The Magic Carpet ** (1951, Lucille Ball, John Agar, Patricia Medina, George Tobias, Raymond Burr, Gregory Gaye, Rick Vallin) – Classic Movie Review 12,209

The 1951 Super Cinecolor adventure movie The Magic Carpet stars Lucille Ball, John Agar, Patricia Medina, Raymond Burr. It opened on 18 October 1951, three days after I Love Lucy premiered. 

Director Lew Landers’s 1951 Columbia Pictures adventure movie The Magic Carpet is made by Sam Katzman Productions, is shot in Super Cinecolor, runs 84 minutes, and stars Lucille Ball, John Agar, Patricia Medina, George Tobias, Raymond Burr, Gregory Gaye, and Rick Vallin.

The film opened in Los Angeles on 18 October 1951, three days after her TV show I Love Lucy premiered, effectively derailing her film career but turning her into a major star.

John Agar plays Abdullah al Husan / Dr Ramoth, the dashing son of Bagdad’s deposed ruler, who sets out to take revenge on Caliph Ali (Gregory Gaye), the evil usurper of his throne, and his wicked vizier, the Grand Vizier Boreg al Buzzar (Raymond Burr). Ramoth, unaware he is the rightful heir, disguises himself as The Scarlet Falcon and, aided by his friend Razi (George Tobias) and Razi’s beautiful sister Lida (Patricia Medina), tries to end the Caliph’s reign.

It is a nice overall cast, with Gaye and Burr most entertaining, and Patricia Medina alluring as the heroine Lida, though Lucille Ball, as Princess Narah the star queen of the hareem who helps Abdullah/ Ramoth, is perhaps the best reason to give this kitsch, rather weakly written, sub-standard Arabian Nights fantasy a second look.

The Magic Carpet is extremely daft but of some very considerable campy escapist entertainment value.

The film is produced by Sam Katzman, and followed by his 1952 Thief of Damascus and 1953 Siren of Bagdad, both with Paul Henreid.

Also in the cast are Jo Gilbert, William Fawcett, Doretta Johnson, and Linda Williams.

Writer: David Mathews (original screenplay).

Filming location: Iverson Ranch, 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles,

The cast are Lucille Ball as Princess Narah, John Agar as Abdullah al Husan / Dr Ramoth / The Scarlet Falcon, Patricia Medina as Lida, George Tobias as Razi, Raymond Burr as Grand Vizier Boreg al Buzzar, Gregory Gaye as Caliph Ali, Rick Vallin as Abdul, Jo Gilbert as Maras, Gary Klein as Baby, William Fawcett, Doretta Johnson, and Linda Williams.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,209

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