The decision to paint Dietrich's legs gold was a last resort. Initially, they had made fine mesh tights for her, like chain-mail. It took several hours to close the links up the back using jeweler's pliers. However, after she was encased in the mesh, it was discovered she couldn't move, so they undid the tights and resorted to gold paint.
An additional dance sequence was cut from the film; it later showed up in the Abbott and Costello comedy Lost in a Harem (1944).
An uncredited Frank Morgan is the Narrator who introduces the characters and plot at the beginning of the film.
The August 23,1944 New York Times movie review included the following: "James Craig is a personable Caliph and perfectly acceptable in that role with the minor exception of his rich Southern accent, which, indeed, prompted one spectator to refer to him as Caliph 'of Baghdad on the Swannee' ".
Life Magazine reported that Marlene Dietrich had her legs painted with four coats of gold paint, and her hair sprinkled with powdered gold for her exotic dance number.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
