The Thief of Bagdad (1940, UK)

In this imaginative Arabian Nights fantasy adventure film produced by Alexander Korda - it was a loose remake of the original Douglas Fairbanks silent classic of 1924; it was also the Oscar winning film for Best Cinematography and Special Effects, including the first major use of bluescreening:

• the character of clever and poor Bagdad thief Abu (15 year-old Sabu) who helped save handsome deposed Prince Ahmad (Jon Justin) and the beautiful Princess (June Duprez), the daughter of a toy-obsessed Sultan (Miles Malleson), from the villainous, black-clad evil magician Jaffar (Conrad Veidt) by a ride to the rescue on his magic carpet in the film's conclusion

Jaffar (Conrad Veidt)

Princess (June Duprez)

Sultan (Miles Malleson), the Princess' Father

• the sight of 50 foot tall genie or Djinni (Rex Ingram) emerging from a tiny bottle on a beach, watched by boy thief Abu

Djinni Emerging From Bottle

• the fanciful elements including a toy horse that could fly, Abu's battle with a giant spider in its huge web, and Abu's flight to the rescue of Ahmad on a magical flying carpet

Fanciful Elements
The Flying Horse	The "Silver Maid" - A Deadly, Multi-Armed Dancing Statue	Abu Caught In Spider Web
The Temple With Goddess (And an All-Seeing Eye Jewel)	Abu Arriving to Save Everyone On Magic Flying Carpet	Abu's Magic Crossbow and Arrow - Death to Jafar