The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29
LATE MOVIE GOSSIP FROM HOLLYWOOD

tcopyrght 1923, in United States and Great Britain, by North American News paper Alliance for The Age Herald. All
 right reserved)
 LOS ANGELES, April 2S.--Douglas Fairbanks has given up the idea Of being pirate. Instead, he will be a thief.
 By the middle of May work will be under way at the Fairbank s studio on a spectacular film play 10 be called Douglas Fairbanks in an Arabian Nights Tale" and the actual filming will continue until about the end of November.
 After raising special head of hair, writing the plot and announcing my plans for the pirate picture, I de- cided I didn't like the play, so I've given it up," he says.
 Instead I'm going to make the story of the thief of Bagdad who finds that the thing he wants most in all the world is the one thing he cannot steal or gain by chicanery."
 Fairbanks left his private office for a moment and then came back accompanied by Edward Nobloeh, who Is busy on the continuity. Be- tween them they carried a large, heavy portfolio.
 Look at these" Fairbanks ex- claimed. and he ranged against the walls large scenic drawings of start ling beauty and originality. One showed the gateway to Bagdad, an other a street scene. There was a drawing for a set at the bottom of the sea. another of the bedroom of the caliph's daughter, showing the thief crossing a long bridge leading to the moon-flooded chamber. Enter the Magic Carpet.
 These drawings, I learned, are the work of William Cameron Menzies, and they will be followed when the sets are built.
 In this picture" said Fairbanks, there will be symbolism and an al legory, but they will both be clever ly concealed. Those who remember the reading from the Koran in one of the opening scenes in mosque will catch the meaning of the ale gory. but the play. though something akin to 'Everyman.' will be no preachment. It will, l think, have wider appeal than anything I have ever done. For the children there will be seeming magic; for the art ist beauty; for those who seek mere- ly entertainment there will be a swiftly moving plot with interest and suspense.
 Roughly the plot will be this; Three princes will be contenders for the hand of the caliphs daughter, but she will love the thief. The caliph will promise his daughter to the suitor who brings the most priceless gift One will bring a crystal in which one may see all that exists; the second will bear as his gift a magic carpet that will transport one any place for the wishing; the third will return with magic apple, one bite of which will cure any ill.
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 The Thief Fairbanks Won't Tell.
 "On their way back from their quest the three suitors meet, look into the crystal and see that the princess is dying of poison. Of course they stand on the magic car pet, sail to the palace, and then save her life by giving her a bite of the magic apple. The caliph wants his daughter to marry the prince who saved her life with the apple, but she. in order to win a delay, points out that the three gifts are of equal importance, because she would have died but for the crystal and the car pet.
 "Oh, the thief"
 He paused and smiled.
 I'll not tell you how the thief gets there nor what he brings as his great gift. But the thief has been having marvellous adventures of his