Main Cast: Tony Curtis, Piper Laurie, Everett Sloane, Jeff Corey, Betty Garde
Release Year: 1951
Country: US
Run Time: 88 minutes
Plot
Universal's newest "heartthrobs" Tony Curtis and Piper Laurie were first teamed in this lavish adaptation of Theodore Dreiser's The Prince Who Was a Thief. Curtis stars as Julna, the rightful heir to a Middle Eastern throne. Kidnapped in infancy, Julna is raised as a thief by the roguish Yussef (Everett Sloane). Eventually, however, Julna's true identity is revealed, prompting him to lead a revolt against the evil, usurping Mustapha (Donald Randolph). Piper Laurie steals the show as Tina, a carnival contortionist who falls in love with Julna and helps him regain his throne (most of Laurie's trickier stunts were performed in long shot by a much heftier double). Fine escapist entertainment, The Prince Who Was a Thief secured major stardom for both its leading players. And no, this is not the film in which Tony Curtis utters the apocryphal line "Yonduh lies duh castle of my faddah." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
While it's hardly a classic, The Prince Who Was a Thief is an enjoyable little piece of Hollywood "exotica," 1950s style. Prince's main problem is its story, which is comprised of elements we have all seen before and therefore features little that surprises us. The screenplay does have a fair share of good dialogue, however, and this goes a long way toward papering over some of the cracks in the story. There's also a problem with the film's leading man. Tony Curtis in many ways is a fine fit for the part. He's handsome, athletic, has a certain amount of charisma and knows how to navigate both comedy and romance. Unfortunately, he is clearly not a native of the Mideast, a fact that is made abundantly clear whenever he opens his mouth. It's true that the no one else in the cast could really pass for genuine denizens of this locale, but their voices at least are simply standard Hollywood and don't jar as does Curtis'. As his eventual love interest, Piper Laurie is a prize, far more valuable than the purloined pearl that is the catalyst for the action in the film. Beautiful, vivacious and thoroughly amusing, Laurie is a delight. Peggie Castle also scores points as the scheming princess, and Don Randolph is appropriately oily and evil. Rudolph Maté's direction is solid, and he does his utmost to conceal the flaws in the material. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Bernard Herzbrun - Art Director, Emrich H. Nicholson - Art Director, Harold Belfer - Choreography, Bill Thomas - Costume Designer, Rudolph Maté - Director, Edward A. Curtiss - Editor, Hans Salter - Composer (Music Score), Hans Salter - Musical Direction/Supervision, Bud Westmore - Makeup, Irving Glassberg - Cinematographer, Leonard Goldstein - Producer, Russell A. Gausman - Set Designer, Otto Siegel - Set Designer, Glenn E. Anderson - Sound/Sound Designer, Leslie I. Carey - Sound/Sound Designer, Gerald Drayson Adams - Screenwriter, Aeneas MacKenzie - Screenwriter, Theodore Dreiser - Screenwriter, Theodore Dreiser - Book Author
