Bowery to Bagdad
A Bowery Boys comedy with a genie and gangsters.
Bowery to Bagdad is a 1955 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys, released on January 2, 1955, by Allied Artists. It is the thirty-sixth film in the series.
- Release date
- January 2, 1955
- Studio
- Allied Artists
- Series number
- 36
- Director
- Not specified in source
- Genre
- Comedy
- Country
- United States
Lore & Background
In Bowery to Bagdad, Sach buys a magic lamp containing a Genie. Gangsters see the boys using the lamp and steal it, but the boys had wished that only Slip and Sach could request wishes, so the Genie cannot obey the gangsters. The gangsters decide that if Slip and Sach were dead, the Genie would have to obey them. The Genie helps the boys escape, but they are transported to Baghdad, where the rightful master of the lamp resides. The master commands the Genie to send them back. Back home, the Genie grants one more wish: Sach wishes he had the nerve to sock Slip in the chin, which the Genie grants.
Reader's Guide
Bowery to Bagdad is notable as the thirty-sixth entry in the long-running Bowery Boys film series, which featured the comedic antics of a group of young men from New York's Bowery neighborhood. The film's plot involves a magic lamp and a genie, leading the characters to Baghdad. The film has been criticized for its offensive anti-Arab stereotypes, as noted by Jack G. Shaheen in Reel Bad Arabs. The genie is depicted as sexually aggressive and unintelligent, and characters refer to him with slurs. The film was released in England in October 1954, before its U.S. release. Warner Archives released it on made-to-order DVD in the United States on August 26, 2014, as part of 'The Bowery Boys, Volume Four.'
Did You Know?
- Warner Archives released the film on made-to-order DVD on August 26, 2014.
- The film contains offensive anti-Arab stereotypes, according to Jack G. Shaheen.
- The genie is referred to as a 'monkey' and an 'animated Turkish towel' in the film.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bowery to Bagdad?
It is the thirty-sixth entry in the long-running Bowery Boys comedy series, a 1955 American film produced by Allied Artists.
When was Bowery to Bagdad released?
The film hit theaters on January 2, 1955, under the Allied Artists banner.
What is Bowery to Bagdad about?
The plot centers on the Bowery Boys comedy team getting tangled up with a genie and a group of gangsters.
Who stars in Bowery to Bagdad?
The film features the Bowery Boys comedy team, the same ensemble that carried all thirty-six installments of the series.
Why is Bowery to Bagdad notable among the Bowery Boys films?
As the thirty-sixth installment, it stands as one of the later entries in the franchise, blending the team's signature slapstick with a fantasy element involving a genie.
More in Genies in film 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced