The Golden Arrow is an above average Italian adventure fantasy with much to recommend it. Start with lead Tab Hunter, whose portrayal of Hassan the Thief is either the least realistic film portrayal of an Arab character in film history or a refreshing refusal to pander to ethnic stereotype--take your pick. Even though he's dubbed here, he's physically perfect for the role. The Golden Arrow is the tool Hassan must master in order to assume his rightful place on the throne of Damascus, but there's plenty of action, adventure, and magic before a satisfying and amusing denouement featuring flying carpets that, erm, carpet bomb the bad guys. This is not your average, cheapjack sword and sandal 'epic'--though the special effects are showing their age, the lush location work, superb widescreen cinematography, and impressive set design make this one a winner from a technical perspective. And though I can't prove it, some of the location footage seems to take place amidst the same columnar ruins as featured (I think) in 1978's Hercule Poirot mystery Death On the Nile. Or was it Ten Little Indians? Either way, this is a very good fantasy film from underrated auteur Antonio Margheriti.
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JohnSeal14 July 2007
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Bunuel197611 March 2014I was looking forward to this one, being a fan of Arabian Nights fantasies and in view of cult director Margheriti's participation (unusually billed under his real name here, instead of the familiar pseudonym Anthony M. Dawson!); distributed internationally by MGM, the film used to crop up from time to time on the TCM U.K. schedule – but it may have been the 1936 Warner Bros. effort bearing the same title, and which I acquired not too long ago via this very channel, all along!
Anyway, the movie is appropriately colourful and intermittently diverting; yet, given the utter lack of originality, the result is mainly dreary – not helped by lifeless treatment, ill-advised star casting (blond Tab Hunter as the proverbial 'prince who was a thief'!) and ropey special effects (the handiwork of the obligatory suppliers of resistible comedy relief, a buffoonish trio of wizards who literally come down to earth to aid the hero regain his throne)!! The current princess (Rossana Podesta', a regular of such costumed fare) is contended by a number of potentates, one of whom is in league with the – what else? – wicked Grand Vizier (for once, though, he does not covet either the girl or the throne himself, apparently content merely to pull the strings at court!). Eventually, she asks them to bring her the most precious gift – but, what they come up with (a crystal ball, a life- restoring potion and a magic carpet), has equal value in her eyes when she is stricken by a 'mysterious' illness and near death!
Hunter naturally has a coterie of bandit pals (who initially turn against him when he allows the kidnapped princess to flee rather than demand a ransom for her) – but their role is downplayed in favour of the afore-mentioned magicians. Incidentally, the script is indiscriminate in its borrowings: the titular weapon is first presented as having Excalibur-type powers i.e. only the right person can handle it; while, halfway through, we get thoroughly pointless sections that would have better served the peplum genre involving a cave guarded by flaming monsters and, subsequently, a Theban community – from what I could gather, under some sorcerer's spell – which the hero saves (by destroying a temple in the desert)! The climax, then, features the protagonist's 'supernatural' sidekicks dumping jars from the air on the assailing forces and Hunter adopting the golden arrow to slice up the villains' own flying rug! -
SnoopyStyle12 November 2023Various princely suitors arrive in Damascus to win the hand of princess Jamila. Hassan (Tab Hunter) claims to be the Prince of the Islands of Flame. Each suitor is tasked with shooting a bow and arrow. Hassan is able to shoot The Golden Arrow, but he is called out on his lie. He and his men are bandits. They kidnap the princess.
It's an Italian sword and sandal adventure B-movie. It's lower grade B-movie and Tab Hunter is the lead. The dialogue is stiff and seems to be dubbed. This could be camp if one is willing to have some fun with it. It certainly has that potential. I have a slightly difficult time with the grinding boredom of it all. -
Wizard-816 April 2017Italian director Antonio Margheriti is better known these days for the schlock he directed in the 1970s and 1980s, but with this early effort of his, he was working on a higher class project. Clearly having a lavish budget (at least by European standards of the time), Margheriti does manage to make this particular movie look quite good. The sets, props, desert backdrops, and some of the special effects are pretty decent. However, this pretty look does not hide the fact that the movie for the most part is pretty boring. There's nowhere near enough action or suspense to captivate viewers, and as a result the movie plods along very slowly. The little action and suspense there is isn't particularly engaging. The only interest comes from wondering about questionable decisions from Margheriti and his screenwriters, from plot turns that don't make much sense to the fact that the three magical helpers that assist Tab Hunter along his journey were clearly ripped off from the animated Disney movie "Sleeping Beauty", which came out a few years earlier.
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King_man23 July 2021Bad, that is. Ludicrous plot, abysmal acting, cheesy production values and special effects, the list goes on. A different reviewer compared it with Steve Reeve movies but Steve never phoned in his performance (or maybe Hunter's range is just that limited that it appears to be phoned in) but while Reeves set the bar for other Italian Sword and Sandal movies, this one would only catch that bar across the middle of its forehead. The only redeeming grace is some of the women are decent eye candy but that's small reward for any time invested in watching this turkey. Watch at your own peril.
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This film has the colors of a cartoon but much less excitement. The three genies are dull, everyone is dull.
The action and costumes and alligator dungeon might have some appeal, but strictly for children.
Even for kids, it is all quite saccharin.
The is much better out there. -
ulicknormanowen13 June 2020This is a movie which borrows much of its plot from other movies or legends : the golden arrow is the equivalent of the sword in the stone ; the usurper subject is taken from the 1940 masterpiece "the thief of Baghdad " and countless other films whilst the princess' s desease and the characters who turn to stone are stolen from another "thief of Baghdad ",that starring Steve Reeves the precedent year ; the stars in the sky and the three magicians make one think of the magis ;or of the three good fairies in Walt Disney's "sleeping beauty" (1959) ; without their help,like prince Philip , the hero would be defeated all along the movie.
That said , the movie is eventful , full of special effects -which can seem quaint for today's audience ,that is the children under 12. Tab Hunter has plenty of go ,and he shows a good sense of humor (" the law says : "eternal slavery" !- Have it change !") and the trick of the feather and the final chase on the shrinking flying carpet are moderately funny .But as a blond ,he looks too Nordic for a story more or less inspired by "The Thousand And One Nights "; the make-up man should have had his hair dyed .
Beautiful colors , the landscapes remind you ,towards the end ,of the valley of the Nile and its feluccas ; it was aimed at the children 's market,if they are not too demanding ,they can enjoy it. -
bkoganbing11 July 2016The only two names us film fans from the English speaking world will recognize is that of Tab Hunter and Rosanna Podesta in The Golden Arrow. This is another of a gazillion epics made in Italy in the late 50s and 60s to take advantage of those Ben-Hur, Quo Vadis, and Cleopatra sets that American companies built for those productions and left for the Italian cinema.
As for Hunter he was one of several B list actors who left for Europe to appear in these and in spaghetti westerns just coming into being at the time. After this one he never did another for which he was grateful no doubt,
It's the usual Arabian Nights type fare with Hunter as a bandit who's really a prince lest how else could he compete for the hand of princess Rosanna Podesta and defeat the evil vizier who's peddling her hand in marriage to an even eviler prince.
But before Hunter can do that he's got to go through a lot of adventures and collect his arsenal which consists of a magic carpet and magic Golden Arrow which always hits what it's aimed at. Like the Lone Ranger, Tab only shoots to wound or disabled. He's got a posse of three wizards who could have been played by the 3 Stooges. Now that might have been interesting.
For reasons only God could imagine they dubbed Hunter's voice with an actor who sounded an awful lot like Stephen Boyd. He might have made more sense than blond All American Tab Hunter in the part. -
xlars5 January 2005I mean it. This movie stinks sulphur and brimstone, while being sweet laden with sugar and honey on top yuck. As if that wasn't enough it makes you feel sticky and wanting to puke afterwards.
Even as historically incorrect as absolutely possible. Stating these realities about this movie is actually kinder than it deserves.
It is incredible that someone even wanted to finance the making of such ill-conceived tales.
It would have been better of, had it been a pornographic setting - because that is just about how yucky this film really is.
If you want to have a good time. Skip this one. -
Heroic bandit Hassan (Tab Hunter), the rightful Prince of Damascus, falls in love with the Princess Jamila (Rossana Podestà) and, with the help of three genies, searches for the mysterious 'Golden Arrow' before returning (by magic carpet) to save the city from the evil Prince of Basra (Renato Baldini) and win Jamila's hand in marriage. Directed by Antonio Margheriti (the hand behind the 'Gamma One tetralogy' of colourful low-budget space operas), this moderately-budgeted sword and sorcery demi-epic is an odd mix of excellent and awful. The sets and backgrounds are often impressive (the opening scenes especially), as are the location shots in Egypt, the climactic battle scene (before the genies arrive and inject some slapstick into the fight), and the model city Hassan flies over. Some of the 'practical' effects (such as the burning men or the flying carpet that Jamila steps onto at the end) are quite convincing but the optical effects (mattes, superimpositions etc) are terrible (notably the scenes involving the magic arrow or the three genies). In a triumph of colour-blind casting, Hunter may be the least likely-looking 'Hassan' to ever don curly-toed shoes, but the double-dubbed American teen idol seems to be having fun in the improbable role, athletically avoiding the mostly incompetent palace guards and performing his own horseback scenes. The rest of the cast dutifully discharges what is expected from them in an English dubbed peplum although the 'comic relief' genie antics get tiresome quickly. A colourful silly time-passer for kid's not too spoiled by CGI and for aficionados of this sort of endearingly goofy shtick.
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It's pollyanna-ish reviewing to give anything over a five to a movie where the English speaking actors are dubbed into English. This movie isn't bad. It's just mediocre. It was a product of its time -- Italian productions sold to English speaking audiences for its T&A tease, both male and female (sword and sandal movies, anyone?).
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If you are looking for a mindless but entertaining fantasy film that would be great for children, has a lot of exciting twists and turns and magical happenings, THE GOLDEN ARROW fills the bill nicely. Tab Hunter is perfect visually as the outcast who must prove himself and defeat all foes to win the hand of his love. As this featured a major star, it had a bigger budget than many cheap Italian costume epics with lesser-known Americans (it's comparable to, say , a Steve Reeves movie), so it's colorful and visually exciting. Director Antonio Margheriti (aka Anthony Dawson) turned out all kinds of genre films in the 60s and after--westerns, peplums, horror, spy, erotic, giallo, science fiction, etc--and generally produced an exciting, fast-moving product. The only flaw with this film--and, unfortunately, it's a major one-- is that Tab Hunter did not dub his own voice in the English version of the film (at least in the one I'm watching). That seems odd because Hunter has a distinctive voice that would have been well-known to American audiences of the day (as opposed to, say, Brad Harris or Richard Harrison or even Steve Reeves--who would know what THEIR real voices sounded like?). Also, in other European films that are quite obscure and were certainly NOT made with the US theatrical market in mind--films like SHOTGUN and THE LAST CHANCE-- Hunter DOES do his own voice. He certainly is doing his own voice in Sidney Pink's Spanish-made FICKLE FINGER OF FATE (See my review). Why MGM, a major studio, would not have paid Hunter to spend a few days in post-synchronization I don't understand. The voice assigned him is not TOO ill-fitting for his character, but it clearly is not Tab Hunter. While I enjoy the film and have watched it a few times over the years, I find it difficult to forget this as I'm watching THE GOLDEN ARROW. Still, it's a fun way to kill 90 minutes on a rainy afternoon, and it looks great (my copy is letter-boxed, fortunately). If it had featured Mr. Hunter's own voice, I'd consider it a classic.
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coltras3511 February 2024Bandit chief Hassan (Tab Hunter) infiltrates Damascus with a daring plan. Impersonating a prince from the "Island of Flames," Hassan joins the nobles contending for the hand of beautiful Princess Jamila (Rossana Podesta) intending to kidnap her for ransom. The suitors' contest revolves around the legendary Black Bow, the weapon of the true savior and Sultan of Damascus. Whoever can bend the bow will wield the invincible power of the Golden Arrow, claim the hand of Jamila and become ruler. No one is more astonished than Hassan when he succeeds in bending the Black Bow, but the brash young thief ignores the call to heroism, kidnaps the princess and loses the Golden Arrow. With the aid of three magical spirits, Hassan must embark on a quest to recover it, contending with a series of supernatural challenges that refine his spirit and prepare him for battle against Baktiar, the evil vizier who controls Damascus.
Tab Hunter isn't the first person to come to mind when thinking of who would be suitable to star in a "scimitar and sandals" epic that soars across fantastic locations with sweeping spectacle and grand lushness, but he does well as the bandit chief who falls for the beautiful princess played by Rossana Padesta and hunts for the golden arrow. It's a thoroughly out-there Arabian fantasy with a flying carpet and other well done special effects. There's even a bit of humour with the sound of jet engines when the carpet flies up. The Golden Arrow doesn't always make sense, it can be incoherent and nonsensical but it's really entertaining with great filmmaking and camerawork. There's something magical about this film. -
Preparing to go up against the queen of camp on Broadway, Tab Hunter got his share of campy experience in this elaborate spectacle that while luscious to look at is the epitome of ridiculousness, starting with his casting. Since Donald O'Connor had just played Aladdin in a gloriously bad film, why not Tab? After all, aren't all men named Hassan blonde haired and blue eyed?
He's in a similar plot to what Universal had been doing in those Technicolor Jon Hall/Maria Montez films of the 1940's, hoping to win the hand of Princess Rossana Podestà so he can become caliph and replace evil regent Mario Feliciani. The assistance of some comical genies comes to his aide, and that leads to some very colorful adventures although the film turns black and white out of the blue which takes away from the magical elements.
There's no doubt that Hunter will get past the evil plotting of the regent to take him out, but why spoil all the fun since there's some decent special effects along the way and the film succeeds in achieving its goal. This certainly is better from a nostalgic point of view than an artistic one, and it's certainly not mentally taxing to watch. Going from various ancient cultures to another also provides some great visuals. Definitely a great popcorn movie with plenty of intended laughs and guilty ones for the obvious bad taste in certain clichéd elements. -
Ed-Shullivan19 May 2021Please ignore the negative reviews. Almost sixty (60) years ago The Golden Arrow film was released and after just watching this adventure film for the first time, I can assure you that I will be watching it again in the future. I have just ordered a Blu Ray copy to add it to my "favourites" film library.
I have always been a big fan of the adventure/fantasy/science fiction genres and when you add some light comedy and romance in as well then the certainly audience gets their moneys worth. Adding even more enjoyment to the film is the beautiful technicolor format and some classic fantasy scenes such as the three (3) genies / wise men, performing Ray Harryhausen type magic interspersed such as a magic carpet ride, massive concrete pillars tumbling and of course The Golden Arrow itself that actor and star Tab Hunter the lowly thief bends when no one else can to win the hand in marriage to the beautiful princess Jamila (Rossana Podestà).
It is a fun film for young and old alike and the film was finished so quickly that I found myself wanting more of the same. I give it a highly rated 8 out of 10 IMDB rating and forget about the negative reviews. This is a fun filled family adventure/fantasy film! -
zardoz-1320 July 2017American actor Tab Hunter is cast as an Arabian prince in Italian director Antonio Margheriti's fourth film "The Golden Arrow," a lavish, sword and sorcery, fantasy yarn about a dashing young gent who sets out to reclaim his rightful position in society after he learns that he is descended from royal blood. Sporting an anachronistic hair-style, Hunter knows nothing about his genuine biological father-the Sultan of Damascus--and remembers only the bandits that raised him from infancy. Scenarists Giorgio Arlorio of "The Mercenary," Augusto Frassinetti & Bruno Vailati of "The Thief of Bagdad," Giorgio Prosperi of "Indiscretion of an American Wife," and Filippo Sanjust of "The Seventh Sword," have cobbled together bits and pieces from other classic tales, such as the Arthurian legend about pulling Excalibur out of a rock, to forge their outrageous, entertaining, but formulaic epic. Hassan (Tab Hunter of "Damned Yankees") plays a man not only seeking to avenge his slain father but also marry an attractive princess and ascend to the throne of Damascus. The slim but muscular Hunter looks fit as a bandit chieftain, and he gets to perform his share of acrobatics in this far-fetch fable. Nevertheless, Hunter's fans may be disappointed to learn that the former teen heartthrob has been dubbed by another actor. Chiefly, the baritone voice of the other actor sounds more appropriate for an individual of his background. Although it is unmistakable everybody has been dubbed, the dubbing matches the lips better than most European adventures in the early 196os.
Hassan and his outcasts manage to enter the palace in Damascus where the festivities are scheduled to occur. A fair-sized crowd has assembled to see who can launch a golden arrow. The golden arrow is indeed unusual. The future ruler of Damascus and future husband to the princess must be physically able to shoot the magic arrow. Furthermore, the arrow acts like a boomerang because it returns to the archer after it has found its mark. Three noble leaders struggle to let the arrow fly. Sadly, they fail in their efforts. Only one man can send the golden arrow streaking aloft. Hassan masquerades as a nobleman from the Islands of Flame, and he exhibits his uncanny power when he propels the arrow successfully into flight. Hassan exploits this ceremony as an opportunity to kidnap Jamila (Rossana Podestà of "Helen of Troy") and hold her for ransom. Ironically, he becomes so enamored of the princess that he double-crosses his cronies and releases her. The three suitors, the Prince of Bassora (Renato Baldini of "Snow Devils") and two others set out to find Jamila something that no other man can give her. She decides to make one of them her future husband when he brings back that something special. Ultimately, these three men fail, and the worst loser of the three is Bassora. Bassora leads his army against Damascus so he can claim Jamila as his bride. Predictably, Jamila has prayed to Allah, and the god dispatches three genies to help Hassan find the golden arrow and save Damascus from Bassora.
The widescreen cinematography of "Valdez is Coming" lenser Gábor Pogány is gorgeous. Every composition could easily accommodate a picture postcard. Mario Serandrei's editing is just as good. He doesn't allow shots to linger to the point of boredom. The production designs and set decoration are equally noteworthy. Everything about "The Golden Arrow" except its charming visual effects and formulaic looks striking. Margheriti directs at a whirlwind pace and his scribes spring a surprise often enough to keep this hokum entertaining, though I suspect that the depiction of the cultures is appropriate. Lastly, composer Mario Nascimbene provides an orchestral soundtrack that underscores each twist and the theme for the genies is memorable. Some parts of the film were shot on location at Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Deir el Bahari, in Egypt. The sprawling, large-scale confrontation between Hassan and his genies on flying carpets bombing the army of the Prince of Bassora is something you don't often see in movies. If you want clean, wholesome, juvenile entertainment, nothing about "The Golden Arrow" should offend you. -
This is unofficial remake of the original (1924) Thief of Bagdad - not the better known Korda version from 1940 (that has quite a different plot), but the original one with Douglas Fairbanks. Both of those films are masterpieces and The Golden Arrow is definitely not quite up there, but even if it is not perfect, the colors are lavish, real Egyptian settings are magnificent and if you can get past Tub Hunters platinum blond hair and some uneven special effects - this is quite a delightful fantasy movie. But, again not for those who expect only grind-house movies from Margheriti. Watch only a high quality wide screen version!
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gkhubbard11 July 2022Some reviewers have sought to compare this movie with other, far better films. That's pointless. This was never intended to compete with 'The Thief of Bagdad.'
It suffers from a plot that borrows bits and pirces from a dozen other films, and staring everyone from Shirley Temple to Steve Reeves.
This is made worse by very weak direction. As you watch, it seems as though the director was bored one day and decided to make a movie with the other kids on the playground. No pith, no crunching drama, no real threats, no direction. The kids I watched it with enjoyed the film, but they also criticized the direction. "What direction?"
HOWEVER, this film is still lots of fun. With adults, everyone had fun identifying the stolen bits of plot, and enjoying the surprisingly good use of the technicolor process, and the equally good use of real locations. With the children, they actually simply had fun, although as noted above, today's children are very observant and knowledgeable.
It was lots of fun, and never meant to be Shakespeare.