Fairbanks's acting ... - Sinbad, the Sailor (1947) Discussion

[–] excel99 17 years ago

His acting in this film is quite corny.

Very dramatic and overly expressive - much like his dad in the Silent films, when it was more necessary.

True, but still you've gotta love it!

I couldn't imagine this film with someone like, say, Clark Gable playing Sinbad. Fairbank's (over)exuberance is half the magic of this film.

P.S. It's great that someone actually posted to this board!

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[–] beryl10001 17 years ago

Dear Excel99,

Every time this film is televised, I watch it. It is very kitchy and campy, but I love it. Maureen O'Hara is absolutely stunning, and although I was never attracted to Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., I prefer Anthony Quinn, he is absolutely gorgeous in this film. I love the sets, the costumes, the beautiful score....just everything, except Mr. Fairbanks. His acting is over the top, I suppose he and the director decided to kitch it up. But, as Mr. Fairbanks, Jr. is quoted as saying, he never copied his father...but he did copy him in the film. I saw Mr. Fairbanks, Sr in "The Thief of Baghdad" and Mr. F, Jr certainly did copy his dad's mannerisms from the silent film. Anyhow, with that said, I still find this film a fun and fascinating example of its type from the '40s that will never be made again.

With best regards from NYC -- Beryl

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[–] HoferPM-1 17 years ago

I didn't think it was corny at all. Probably because I was 9 years old in 1947, but I don't remember seeing this movie then, even though my mom had me to the movies three times a week. A lot of good movies appeared to be corny in those years. I think because many of the stars had their start in silent films so they over acted a bit. OK by me for the color in this film is gorgeous and Maureen O'Hara is breathtakingly beautiful. She is actually still a beautiful woman even to this date. And that Doug Fairbanks was so very handsome I couldn't care less if he was corny or whatever. I just loved looking at him!!!!! LOL

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] xerses13 15 years ago

lagnafrah; You are right, this was DOUG Jr's. ode to his Father and those wonderful films he made in the 1920s'. DOUG knew what he was doing every step of the way. Seems like some of the critics need to go back too Film Studies 101. Our rating IMDB********Stars.

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[–] julesvukson 15 years ago

Just finished watching this on TCM and wonder if Johnny Depp was inspired by some of Fairbank's acting for his Jack Sparrow movies....exaggerated yes, but in a very planned out, wicked funny manner

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[–] ddidee 13 years ago

A bit, but very ballet-like and graceful and I can't picture anyone else as Sinbad. I have loved this movie since I was a kid watching it in black and white on TV and couldn't then appreciate the gorgeous Techicolor and a breath-taking Maureen O'Hara. This film is an absolute delight and very underrated. I recommend reading the original Thousand and One Nights (not the children's Arabian Nights version) which are fascinating and includes the Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor.

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[–] pt100 10 years ago

It was intentionally made that way. It is a classic comic adventure film with all sorts of layers, including an homage to Fairbanks Sr. and the whole swashbuckler genre. Some folks have commented on the fake bird on a string/wire (in the long shots). They could easily have afforded to do the bird shots much better but chose not to. Really campy fun.

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[–] plwblj 10 years ago

Mr.pt100 you get it,however,today's cultural "elites" don't and it makes them feel "modern and superior" at the same TIME

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[–] rtw416 10 years ago

Pt&Plw.....we are on the same page.
This films detractors don't get it and are probably of the ilk that "WATCH" movies and do not listen,follow dialouge or look for the little expression or reaction.
They are poisoned by CGI-SURROUND SOUND.
This was Fairbanks Jr's "COMEBACK" film.After serving his country-he wanted to impress his audience,who have not seen him in years.
This film has it all-action,adventure,romance and to top it off it's in TECHNICOLOR!!
FAIRBANKS Jr.-O'HARA-QUINN

Even today-that marquee would be impressive.

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[–] Gialmere 10 years ago

The vibe I got was that Fairbanks was using a stage acting style--still not uncommon for films of that era--so he exaggerated both his vocals and physical mannerisms to match the storybook nature of the film. The "epic" style of acting in 'The Ten Commandments' (1956) would be another example of this approach. The sets for 'Sinbad' seemed to follow suit. They all had one foot in reality and the other in a dream world. Consider the sets for the Olivier version of Henry V (1944) which mimicked a play audience's imagination of events or even 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939) where it all literally was a dream world.

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[–] Prismark10 10 years ago

He is rather campy but in the context of the movie it works with all the athleticism.

Its that man again!!

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[–] cmp_gr 9 years ago

@ flan99 Wed Mar 14 2007 12:58:20

I agree with you. He was almost ridiculous, but you must take into consideration that we are in 1947. This style was acceptable.

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[–] John-367 8 years ago

"He was almost ridiculous, but you must take into consideration that we are in 1947. This style was acceptable."

It was acceptable in the right context. This wasn't anything like a realist film, where the acting style would be wrong and no one in a naturalistic film of the 1940s would act like that, including Fairbanks.

Think of the film as a flamboyant fantasy musical without the songs and it all makes more sense.

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[–] cmp_gr 8 years ago

I agree.

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[–] BuddyBoy1961 8 years ago

Yikes! I think almost everyone here is cutting Fairbanks a little too much slack. The flourishes he used were simply ANNOYING, for the most part. But I blame the director more than Fairbanks; he should have reined Doug in numerous times throughout the film. Sometimes, yes, less is more.

For me, the picture didn't really start to deliver until they all arrived at the island--note that Fairbanks, too, dialed it back (a lot) at this point. Finally, everyone in the film was starting to act 'normal'. And whoever above said that Fairbanks' over-the-top mannerisms were standard for the time really needs to see more movies released in 1947.

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