The Brass Bottle (1964) User Reviews (21)

Before Andrew Divoff, there was.... Burl Ives!?!?!?

[robeykr · 7/10 · 21 January 2003]

Magically powerful, the ancient entity known as the D'Jinn can grant a person's wildest dreams, but in this day and age, can your lifestyle stand up to it?

The flip side of THE WISHMASTER, this film is a delightful romp that is comical and heartwarming.

Burl Ives is the D'Jinn, freed from 'The Brass Bottle" by architect Harold Ventimore (Tony Randall) -- who was intent on making it into a lamp!

Based on the book by Thomas Anstey Guthrie, the story shows the chaos that engulfs Harold's life as "Mr. Fakrash" attempts time and again to reward him for freeing him from the bottle. Meaning to be kind, he systematically causes Harold to loose his job, his fiancé, and ultimately, his freedom -- as the world comes to see him as a lunatic. There is no room in this modern world for Hocus Pocus.

I will not spoil the ending -- see it; this is one of Burl Ives' finest performances!

At last --- it's on DVD!

Tony Randall gets the greatest gift in the world....yet inexplicably doesn't want it!

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 9 September 2016]

"The Brass Bottle" is a silly film that is well worth seeing...even if it's leading character is a bit of a drip! It all begins when Harold Ventimore (Tony Randall) buys a giant rosewater vessel to give to his father-in-law to be (Edward Andrews). Harold notices that the man already has one of these ancient containers and so he decides to keep it for himself. Later, when he gets home and opens it, out pops Mr. Fakrash (Burl Ives)...a real, live genie!! Now you'd think that Harold would ask him for power, money or a harem of sexy wives but instead he just wants the very affable Fakrash to leave him alone. But Fakrash insists on helping Harold...yet again and again this help only seems to make things worse. Now you sure would think Harold would ask for a few reasonable things...but again and again he just scolds Fakrash! Can Fakrash manage to help Harold while STILL avoiding creating nothing but chaos?!

The film is a cute bit of fantasy and Ives and Randall are quite enjoyable. Likewise, it's wonderful seeing co-stars such as Barbara Eden (just before she went on to TV fame in "I Dream of Jeanie") and the familiar Edward Andrews as her annoying father. Oh, and by the way, Andrews and Randall would be back together for an equally silly film, "Fluffy". Overall, quite fun and a nice bit of fantasy that will please all but the most serious-minded viewers.

Will buy this when and if it's released on DVD

[julia_cybele · 7/10 · 26 December 2006]

I was a child when I last saw this film, probably on television ... remember it as being incredibly funny and charming and would really enjoy seeing it again!

Burl Ives was a perfect genie ... can still recall the name of the great Fakrash el-Aamash after forty years, which is to say that the film made a remarkable impression. It would be interesting to see whether my sense of humor has changed all that much in the interim.

The Brass Bottle seemed quite a bit better than the TV series "I Dream of Jeannie" that was inspired by it ... absolutely delightful, if my memory can be a reliable guide.

Before she was Jeannie, Barbara Eden came across all sorts of strange magical things.

[lee_eisenberg · 7/10 · 22 January 2007]

For the most part, "The Brass Bottle" is one of those silly comedies that they cranked out in the early '60s. In this case, jittery architect Harold Ventimore (Tony Randall) frees genie Fakrash (Burl Ives) who tries to hard to please his new master. It only complicates matters when Harold can't explain things to his fiancée Sylvia Kenton (Barbara Eden). Will these genies ever be able to do things right?! Yes, this movie is very much a product of those days, when we viewed the Middle East as the land of sultans with harems; I believe that OPEC gave us the negative view that now dominates. But no matter, this movie is impossible not to like. In that sense, it's sort of like the other 1964 movie in which Tony Randall and Barbara Eden co-starred: "7 Faces of Dr. Lao" (which also had kind of a magical plot).

So, it may be a movie impossible to take seriously, but it's definitely good for a few laughs. And if absolutely nothing else, we can sort of see Barbara Eden getting primed to play the most famous genie ever to grace TV screens. Also starring Edward Andrews, Ann Doran and Philip Ober (who appeared on the "I Dream of Jeannie" pilot).

One more thing: I noticed in the courtroom scene a picture of Pres. Kennedy. Since this movie obviously came out after his assassination, wouldn't they have been nervous about showing his picture?

Let Fakrash put you in the driver's seat

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 18 January 2019]

Tony Randall hoping to impress his rather stern would be father-in-law Edward Andrews the archeology professor with a big brass urn that he says is authentic. When he sees one in Andrews's home, Randall is rather discouraged. But when he opens his brass urn at home it really is authentic because through the green smoke out pops Burl Ives as Fakrash the genie.

Of course Fakrash who has been imprisoned since the days of King Suleiman, that's Solomon to the shegetz and he wants to do all kinds of things to his new friend and master Randall. Of course he's got a few thousand years of culture to catch up on so he manages to make a hash out of Randall's professional and personal life. That includes his courting of Barbara Eden who is Edward Andrews's daughter.

Randall and Ives play well off each other. Ives with a twinkle in his eye looks like he's having a great old time hamming it up in a role that calls for some generous pork. Randall does well in a role I could see Jack Lemmon possibly as better casting. I'll bet Lemmon got offered this one.

The 20th Century wasn't quite ready for Fakrash the genie, but Ives learns as he observes. As for how it works out, look to how it all worked out for David Niven and Loretta Young after Cary Grant the angel did take his leave of them. Of course this is quite a bit different.

And a lot funnier besides.

I dream of Genie, and Barbara Eden, too!

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 1 July 2016]

Produced by the new Universal in the swingin' 60's, this is a throwback to the type of pictures they had done in the 1940's. You remember, those colorful adventure fantasies with exotic performers like Maria Montez, Sabu, Turhan Bey and Jon Hall. Now there's equally exotic performers-Tony Randall, Barbara Eden, Edward Andrews, and the most exotic of them all, Burl Ives. Big Daddy puts away his stetson and replaces them with ancient Arabic clothing as he gets out of the titled brass bottle (imprisoned centuries before by King Solomon the Wise) and freed by Randall who is anxious to prove that what he hoped was an antique was not, as suggested, made in Japan.

Engaged to the future Jeannie, Randall keeps messing up in her father Edward Andrews' eyes, and after losing his job thanks to Ives' interference, creates more tension with his father- in-law to be. The sensual atmosphere of the 1960's mixes with the camp comedy of the 1940's to create a fun family film.

Randall's a charming leading man, especially trying on a girdle, but it is Ives of course who ends up the scene stealer. He's the Edmund Gwenn and Cecil Kellaway of the 60's, adding the genie to Gwenn's Santa Claus and Kellaway's leprechaun of fantasy characters. There will be much curiosity over Eden involved in this project considering her involvement with another brass bottle just a few years later. It really does seem like a combination of "I Dream of Jeannie" and "Bewitched" episodes, especially by mixing business into the pleasure.

Universal- We want this Classic on DVD !!!

[mog1254 · 10/10 · 21 October 2006]

Please-If anyone from Universal Studios EVER frequents these boards; it's PAST time for this Tony Randall classic to be released on DVD. Tony Randall and Burl Ives are hilarious, and Barbara Eden sets the stage for her role in I dream of Jeannie. The 60's were a different time for movie studios, and this is indeed a family movie that everyone can enjoy and have fun laughing with. It's a true joy to see Tony Randall who was always a fine gifted actor. Why hasn't Universal ever released this on DVD is beyond me. Universal-you can release every other movie made for over 60 years, why not the Brass Bottle. And folks, write Universal asking them to release this movie from their vaults. Thanks

Odd Couple indeed. Ives the Genie and Randall the middle class working guy.

[fom4life · 15 July 2011]

This movie serves as a warning to all that one should be careful when opening antique Arabian brass bottles. You could accidentally let lose a ghost, weird monasteries beetles or a genie trapped inside for centuries. No doubt if a genie is trapped in a bottle there must be a good reason for it. Harold Ventimore (Tony Randall) is a prime example of a life ruined by letting lose a jinn. Having a grateful being with power to grant your every whim and wish sounds pretty sweet, especially if your a cruel greedy dictator, but not if your a humble easy going, get up and go to work kind of guy.

After being cooped up for thousands of years Fakrash the Genie (Burl Ives) wants to shower grateful and lavish gifts upon his rescuer (Harold) . The trouble is he wants to do it Ancient Arabian Style. This approach to wish fulfillment doesn't fit with the 20th century way of doing things especially with the moral and ethical mindset of Harold. Fakrash wants to kill Harold's enemies, furnish him with gold and provide him with lots of sexy women to be his wife. Nowadays murder is wrong, only the government can issue money and Harold only wants one wife, his fiancé Sylvia Kenton (Barbara Eden).

Before he meet Fakrash he had had a beautiful relationship with his fiancé and a good flowing job. But Fakrash's over-bearing wrong century approach to service has lost him both plus his sanity. Interestingly his fiancé doesn't believe him when the following year she would become a genie herself in the comedy series 'I Dream of Jeannie'. Hypocrite.

Should you rub 'The Brass Bottle' and let the comedic genie out of it? It is a lighthearted fantasy comedy with nothing too offensive that would make it unsuitable for family viewing. Their are some dancing girls dressed somewhat sexy, but it is still more modest then MTV or going to the beach. It is the style of Ancient Arabian Times. Harold even wants to get the genie dressed all sexy some modest attire to wear. Awww the innocent days of film comedy.

The comedy remains situational and never runs into silly mayhem or slapstick (not there is anything wrong with that providing it is done right.) The film doesn't depend on CGI and only uses pretty basic effects sparingly when it has to. It relies mostly on the relationship between Harold and Fakrash and the various other characters whom them meet to build the story on.

So rub the bottle if you want a decent, amusing, somewhat funny, comedic fantasy with some decent moral lessons you can watch with the kids. Afterwards you can then always read the original book by Frank Anstey (which can be found online). Remember hard work can never replace the instant gratification of an out of touch genie.

silly genie movie

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 23 May 2021]

Architect Harold Ventimore (Tony Randall) is starting out and struggling to get any business. He buys an antique brass bottle for the Egyptology professor father of his girlfriend Sylvia Kenton (Barbara Eden). Her father is not happy with their impending marriage. He's about to give them the bottle when he notices a similar looking lamp, a Japanese copy. He suspects that his friend is right about his bottle being a cheap knock-off. When he actually gets the bottle open, a genie named Fakrash Al-Amash (Burl Ives) comes out.

It's a cinematic oddity that Barbara Eden would become a cultural icon a year after this as a genie herself. That's a bit of an interesting trivia. Here's the thing about a funny genie story. It has to be a twist. The donkey is probably the funniest one and the visual of a donkey riding in a car is hilarious. Harold complains way too much. When given gold and jewels, he should take it for heaven's sake. Then the funny repercussion can follow. Also Tony Randall doesn't really fit this role. He supposedly was a fun prankster before but he's doing his wet blanket bit. Also this world is not realistic in an annoying way. Nevertheless, it's lighthearted fun and one shouldn't nitpick at this. It's a silly movie.

Eager-to-please cast give tired modern-day Aladdin fantasy a slight boost...

[moonspinner55 · 5/10 · 29 May 2017]

Burl Ives as a genie named Fakrash. He is released from an ancient Kum Kum bottle by former Paris beatnik Tony Randall, who is now struggling along in the suburbs as an unsuccessful architect. Naturally the genie causes trouble ("This isn't Baghdad, this is Pasadena!"), but the gags in Oscar Brodney's musty screenplay are right off an assembly line of bad jokes. Family film from Universal is too talky, really, to engage children (to say nothing of their parents), though Ives, Randall and Edward Andrews (and Barbara Eden as Randall's fiancée) work hard to buoy the familiar scenario. Adapted from a book by F. Anstey, this was the inspiration for Eden's forthcoming TV series, "I Dream of Jeannie". ** from ****

An early 60s comedy classic

[estarsstarse · 8/10 · 28 July 2006]

Very enjoyable, good humor, good acting, a little campy, but so were most comedies of the early 60s era and there is nothing wrong with that.

This should be on DVD - not just VHS. Why studios haven't converted this to DVD especially with rated actors/actresses to DVD is beyond me.The DVD would easily fly of the shelves from age 45 - 65 year group who would love to add it to their vintage collections.

Burl Ives does another classic performance this time as the Genie in the Bottle now freed by someone, Tony Randall, who is tempted, yet morally bound not to be consumed by the offer of "your wish is my command."

Light comedy with Tony Randall and Burl Ives

[SimonJack · 6/10 · 1 February 2023]

Tony Randall's Harold Ventimore releases a genie who had been bottled up in a huge vase for 1,600 years. Burl Ives is the genie, Fakrash Al-Amash. And, he doesn't limit his new master to just three wishes. He will do anything for the one who freed him from captivity. Before it's all over with, Harold will make quite an impression on his fiancé, Barbara Eden's Sylvia Kenton. Her parents - dad especially, Prof. Anthony Kenton, played by Edward Andrews, will think Harold belongs in a nut house.

Well, Fakrash seems to be having fun conjuring up a chest of gold, a harem dinner, and a parade camels bearing wedding gifts. His conjuring is little more than a snap of the fingers or a blink The photography and camera work is quite good with the special effects. It's an entertaining film, but quite light on the humor end.

I haven't seen many films in which Randall plays a lead, but of those I've seen, he isn't nearly as funny as in some of his supporting roles with comedies. The best of those are the Doris Day and Rock Hudson comedies of the 1950s. Apparently, this movie influenced the development of the highly popular TV series that Barbara Eden starred in - "I Dream of Jeannie," which ran from 1965 through 1970.

Be careful what you wish for

[VetteRanger · 7/10 · 16 January 2023]

Burl Ives is great as a genie trapped in a huge brass bottle for 3000 years. Tony Randall, as a leading man, does a good job as the befuddled and constantly annoyed soul who frees him and has to endure the genie's constant attempts to repay the boon of his freedom.

The genie's unfamiliarity with modern times leads to a sequence of attempts to be helpful that are decidedly unhelpful, along with a few which are both helpful and amusing. My favorite is the elephants laying across the road to block cops chasing Randall to issue a speeding ticket.

Current versions of the movie for sale are beautifully restored, with a bright sharp picture. The movie is gorgeous.

A fun movie

[Sergiodave · 6/10 · 2 January 2022]

I do like watching some of the 60's family comedy movies, and this is a great example. Tony Randall stars as a hapless Architect who accidentally releases a genie, which of course leads to many comic scenes. It's also amusing that Randall's fiance is played by Barbara Eden who found fame playing a genie. Well worth a watch.

Telling the future

[stumattana · 10/10 · 31 August 2004]

The Brass Bottle, which I thought was quite entertaining, was obviously the basis for the "I Dream of Jeannie" television series, but one thing I liked that was in the movie that wasn't really dealt with in the television show was that the genie utilized his ability to see the future to his master's advantage. This was particularly amusing when it came to the confident efforts of the genie in the management of his master's investments. When I watched "I Dream of Jeannie", I always wondered whether Jeannie could tell the future, and if so, why she didn't use that ability to help her master. It really seems to me that had she done so, it would have made a great television series even better.

I dream of Genie - and she is there before Major Nelson

[alc01 · 10/10 · 9 October 2002]

This was the in many ways the start of Barbara Eden with genies. In this movie she is the girlfriend to Tony Randall - who finds a genie - Burl Ives. While no sexy outfits for Eden, it is a great comedy that needs to be seen at least once - just for fun.

A Pleasant Surprise - Made me Smile Ear to Ear

[Brantford_Mark · 9/10 · 8 August 2020]

A pleasant surprise- watched 1964's The Brass Bottle last night. Had me smiling from ear to ear. Chock full of supporting actors you'll recognize in an instant along with fine performances by stars Tony Randall, Burl Ives and Barbara Eden of "I Dream of Jeannie" fame. Wasn't expecting much, but the comic plot twists and dialog were top notch. High production values with cars, architecture and clothing us old guys remember well. Even the optical special effects were fun to watch. Highly recommended.

Wonderful Family Fun

[hmcusn294 · 9/10 · 12 December 2010]

I first watched this movie in the theater when it came out and have wanted to see it again ever since. When I saw that it was available on DVD I rushed my order in and have watched it four times since receiving it. Burl Ives is perfect as the Genie FakRash Alamash, and Tony Randall makes the perfect foil for his chicanery.

Barbara Eden is beautiful, and as others have noted, this movie was no doubt her passport to her role in "My Favorite Genie." Edward Andrews gave one of his usual great performances as the father of her character.

My favorite scene was the dinner party that Randall gave for his fiancé and her parents when the Genie FakRash converted his home into an Arabian Nights style magical palace, complete with exotic foods and slaves, and featuring the incredible belly dancing of Lulu Porter. I still laugh out loud every time I see Edward Andrews reaction to the eyes of lamb roasted in honey.

This is a movie that everyone should see and enjoy. It came out about the same time as "Bell, Book and Candle," a comedy about witchcraft featuring James Stewart and Kim Novak. Maybe themes of magic and spells were reflective of the mood of America in that post war time of ease and a booming economy.

Loved this movie...

[mdsofky · 8/10 · 5 January 2009]

I remember seeing this on an afternoon movie show as a kid and loved it. For a movie of its age, it actually had some decent special effects (however, maybe if I saw it today, it wouldn't be as good as we are spoiled by all the computer generated stuff they can do now).

I loved I Dream of Jeannie, and was familiar with that show before I saw this movie. It was odd seeing Barbara Eden in the non-genie role.

The scene that stands out is when Burl Ives has no effect on some girl genie and shoots all these sparks out of his hands at her (am I dreaming this??). Or when he shrinks some business men and they are floating in a glass or pitcher or something and hanging on to a pencil (that sounds weird, and maybe I'm getting senile in my old age, but that's what I remember! :) ).

Cute movie.

Great Movie!

[mrlucky2041 · 10/10 · 14 January 2009]

This was a movie I saw in the theater when I was a kid and have been looking for it for the last 15 or so years. The VHS tape is available on amazon for a ridiculous price so I haven't bought it but now that I see everyone else's comments I understand why. I too wish that the studio would release it on DVD and I would get a copy as soon as they did.

To the person that remembered the scenes with the businessmen floating in the pitcher clinging to the Pencil, and the female Genie, I remember it too. IMDb doesn't list her in the credits but I remember her being a beautiful lady. Makes me wonder what else she did.

It's rather curious how I came to think of this movie. I was thinking of the actor who played Kang on Star Trek TOS because he played a technomaige (sp) named Elric on Babylon 5 and looked him up only to find (and remember) that he was married to Barbara Eden and thought of this movie because I remembered she played Tony Randall's GF. I guess the idea of the Genie is deep in my memory from when I was an even younger boy and my parents bought me the story of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp on record those many years ago. "New Lamps for Old"! Anyone remember that? My how the time has past. I am not a big Tony Randall fan but I liked him in this. I keep thinking of him Honking in the Odd Couple series. Though that was his most famous role, he did loads more. Unfortunately I see him as more like Felix than any of his other roles. I seem to remember him in a movie with Rock Hudson A long time ago too. Now that would have seemed to have been more his type than Barbara Eden if we had known Rock as well then as we do now. Well Gooooooleeee Sargent Carter!!!! hehehehee Still it was a great movie and I would love to own a copy of it. It was Burl Ives' best roll. Much better than Rudolph's Narrator.

Don't keep your laughter bottled up

[Bernie4444 · 10/10 · 24 February 2024]

I never had a chance to see the play and would like to someday. In the meantime, I have a DVD copy of the movie with Tony Randall, Barbara Eden, and Burl Ives (1964, Harry Keller). I would like the other movie versions also.

The story is simple but becomes complex. Mild-mannered obscure architect Horace Ventimore (Tony Randall) is in love with Sylvia Kenton (Barbara Eden," I Dream of Jeannie"). In an attempt to impress his potential father-in-law Professor Kenton (Edward Andrews), Horace purchases a KumKum (ancient brass bottle.) Upon opening it, you guess it a djinn, Fakrash (Burl Ives), pops out; in his gratitude Fakrash helps Ventimore in a way you would not believe; neither did Ventimore.

The story was slightly modified from the book but the modifications add to the plot. It is as if the actors were born for the parts they play. Burl Ives makes a believable Fakrash; you would think F. Anstey had him in mind when he wrote the novel in 1900.