The Thief of Baghdad (1978 film)

The Thief of Baghdad is a 1978 fantasy adventure television film directed by Clive Donner. It is a remake of the classic 1940 film of the same name.

The film stars Roddy McDowall as the narrator, and features Peter Ustinov as the Caliph, Christopher Lee as Jaffar, and Kabir Bedi as Prince Taj. Marina Vlady plays Perizadah, the Princess.

The plot loosely follows the Arabian Nights tales, centering around a young prince (Prince Taj) who is deposed by the evil Grand Vizier Jaffar, who uses magic to seize power. Taj is transformed into a dog and undertakes a perilous journey, aided by a thief, to regain his throne and win the princess's hand. Key plot elements include magical artifacts and dangerous creatures, common tropes of the fantasy genre.

While attempting to capture the magic and spirit of the earlier versions, the 1978 television film suffered from a lower budget and was met with mixed reviews upon its release. While the cast included well-known actors, its special effects and production values were not as impressive as its predecessors. It has, nevertheless, become a fondly remembered entry in the fantasy film genre for some viewers.