Although most critics gave this movie the thumbs down (yes, there were actually some who praised it, including the Monthly Film Bulletin of all journals), and most contemporary patrons thought it at best mediocre fare, it has improved quite a bit with time. In fact, compared with the rubbish offered elsewhere on TV these days, it's actually rather good fun. It seems the astute producer, Walter Wanger, had the good sense to make the movie in two versions: CinemaScope and standard screen (so that theaters unequipped for Scope would not miss out). The latter of course is the version shown on TV. And very nice it looks indeed. The color, divorced from grainy CinemaScope, is appealingly sharp. The framing and compositions are more attractive too, being noticeably tighter than the rather loose widescreen line-ups. Admittedly, Don Weis was never much of a director, the acting is poor and the script juvenile stuff; but Thomas Gomez flings off his dialogue with a very agreeable gusto, Elaine Stewart makes a very decorative heroine and Mr. Derek looks suitably dashing. There are bevies of scantily-clad cuties scampering around and whenever things get even the slightest bit dull, Mr. Nat King Cole, accompanied by Nelson Riddle's orchestra, is whizzed on to liven things up — even under dialogue.
Review of The Adventures of Hajji Baba
