Sadly, I can't remember the name of this film, so if anyone knows it, please share! :) The story was so powerful and fantastical and the hero goes through all sorts of trials and tribulations to get this magical blue rose to save his lady and his love.
Not to be a spoiler, but he gets it and just as he's about to give it to her, the rose is destroyed. The kingdom absolutely despairs, but the princess rises up from her sick-bed, and takes a white rose from the garden and says, "If you love me, then this is the blue rose!"
Sure enough, they kiss and the rose turns into a beautiful blue rose cradled gently in her fingers.
Well, today I saw a blue rose at the corner grocery. A lot of delis in NY have rows of flowers that you can buy outside their shops, and when I saw this blue rose, I just had to have it. It doesn't matter if it's "not real." In fact, if anything, the fairytale above just goes to show that any rose has the power to bloom and be whatever we want it to be. If we believe.
And of course, I've been getting comments from strangers all over town, saying, "Wow! Is that a blue rose???"
It's magic, I tell ya.
And I feel like a rose myself. I feel like I'm blooming! With each audition I hit, with each class I take, with each show I see, with each play I read, each song I sing, I feel so full of potential and possibilities.
I feel like the blue rose in bloom. :)
5 comments:
Hello,
I too have fond memeories of this movie from Tom Hatten's Family Film Festival. And, I can see from your occupation and your favorites that you love romance, fantasy, and adventure (like myself). The movie you remember was made in Italy and starred Steve Reeves. It was released in 1961 and was titled "The Thief of Baghdad". This is the 3rd cinematic production of the story. The First one was made with Douglas Fairbanks in 1924. The next one was made by Alexander Korda in 1940 which is a cinematic masterpiece... absolutely beautiful. This third one was produced at the end of, or perhaps just past the height of Italian Mythological/Arabian Fantasy movie production (Often jokingly referred to as sword and sandal productions). The theif must solve a riddle then pass through 7 gates to reach the mythical blue rose.
I too have the fondest memeories of this movie especially its romantic ending where as you stated the blue rose is destroyed. But, the power of true love makes the common white rose turn blue.
I also could not recall the name of the movie. And, it haunted me for years. The movie on DVD is almost impossible to find. Almost...
I did not want you to have this question left unanswered for your wistful and romantic soul. May your fanciful heart now find some peace.. now that it is no longer haunted by this mystery.
Ooh! Wonderful find! Thank you!
This film was NOT the Thief of Baghdad. It was a British film that is apparently a lost film. I too remember it just as you describe. I especially remember the women who want to turn him to stone. I remember it being a black and white film. I also remember the musical score as something wonderful. I think it was titled "The Blue Rose". I have seen the Thief of Baghdad and it isn't this film that I have always longed to see again.
-Tom
Hi Tom, as the first poster mentioned, it is the 1961 version of The Thief of Bagdad with Steve Reeves that I was talking about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0qD8K7UnFo&feature=related
"If you love me, Amina, this is a blue rose."
Wonderful film!
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