No, I'm referring to more complicated matting techniques and optical tricks that were at his disposal. What Tippett, Jim Danforth and Mike Jittlov were doing around the same time was combined far more seamlessly into the films they were working on than Harryhausen's.

CLASH may have a "better cast," totally wasted, of course (Olivier is gaunt-looking and completely walking through his lines). Harry Hamlin is an unconvincing hero. A watered down script, terrible direction, bad timing and awful insertion of Harryhausen's effects shots. Everyone knew it sucked, except for MGM, who had an aggressive ad campaign (I have their campaign reel for exhibitors that practically promises the world).