Arthur lubin directs this 1940s technicolor adventure romance when the caliph of baghdad moroni olsen is deposed and subsequently murdered by the soldiers of mongol leader hugalu khan kurt katch his son ali jon hall finds refuge in the magic cave of sesame the hiding place of 40 thieves led by old baba fortunio bonanova old baba adopts ali and he joins their resistance movement fearlessly battling the mongol invaders over a ten year period when khans new bride arrives by caravan