Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-02-03
arabian
Nights Set
For the Fox

IHE FlkS / CnaIdCteIS 70 dp-
pear in a fiction story now make
their screen debut after these
thousands Of years. They are
Scheherazade. Aladdin, Sinbaad
and some of the subordinate per-
sons of The Thousand and One
Nights" supposedly created by
Persian noveliSts in about the
same period as that in which the
early books of the Bible were
written. The timeleSs tales under
their more familiar title. Arabian
Nights come TO the Fox Theater
on Friday with Maria MonteZ,
Spanish American beauty. as Sche-
herazade: John Qualen as Aladdin.
and Shemp Howard as Sinbaad.
When the ancient Persian stories
were rewritten. centuries later, by
the Arabs, with many revisions,
and their locale changed 10 Bagh-
dad. many other new figures were
added TO the original characters.
ADDED FIGURES
Among these was the idealiza-
ton Of a real man. Haroun Al
RaSchid who was caliph or super
Mayor. of Baghdad along about
the middle OF the eighth century,
A. y. Haroun is in the film version
which Walter Wanger produced
and John Rawlins directed. He IS
played by Jon Hall.
Just as the Arabs changed the
Persian stories for their purposes,
even giving their own nationality
10 the title. so the Arabian
Nights stories have been entirely
revised for the screen.
The Arabs added characters Of
their own invention 10 the origi-
mails. Wanger's film scenariSts have
done the same for the picture.
TWO "A FILMS
Among these new characters
are Ali Ben Ali, an acrobat, played
by Sabu, the Indian juvenile;
Kamar AL Shaman, brother OF
Haroun and rival for his caliphate,
by Left Erickson; Madam, Harouns
treacherous prime minister, acted
by Edgar Barrier; Hakim, done by
Thomas Gomez: the Captain inn
personated by nrhan Bey. Turk
ish character actor born in Vienna,
and Ahmad, acted by Billy Gilbert.
Another "A" picture, Life
Begins at Eight Thirty" shares
top billing at the Fox. Time has
not softened the abrasive edge OF
Monty Woolley's tongue. Woolley
co-stars with Ida Lupino and the
fine quality of his abuse is like
emery cloth whether he is The
Man Who Came TO Dinner" THE
Pied Piper" or, in this film, a
down but scarcely out actor.
BARRED TONGUE
The picture finds Woolley IN
volved with the Christmas Spirit In
its early scenes. Here, as reported
by a spy on the studio lot. are
some OF the barbed Woolleyisms
in the film.
1t is as a rival Kris Kringle that
+Weelley addresses a street corner
Santa, a thin, cadaverous and
seedy Santa who seems almost 10
shrivel before the magnificence OF
the Woolleyan Santa. With his liz
curling, Woolley says. Il can't re-
member when / have seen any
thing more revolving"
A bit later, as Santa Woolley
stewed 10 the ClauSian gillS. is
holding court on a throne in q
department store, he gives forth
with a gigantic drunken hiccough
Children litter, and a woman "
the audience looks outraged. Lean.
ing forward. Woolley asks amiably
And what did you expect, madam
chimes ?"
Upon a chance meeting with
Sara Allgood, as a onetime co.
player of his in the theater
Woolley expresses the fact that he
is not oyerjoyed at seeing her by
asking, What saboteur brought
you here ?"
To a man who has the insuper
liable gall TO attempt TO collect &
bill Justly due him. Woolley eX
claims. IF ever this country j!
forced to the scorched earth policy
II should like the privilege of put