The Thief of Bagdad

In Basra, a blind beggar begins telling the story in a flashback, hinting at a larger legend. He gradually reveals that he is actually Ahmad, the young, naive king of Bagdad. The frame sets a fairy-tale tone for the events to come.

Seeking to understand his own people, Ahmad is lured into the city in disguise by Jaffar. The Vizier has him arrested and uses the opportunity to usurp the throne. Ahmad's dream of ruling fades as his authority is stolen by treachery.

In prison, Ahmad meets Abu, a quick-witted young thief. Abu arranges their escape and the two men bond over their shared predicament. The escape marks the first step in their journey to reclaim Ahmad's crown.

Ahmad and Abu flee to Basra, where Ahmad meets the Princess and immediately falls in love. The city becomes a backdrop for new loyalties and dangerous ambitions. Their bond deepens as they navigate a world ruled by Jaffar.

Jaffar travels to Basra and bribes the toy-obsessed Sultan with a magical flying horse in exchange for his daughter's hand in marriage. The bargain intensifies the political and romantic pressure surrounding Ahmad and the Princess. Basra becomes a focal point for magical intrigue.

The Princess runs away with Ahmad, but Jaffar uses magic to blind Ahmad and to turn Abu into a dog. The Princess is captured and sold at the slave market, her fate entwined with Jaffar's sinister ploys. The fairy-tale romance descends into peril.

At the palace, the Princess falls into a deep sleep and cannot be awakened. Halima, Jaffar's minion, tricks Ahmad into awakening the Princess, sealing his predicament. Ahmad and the transformed Abu are driven to the docks as his tale reaches its frame-breaking end.

The Princess boards Jaffar's ship, seeking a cure that can only come from embracing the sorcerer. The act lifts the spells, and Ahmad and Abu pursue the ship, but a raging storm wrecks their vessels. They survive, washing up far from their former home.

Back in Basra, Jaffar unveils a life-sized automaton, The Silver Maiden, at the Sultan's court. The automaton captivates the palace with a treacherous turn, stabbing the Sultan, and Jaffar returns to Bagdad with the Princess. The city braces for a new, dangerous power.

Abu awakens a long-imprisoned genie and, after bargaining, uses three wishes to aid Ahmad and reclaim his friend. The first wish is wasted, but the Genie helps fetch the All-Seeing Eye jewel, enabling Abu to locate Ahmad and reunite him with the Princess. The bond between friends becomes pivotal to the quest.

With the All-Seeing Eye, Ahmad gains sight and sees Jaffar manipulating the Princess to forget her true love. Tensions rise between Ahmad and Abu as plans for reclaiming the throne collide. Abu inadvertently uses his third wish to send Ahmad back to Bagdad.

Ahmad is reunited with the Princess in Bagdad but is soon imprisoned by Jaffar. Abu witnesses the peril and, in a fit of anger, destroys the jewel, freeing the Old King of the Land of Legend. The revelation shifts the balance of power and moral order.

Abu steals the king's magic carpet and flies back to Bagdad, his appearance fulfilling an ancient prophecy. The city rises in revolt against Jaffar as the hero-turned-thief moves to end the sorcerer's tyranny. Ahmad's restoration to power hinges on Abu's daring gambit.

Abu kills Jaffar with the crossbow he earns, and Ahmad is restored to the throne. The revolt settles, and Abu realizes he must decide between vengeful power and adventure. He flies off on the carpet, seeking fun, as Basra's legend finally comes to rest.