douglas Fairbanks Sr.

Some aspects of the film feel uncomfortable: the stereotypes, the whipping of galley slaves and scenes of women confined to a harem. Emir treats feisty Shireen like a possession. It’s ludicrous the way the actors are done up in heavy dark makeup to play Arabs and an Asian.

Despite these problems, I still recommend this film.

If you can overlook its flaws, this is an interesting movie which glides along as silky smooth as Sinbad the Sailor’s satin cape.

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Directed by Richard Wallace, this film offers stunning cinematography by George Barnes, a lush, sweeping score by Roy Webb, dazzling set design and glorious 40s Technicolor!

The production values are astonishing yet a little quaint, which adds to its appeal, as the film’s atmosphere couldn’t be duplicated with modern digital effects.

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

From the sapphire tones of the sea to Ms. O’Hara’s bright red hair, the vibrant, saturated colors and images are unforgettable.

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Maureen O'Hara

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. radiates elegance and charm as Sinbad: lover, showman, adventurer, teller of tall tales. He has wonderful chemistry with Maureen O’Hara, who makes a fine Shireen, strong and gorgeous (O’Hara was the Queen of Technicolor!) Jane Greer shines in a small role as Shireen’s servant. It’s fun to watch veteran character actors like Alan Napier, George Tobias and Walter Slezak make the most of their supporting roles.

Sinbad the Sailor: Film Fashion

Sinbad the Sailor features beautiful costumes by Edward Stevenson. The actors and actresses wear dazzling Joseff of Hollywood jewelry. Here are some of Sinbad’s stylish film moments:

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Maureen O'Hara

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Maureen O'Hara

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Maureen O'Hara

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Maureen O'Hara

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) Stylish Movies Maureen O'Hara

The silk gown worn by Maureen O’Hara sold at auction for $4,480.

Sinbad the Sailor (1947) is available to buy at Amazon and shop.tcm.com.

(Images: The Movie Stills Database, Doctor Macro, eBay. All screen captures by Allison at CelluloidandLipstick.com)

Filed Under: Classic Films, Favorite Films, Featured Tagged With: action adventure, actors, actresses, Anthony Quinn, costume design, costume dramas, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., jewelry, Joseff of Hollywood, Maureen O'Hara, movie reviews, movies, Sinbad the Sailor (1947), stylish movies, swashbuckling, Walter Slezak

The 411 on Me

Allison West

Freelance Writer. Film Reviewer. Animal Lover. Coffee Drinker. Wordpress Whisperer. Style Hunter. Gem and Jewelry Enthusiast. I dream in black and white and celluloid. More about me.

Search this website…

Recent Posts

  • Stylish Movies: Sinbad the Sailor (1947)
  • Academy Awards Red Carpet 2016 Best Dressed Actresses
  • SAG Awards Red Carpet 2016 Best Dressed Actresses
  • Golden Globes Red Carpet 2016 Best Dressed Actresses
  • Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Birthday Photo of the Day
VigLink badge

Recent Posts

  • Stylish Movies: Sinbad the Sailor (1947)
  • Academy Awards Red Carpet 2016 Best Dressed Actresses
  • SAG Awards Red Carpet 2016 Best Dressed Actresses
  • Golden Globes Red Carpet 2016 Best Dressed Actresses
  • Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Birthday Photo of the Day
  • Pieces of April (2003) Perfect Thanksgiving Movie

Tags

70s 80s actors actresses best dressed British actors British films British television Chariots of Fire Douglas Fairbanks Jr. fashion fashion trends Ghost Story (1981) Grace Kelly Grace Kelly Movie The Swan 1956 Halloween Halloween films Hollywood awards season horror Julianne Moore Masterpiece Theatre Montgomery Clift Montgomery Clift death Montgomery Clift movies Montgomery Clift photos Monty Clift movie reviews movies Nigel Havers Nigel Havers photos Old Hollywood photography Photo of the Day red carpet red carpet dresses silent films spring 2015 fashion trends stylish halloween movies stylish movies TCM The Charmer The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) The Swan The Swan movie vintage

Copyright © 2025 · Metro Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in