This is not, though one may be forgiven for thinking otherwise, a newly released documentary. Rather, it is the 1924 silent classic starring Douglas Fairbanks as the Thief, a grinning, bare-chested, ear-ringed scoundrel who seeks to win the hand of the Caliph’s daughter by bringing back the rarest of treasures. The lavish sets and spectacular-at-the-time visual effects made director Raoul Walsh’s arabesque fantasy a tremendous success on its initial release. The Thief of Bagdad kicks off the 13th season of the Buffalo Film Seminars, a weekly series of films and conversations about films hosted by University at Buffalo professors Bruce Jackson and Diane Christian, who believe that great films are meant to be seen on big screens in dark rooms filled with appreciative audiences. Accompanying the 35-millimeter print on electric piano will be the great Philip C. Carli of Rochester’s George Eastman House. Carli played to his first silent film, 1923’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, at the age of 13. As always, a discussion follows the screening. Upcoming shows in the Buffalo Film Seminar include 1933’s King Kong (September 5), 1945’s Mildred Pierce (September 12) and 1946’s The Big Sleep (September 26). Visit http://buffalofilmseminars.com for more information.

Tuesday, August 29 at 7pm. The Market Arcade Film & Arts Center,

639 Main Street. $8 regular, $5.50 62 & over, $6 students.