The least played blu-ray in my collection is Pier Paulo Pasolini’s 1974 version of Arabian Nights. That’s because, on getting a blu-ray player, the first films that I thought of that I wanted to see cleaned up and pristine are those within the famous Trilogy of Life that starts with The Decameron and The Canterbury Tales. Both films have a wonderfully gauche sense of story about them, using a strange mix of Italian thespians, untrained toothless locals and British tv actors; Robin Asquith and Nicholas Grace from Are You Being Served? feature, as does peak Dr Who Tom Baker, seen enthusiastically soaping his own knob. In their own strange fashion, they’re arguably the best version of Boccaccio and Chaucer respectively, so why doesn’t Arabian Nights have the same charm?
On the third attempt, and after a bit of research, I finally got the hang of Pasolini’s Arabian Nights, but it’s no easy text. Another reviewer compared it to The Sargasso Manuscript, and that’s about the best steer you could get. Instead of telling each story one after another, Pasolini mixes things up by having the tales intersect and diverge without warning; not easy on a first or even a second watch. That said, there’s plenty of pleasure watching regular Pasolini stars like Franco Citti or Ninetto Davoli give their usual lip-smacking performances, and the Iranian locations are absolutely stunning. Production designer Dante Ferretti does his usual top-notch job, and Ennio Morricone conjured us an untypical soundtrack.
Arabian Nights is a curiosity piece now, mainly because such texts have become sanitised; Pasolini, as always, can’t wait to get to the lusty punch-lines, and his version features a veritable forest of gnarly genitals and unkempt pubic hair. But there’s also a drive towards story, and to bringing classic texts to life, that makes Arabian Nights absorbing even as the runt of the litter; it doesn’t offer the conventional excitements of the other two films, but it does offer something else that’s well worth attempting, even if it’ll tax the patience of most viewers. Pasolini, of course, denounced the whole trilogy shortly before he was murdered, but the quality and the ambition he fought for live on.
Was Pasolini murdered because this movie was so abysmal?
Sigh. If that was the case, there’s a few others that should have been offed first….
So what # is this on my list of essential 70’s film homework ?
It’s ex-directory. Difficulty level x10000. Very frustrating if you are not in the mood. You can skip this one.
Thanks Professor!
Another 7000 seventies movies to be considered first. Report to me Monday am, no extensions. Class dismissed! Next lecture is Body Rock: A Critical Analysis Part 9A.
I am certain I’ve seen because I recall being muddled up by the structure. what’s the point od directors making films if only to complain about them afterwards? Don’t make ’em in the first place seems the obvious advice.
I guess Pasolini has big things on his mind, anyone who makes Salo, and for the reasons he made it, probably doesn’t look back with glee on his work with Robin Asquith and various Are You Being Served? cast members.
Never spotted Askwith in The Gospel According to St Matthew.
Pasolini did love a non-professional cast…
An ideal contender for a Carry On film.
Carry on up the Pasolini? Oh er missus….
Or the sequel Carry On Again Pasolini.
You out carry on-ed me! Never happened before. Congrats!
I’d like to denounce something important too before I’m murdered.
I was thinking the lottery but it seems a little passe.
Got any ideas on what I could denounce?
The last Muppet tv show? Visual quizzes?
Ohhh, good choices. I’m going to have to think about this. It’s tough…
I’m planning on denouncing myself. I’ve had it with that guy.
Yeah, I bet he’s a bear to live with!
That bear got what was coming. I’d do it again given a chance.
We talking Fozzie Bear or Bobo? Because Bobo, yeah, he totally deserves everything…
All bears. Everywhere.
Even the whole entire Chicago Bears football team? I’d love to see you take them on….
Bring it! Any bear is no match.
http://a.espncdn.com/espnradiostations/i/espnchicago/images/1985_bears_900.jpg
Some of these guys are tall, are they standing on something?
They used to be basketball players…
What are they now?
Football players, duh!
Why don’t they have short shorts and ankle socks?
Because they’re not soccer players…
Soccer and football are the same thing. American football is the one with all the protective gear, right? In Europe, we just tough it out without shoulder pads or helmets.
Not even going to go there.
😉
Is the correct answer.
I’m sorry Alex, but I’d like to offer a correction.
The CORRECT question is “Who IS Boba Fett”
Garsa Fwipp?
Security!
Will someone remove this raving lunatic from the stage?
Thank you. Sorry about that folks, we now will return to our game in progress….
And the soccer ball hits the posts and the tie is still squared at zero zero.
A bunch of zeroes around here? Yeah, sounds about right.
Where’s Psychic Grandma to save the day when you really need her?
Plating left back in a flat back four with a floating number nine. Thought you knew the game of association footballs?
I was never a sports jock. I was the quiet guy sitting in the corner, reading his book. When I wasn’t shaking the jocks down to support my caffeine habit…
Is it like Whoopi Goodberg’s habit in Sister Act 2?
It wasn’t an act. I NEEDED that caffeine. But I was totally in control, Like the fake ghost busters cartoon…
Is it a PED?
If an Ape counts as a PED:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostbusters_(1986_TV_series)
The prosecution rests, no further questions.
And for my next witness, I’d like to call Monika Lewinsky to the stand.
And she will prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, who the REAL monkey is in this august courtroom of public opinion.
The Defense rests too….because it is tired.
How well did Elliott Gould’s Italian hold up in this?