One of a series of Easterns that Universal made in the early 1950s. The best remembered ones starred Rock Hudson or Tony Curtis; this one has Victor Mature, who I am a bit of a fan of, but he doesn't have the energy or humour of the younger Curtis and Hudson. It isn't as though Mature is miscast (for a Universal Studios version of Bagdad, that is) - he plays a soldier who has been around a bit, seen something of life. But he's not as committed as in other movies.
Maybe it didn't help his female co star is Mari Blanchard - who is beautiful and all that, but lacks something, a spark or individuality. Maureen O'Hara was meant to co star and I wish she'd done so - either her or Yvonne de Carlo.
George Sherman's direction is lethargic. Overly moody - not very fun. Lots of close ups. I can't put my finger on it but this film missed for me. See The Prince Who Was a Thief instead.
The support cast is strong - villains include Guy Rolfe and Leon Askin, Nick Cravat, James Arness and Glenn Strange and Robert Blake have support roles.
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