Many years ago a youth named Aladdin lived in the capital city of a faraway. Oriental land. One day he met a Moorish logician. The Moor, after questioning Aladdin, said'to himself, "It is he—the one I left Africa to find. Only he can open the Enchanted Treasury!" The magician led Aladdin outside the city to a valley in the mountains. Here they stopped and Aladdin built a fire. Uttering strange words the Moor threw a black powder into the flames. With a noise like thunder, a pillar of smoke rose to darken the sky. The very earth trembled and the ground before them opened revealing a stone slab fitted with a massive copper ring!

SCENE ONE

"Fear not," said the magician. "Do exactly as I tell you and you will be richer than the richest sultan! First, you must raise that stone slab. You can do it only by speaking aloud the names of your father and your father's father." Obediently, Aladdin tugged at the copper ring. When he spoke the names aloud, the heavy slab floated upwards uncovering stairs that led into the earth. • The Moor gave Aladdin a silver ring saying, "This ring will protect you from harm in the Enchanted Treasury. Now listen carefully. Pass through four halls of jars; do not touch the gems they hold! Take the path through the garden; be careful not to brush against the fruit trees! At the end of the path you will find an old lamp. Tuck the lamp in your pocket and take all the treasures you want. Just bring me the lamp!"

SCENE Two

Aladdin passing through the halls and the garden found the lamp. Returning, he marvelled at the fruit trees. Each fruit was a fiery, dazzling gem worth a king's ransom. Excitedly, he began to fill his pockets loading himself so heavily that, at the stair once more, he had to call for help. "Give me the lamp," demanded the magician. "That will lighten your load." "It's not the lamp that weighs me down," replied Aladdin, who really could not reach it. "I'll give it to you when I get to the top." At this, the evil magician fell into a rage. Suspecting Aladdin of trying to steal the lamp, he called up his dark powers with dreadful curses. The earth rose up and sealed the stairway burying Aladdin inside. Sealed underground, the frightened Aladdin fell to weeping and wringing his hands in prayer to Allah. He accidentally rubbed the silver. ring and out of nowhere sprang a frightful geflie who spoke in a terrifying voice. "I am the Slave of the Ring. What is your command, 0 Master?" Knowing that genii, though really demons, had magical powers, Aladdin, in a trembling voice, pleaded, "Kind Genie, set me once more on the face of the earth." . The genie disappeared and so did the cavern! Aladdin looked at the mountains around him and the blue sky above, then fled home.

SCENE THREE

 Aladdin gave his mother the gems, told her of his adventures, and then fell asleep exhausted. The next morning when he awoke there was no food for breakfast. "I'll sell the old lamp I brought fioai the under- ground garden," he offered. "We will get a better price" if it is polished^" said his mother. She had just begun to rub it when "Poof!" a giant genie appeared! His voice boomed, "I am the Slave of the Wonder- ful Lamp and of him who holds it." Aladdin's mother fainted, but he snatched up the lamp crying, "Good Genie, bring us food! Meats and all manner of toothsome delicacies." In the twinkling of an eye, the genie lay before them a feast of rich and savory foods served on dishes of silver and gold. Aladdin revived his mother and they dined royally.

SCENE. FOUR

 . Half-fearing the demon of the lamp, Aladdin sel- dom called upon his unearthly powers. But he and his mother prospered in a modest way and he spent his time learning at the merchandising marts where the wonders of the world were displayed. Soon he acquired a store of wordly knowledge as well as a gentle manner and an eloquent tongue. One day at ^the markets he heard the crier call, "By command of the Sultan, be off the streets! Gaze not on the Princess Badr al-Budur lest your head be forfeit!" Aladdin had heard wondrous tales of the beauty of this princess, so hid behind the door of the bath. When she stopped to remove her veil, he saw a face so regular in feature, so delicate in contour, so sweet in expression that he fell in love then and there.

 SCENE FIVE

 Against his mother's advice, Aladdin resolved to win the princess. Still protesting, his mother set out for court to present his suit. In a covered bowl, she carried the jewels from the Enchanted Treasury. When at last the sultan permitted her to speak, she unhappily cried, ''0 Sire, my foolish son has gazed upon the princess. Now he wants to marry her!" Hearing this, the sultan laughed heartily. Relieved that he was not angry, Aladdin's mother uncovered the bowl of gems. A radiance surpassing the noonday sun filled the room. The astounded sultan exclaimed, "There is not a jewel in my treasury equal to the smallest of these!. Tell me, my vizier, is not the giver worthy of a princess?" But the grand vizier, who hoped to marry his own son to the princess, whispered, "The gems are as you say, sire, but this woman is a pauper and of low birth. Demand a wedding gift of forty bowls such as these."

SCENE Six

The mother sadly returned home and told Aladdin of the king's request. But this gift was easy for the Genie of the Lamp. Two by two, pairs of slaves appeared out of thin air ... a black Nubian balancing a golden bowl heaped with gems and a white attend- ant both richly clothed. The dazed mother led this procession through the streets to the palace and, all the way, the attendants showered the people with silver so that the name of Aladdin would be beloved. So impressed was the sultan by this display of wealth and generosity, that, despite the warnings of the envious grand vizier, he ordered Aladdin to appear to claim (he Princess Badr al-Budur.

SCENE SEVEN

Aladdin, appeared at court and won over the sultan by his modest and respectful manner. Begging a delay of one day before the wedding, Aladdin had the genie build a palace for his bride. The next morning, the sultan looked out of his window and saw, where the night before had been an empty field, a palace of exquisite design. Its walls were of rose alabaster and its towers of beaten gold. The interior was decorated with gleaming jewels, and it was completely furnished down to the last golden bowl in the kitchen and the silver mousetrap in the pantry. After the wedding, Aladdin led his princess to this golden palace to begin a life of unequalled happiness and splendor.

ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP continued on VIEW-MASTER REEL NO. FT-5OB