Aladdin and the King of Thieves

―The Forty Thieves

***Aladdin and the King of Thieves*** (can also be known as ***Aladdin 3: The King of Thieves*** in some countries or places) is a 1996 animated direct-to-video, musical film that is the second to the sequel of the Disney animated feature, *Aladdin*. *Aladdin and the King of Thieves* is the final chapter of the Arabian Night, inspired by Disney stories that began with the theatrical Aladdin (1992) and continued with the second sequel, *The Return of Jafar* and the Aladdin TV series.

Robin Williams returned to voice the Genie after Disney apologized for the use of his likeness in the promotion of the original *Aladdin* film (Williams believed Disney had broken the terms of his contract). Dan Castellaneta had actually recorded all the dialogue of the Genie for this film, as he did with the previous sequel due to Disney's differences with Williams, but his recording session was not used when Robin Williams agreed to reprise his role.

This film grossed $186 million, making it the fourth-highest-grossing direct-to-video animated feature film of all time. In 2005, the film was re-released as a Special Edition DVD, with digitally restored picture and remastered sound. The DVD however has the film cropped to a matted 1.85:1 widescreen, an aspect ratio Disney never uses for animation. The DVD went back into the Disney Vault along with the other two films in the series in January 2008. The movie was released on Blu-ray with *The Return of Jafar* in a Disney Movie Club exclusive combo pack on January 5, 2016. Both sequels were also released on digital for general retail the same day as the Blu-ray release.

The film is inspired by the tale *Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves* from the *1001 Arabian Nights*, replacing Ali Baba with Aladdin, and for the first time since the original *Aladdin*, the film has a completely new soundtrack instead of the rearranged music from the original film for *The Return of Jafar* and the TV series.

## Synopsis

*"In this animated sequel, after months of preparation for their wedding, former street thief Aladdin (Scott Weinger) and his beloved Princess Jasmine (Linda Larkin) are close to the big day. When Aladdin learns his father, Cassim (John Rhys-Davies), is still alive, he tracks him down. Cassim says he's been hunting the Hand of Midas, which turns everything it touches into gold. Aladdin invites him to stay at the palace, but Cassim's obsession with the Hand soon grows too strong for his new life."*

## Plot

In the time of this film, it is a time of celebration. The death of Jafar has passed and Agrabah is finally at peace as people are awaiting and arriving for the grand celebration: Aladdin and Jasmine's long awaited wedding has arrived! Everyone is getting ready as they express their excitement, but the Sultan notices the Groom is nowhere in the Palace. Aladdin is shown to be at his old hovel where he grabs a dagger, the only thing that his lost father gave him, who had died when he was still young. Aladdin tells Genie that he is worried to what kind of a father he will be, but Genie reassures him that he will be great.

Meanwhile, unknown to anybody, the legendary Forty Thieves and their leader, The King of Thieves have sneaked into the palace to raid the wedding. The ceremony begins smoothly, as Jasmine and Aladdin begin to tell their vows, they are interrupted by the Forty Thieves who start to steal gold and other jewels after triggering a stampede of elephants. Jasmine, Abu, Carpet, and Genie fight the thirty-nine thieves, while Aladdin faces of the King of Thieves who is stealing a golden sceptre.

After being able to successfully stop the raid and drive the thieves away, the wedding should be postponed as the wedding pavilion needs to be destroyed because of the elephant released. Aladdin and the rest are wondering why they attacked, but Aladdin confirms it was something unusual. A sceptre. When Iago asks why they would want to steal a sceptre, it suddenly lifts up and is revealed to be an oracle. One who knows the past, present, and future.

Wondering and wanting to know more about his lost family, Aladdin starts to wonder about his childhood, in order to find the answers he seeks. The oracle reveals that his father is actually alive and can tell him everything. At his hovel, Aladdin reflects over the news and reveals to Jasmine if whether or not he should ask about his father. Jasmine encourages Aladdin to know more about his family and ask the oracle. Aladdin is told to follow the trail of the Forty Thieves as his father was trapped in their world. Thinking his father was a prisoner to the Thieves, Aladdin follows them to find out that his father is actually not the prisoner, but the leader, Cassim. Family or not, Aladdin has snuck into the lair and the Forty Thieves are eager to see him killed. But Cassim suggests that Aladdin faces the Challenge, where he must defeat one of the thieves and take his place. Sa'Luk, Cassim's right hand, volunteers in fighting Aladdin. But Aladdin successfully defeats Sa'Luk making him an honorary member of the Forty Thieves.

Aladdin then learns about why his father had left him and his mother before. Cassim had discovered the Hand of Midas, an artifact that can transform whatever it touches into solid gold. Cassim believes that having the Hand would make his family happier and had instigated the raid to capture the oracle to gain access to the artifact.

Aladdin ends up convincing Cassim to go with him in the Palace as his father, and for a while Cassim was happy. But the obsession (and Iago's persistance) led ended up making Cassim steal the Oracle's staff and getting captured by Razoul. Aladdin helps his father escape, by pretending to be him, but is recognized by the Captain of Guard, forcing him to flee the city. But instead of leaving Jasmine, like Cassim had done many years ago, Aladdin confronts Cassim and goes to Agrabah to take responsibility.

Meanwhile, back at the Cave, Iago and Cassim find out that Sa'Luk is alive and is now the leader of the rest of the thieves. Sa'Luk tells them that Cassim sold them out to the guards and was to blame for the raid that happened (but it was actually Sa'Luk who told the guards). Cassim, desperate to prove his loyalty, is forced to use the stolen oracle and find the location of the Hand. The oracle directs them to the Vanishing Isle.

Iago manages to escape to tell Aladdin and Jasmine that Cassim was imprisoned, Aladdin and Cassim reunite and retrieve the hand just as the Isle begins to slowly go back underwater, but they are attacked by Sa'Luk, who does not know the legend of the Hand of Midas. Foolishly grabbing the hand instead of the bronze handle. Sa'Luk is turned into gold and begins to slowly sink. Cassim then throws the Hand into the sea, however it hits the crew's ship instead and it sinks.

As the film ends, Jasmine and Aladdin get married and Cassim accepts Iago as his companion as Cassim goes off to explore the world. A reprise of Arabian Nights was sung to show the end of Aladdin as Aladdin and Jasmine fly past and kiss.

## Gallery

***Disney Prince Wiki*** has a collection of images and media related to ***Aladdin and the King of Thieves***.