Arabian Nights (1974)

Arabian Nights (1974)

Arabian Nights movie storyline. This lush anthology of erotic tales was filmed in four countries (Iran, Nepal, Yemen, and Eritrea) over a period of more than two years. Completing the literary cycle begun by Pier Pasolini in Il Decamerone and I Racconti di Canterbury, this one is perhaps the most controversial of the lot, engendering reactions from admiration to dismissal.

The connecting story deals with Mur el-Din (Franco Merli), a prince searching for his slave girl lover, Zumurrud (Ines Pellegrini), who has been kidnapped, only to disguise herself as a man, take a wife, and become ruler of a great city. Mur el-Din’s quest carries him to the ends of his known world, where he listens to several stories of carnality and betrayal. The continuity and fluidity of the film depend entirely on the version screened, because several different cuts exist; producer Alberto Grimaldi insisted on a 130-minute release, whereas Pasolini and United Artists preferred the unexpurgated 155-minute version with its ten stories all intact.

Arabian Nights is a 1974 Italian film directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini. Its original Italian title is Il fiore delle mille e una notte, which means The Flower of the One Thousand and One Nights. The film is an adaptation of the ancient Arabic anthology The Book of One Thousand and One Nights, better known as The Arabian Nights. It is the last of Pasolini’s “Trilogy of Life”, which began with The Decameron and continued with The Canterbury Tales. The lead was played by young Franco Merli who was discovered for this film by Pasolini.

Arabian Nights (1974)

About the Story

The main story concerns an innocent young man, Nur-e-Din (Franco Merli), who comes to fall in love with a beautiful slave girl, Zumurrud (Ines Pellegrini), who selected him as her master. After a foolish error of his causes her to be abducted, he travels in search of her. Meanwhile, Zumurrud manages to escape and, disguised as a man, comes to a far-away kingdom where she becomes king.

Various other travellers recount their own tragic and romantic experiences, including a young man who becomes enraptured by a mysterious woman on his wedding day, and a man who is determined to free a woman from a demon (Franco Citti). Interwoven are Nur-e-Din’s continuing search for Zumurrud and his (mostly erotic) adventures. In the end, he arrives at the far-away kingdom and is reunited with Zumurrud.

Arabian Nights (1974)

16 Arabian Tales

The film contains abundant nudity, sex and slapstick humor. It preserves the eroticism and the story within a story structure of Arabian Nights and has been called “perhaps the best and certainly the most intelligent” of Arabian Nights film adaptations. The film comprises 16 scenes:

  • Lady of the Moons
  • Zumurrud’s story
  • Nur-e-din’s search
  • Crowned King
  • Dream
  • Aziz and Aziza
  • Love is my Master
  • Weep as you made her weep
  • Garden
  • The Painter’s story
  • Demon’s revenge
  • Transformation
  • Yunan’s story
  • Chamber in the sand
  • Dream revealed
  • Nur-e-din and Zumurrud

    Arabian Nights Movie Poster (1974)

    Arabian Nights (1974)

    Directed by: Pier Paolo Pasolini
    Starring: Franco Merli, Ines Pellegrini, Ninetto Davoli, Franco Citti, Margareth Clémenti, Tessa Bouché, Claudia Rocchi, Alberto Argentino, Francesco Paolo Governale, Elisabetta Genovese
    Screenplay by: Dacia Maraini, Pier Paolo Pasolini
    Production Design by: Dante Ferretti
    Cinematography by: Giuseppe Ruzzolini
    Film Editing by: Nino Baragli, Tatiana Casini Morigi
    Costume Design by: Danilo Donati
    Makeup Department: Iole Cecchini, Massimo Giustini
    Music by: Ennio Morricone
    MPAA Rating: None.
    Distributed by: United Artists
    Release Date: June 20, 1974

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