Film Details

Douglas Fairbanks, husband of Mary Pickford (see Sparrows on 3/24), was the greatest swashbuckling star of the silent screen. He appeared in such blockbusters as The Mark of Zorro, The Three Musketeers, Robin Hood, and The Black Pirate. But his favorite of all his films, and by far the most elaborate, was The Thief of Bagdad, an Arabian Nights adaptation that we present tonight on the Capitol Theatre’s big screen in a new digital restoration. The charming, balletic, athletic Fairbanks plays a dashing young robber who poses as a prince to win the daughter of a Caliph. This opulent fantasy was one of the most expensive of all silent movies, unfolding on massive, lavish sets and boasting impressive flying and magic effects that made the film the Avatar of its day. This new restoration preserves the film’s original color tinting and includes a new orchestral score by Britain’s foremost contemporary silent film composer, Carl Davis. Cleveland revival premiere.

DCP. 149 min. cohenmedia.net/thief-of-bagdad Shown at the Capitol Theatre, 1390 W. 65^th St. at Detroit Ave. Special admission $10; Cinematheque members $8; age 25 & under $6. No passes, twofers, or radio winners and no Cleveland Cinemas passes or discounts. $10 tickets available in advance at www.clevelandcinemas.com. Special thanks to Jon Forman and Dave Huffman.