A Thousand and One Nights

Vagabond singer Aladdin roams the city with his pickpocket friend Abdullah, keeping him out of trouble. Abdullah is treated as mad by many, claiming he was born 1200 years too early, speaks in 1940s slang, and oddly knows about television. The unlikely duo relies on each other to survive.

Armina, daughter of the Sultan, is carried through the streets in a covered litter. Aladdin distracts the guards and slips into the litter, captivated by her beauty. He falls in love instantly, though Armina does not yet return his feelings.

Aladdin sneaks back to the palace to woo Armina and is caught. He is thrown into a cell, where he reunites with Abdullah and awaits execution the next day. The mood grows tense as guards close in and a desperate plan forms.

Armina’s trusted servant Novira steals the jail key from the jailer and slips it to Aladdin. He and Abdullah flee the city, with the Sultan’s guards in hot pursuit. They hide in a cave where the sorcerer Kofir awaits them.

Kofir persuades Aladdin to venture into the bowels of the cave to fetch a magical lamp. They dodge a laughing giant on the way out and return with the lamp, only to find Kofir has blocked the exit with a massive boulder. The diamond-lit cave traps them in darkness.

Frustrated, Aladdin throws the lamp away and a redheaded female genie appears, declaring him her master. She explains that only her master can see or hear her and insists on being called Babs, a voice from the twentieth century. She promises to help them escape the cave.

Aladdin orders the genie to get them out of the cave, and she searches for a way to escape. He then decides to go back for Armina, much to the genie's disappointment, as she has fallen in love with him. The genie conjures up a retinue of servants, clothes, and rich gifts to aid their rescue.

Hadji, the Sultan’s twin brother, makes a bid for the throne and captures the Sultan, taking his place. He is aided by Grand Wazir Abu-Hassan, who is promised Armina’s hand in marriage as a reward. The royal succession hangs in the balance as political intrigue deepens.

Aladdin arrives at the palace pretending to be a prince of Hindustan to win Armina. The Sultan prefers a wealthy son-in-law, and the genie's interference becomes a problem. Novira trades the lamp with Kofir, allowing him to become the genie's master and undo many of Aladdin’s wishes.

Armina realizes the man before her is not her father, as Hadji lacks the scar on his arm. Aladdin and Abdullah are carried off to be hanged, but Abu-Hassan offers to spare their lives if Armina agrees to marry him. The threat of political marriage looms over the couple.

Novira reveals the truth about Hadji’s impersonation and the lamp’s manipulation. Aladdin and Abdullah track down Kofir and learn that he died of a stroke from his own excitement. They recover the lamp from its next owner and prepare to return toward the palace.

They steal the lamp from its next owner, a tailor, and bring it back toward the palace. The magical power is restored to Aladdin, setting the stage for a final confrontation. The kingdom awaits the truth to come to light.

In a climactic sword fight, Hadji dies and the impersonation is exposed. The grateful Sultan finally approves Aladdin and Armina’s marriage, restoring order to the kingdom. The crowd cheers as the couple’s future is secured.

After the victory, the heartbroken genie is freed at last. She conjures up Aladdin’s twin, who is in love with her, to complicate the finale. To reward Abdullah, she grants him Frank Sinatra’s voice to entrance the harem.