Not quite 50s--not quite 60s--so it ended up here. I blogged about this once, and posting about THE MAGIC SWORD in Men Behind the Movies got me thinking about it again: the mini-wave of fantasy quest films fueled by the unexpected success of THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD (and the peplum buttkick that was Levine's HERCULES release). As a kid I loved quests. Still do--few things fire the imagination as much. For me, a good quest entails a journey where anything can happen, unknown lands filled with strange creatures.
There seem to be six main films that constituted this mini-wave; they just somehow go together (some pepla have fantasy quest elements--HERCULES, HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD, GOLIATH AND THE VAMPIRES--but, I dunno, it seems a slightly different category). Chronologically:
7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD (1958) My personal favorite, untouched later by either Harryhausen or anyone else. Come on, it's got the Cyclops for cryin' out loud, the greatest movie monster ever IMHO. Also the best dragon, a two-headed roc, a remarkable dueling skeleton, Torin Thatcher's evil magician, appealing leads Kerwin Matthews and Kathryn Grant, an exciting Bernard Herrmann score, a brisk pace, and a vivid world set in a rich palette.
THIEF OF BAGDAD (1961) One of Steve Reeves' best movies. Even though the quest only takes up a smaller portion of the film (than I remembered as a kid), the fantastic elements are fun and imaginative; a cloak of invisibility, strangling trees, a beautiful sorceress, the weird wrestler on the bridge, a flying horse and the faceless guys in the cave. A really enjoyable film. Nice score too. Only hope we get to see a decent letterbox of this some day.
THE MAGIC SWORD (1962) Mr. BIG's best film. Unlike the previous two, few real exteriors, but that's part of the charm: murky, creepy studio forests and shadowy castles. Maybe the darkest film here, with some surprisingly grim and uncomfortable deaths (cool!). Maila Nurmi's horrid hag, a scary looking ogre, a strange haunted cave (with sounds like Penderecki's "Awakening of Jacob" music used in THE SHINING!) and some of the weirdest underlings an evil wizard ever had (what's with the pinheads?). Some welcome tongue-in-cheek, especially glib Estelle Winwood's good witch and Gary Lockwood's brash George. Lockwood and cute Ann Helm are totally American, but who cares? It's Neverland. And of course Basil Rathbone. Memorable score by Richard Markowitz that I hummed as a kid as much as Herrmann's 7th (Voyage that is).
JACK THE GIANT KILLER (1962) Edward Small's shameless "remake" of 7th VOYAGE (complete with Kerwin Matthews and Torin Thatcher) is still a fun trip, even if the animated monsters aren't up to Harryhausen. It's still stop-motion, God love it, and so Cormoran, Galligantua, the dragon and sea monster, are still a blast. Odd companion to MAGIC SWORD, the year's other Olde English quest (interesting to compare their supporting demons). Thatcher is still a fun villain, backed now by creepy Walter Burke, Judi Meredith is delectable and Don Beddoe amusing as a leprechaun. And, yes, if you have a chance, seek out the nutso dubbed musical version just so you can say you saw it.
CAPTAIN SINDBAD (1963) Once past the brief disappointment that this Sinbad (or Sindbad) won't be battling stop-motion critters, this is a really fun time. The perils make up for it by being, well...different. Especially fond of the giant fist and the invisible monster in the arena, and there's also some really twisted stuff involving the villain's physicality. Guy Williams--between ZORRO and LOST IN SPACE--is fine in the title role and Pedro Armendariz is a rich villain. Colorful, fast-paced fun. Byron Haskin directs.
JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS (1963) Seems widely considered Harryhausen's best movie. Cast and script are top-notch (though Kerwin Matthews might have been a better Jason, certainly in the sword-fighting department). Sequences with Talos and the battling skeletons are tours-de-force of pacing, design, and choreography--among Ray's most brilliant. Another amazing Herrmann score, and some fine direction by Don Chaffey.
Anyone else grouped these together? Any additions?
There seem to be six main films that constituted this mini-wave; they just somehow go together (some pepla have fantasy quest elements--HERCULES, HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD, GOLIATH AND THE VAMPIRES--but, I dunno, it seems a slightly different category). Chronologically:
7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD (1958) My personal favorite, untouched later by either Harryhausen or anyone else. Come on, it's got the Cyclops for cryin' out loud, the greatest movie monster ever IMHO. Also the best dragon, a two-headed roc, a remarkable dueling skeleton, Torin Thatcher's evil magician, appealing leads Kerwin Matthews and Kathryn Grant, an exciting Bernard Herrmann score, a brisk pace, and a vivid world set in a rich palette.
THIEF OF BAGDAD (1961) One of Steve Reeves' best movies. Even though the quest only takes up a smaller portion of the film (than I remembered as a kid), the fantastic elements are fun and imaginative; a cloak of invisibility, strangling trees, a beautiful sorceress, the weird wrestler on the bridge, a flying horse and the faceless guys in the cave. A really enjoyable film. Nice score too. Only hope we get to see a decent letterbox of this some day.
THE MAGIC SWORD (1962) Mr. BIG's best film. Unlike the previous two, few real exteriors, but that's part of the charm: murky, creepy studio forests and shadowy castles. Maybe the darkest film here, with some surprisingly grim and uncomfortable deaths (cool!). Maila Nurmi's horrid hag, a scary looking ogre, a strange haunted cave (with sounds like Penderecki's "Awakening of Jacob" music used in THE SHINING!) and some of the weirdest underlings an evil wizard ever had (what's with the pinheads?). Some welcome tongue-in-cheek, especially glib Estelle Winwood's good witch and Gary Lockwood's brash George. Lockwood and cute Ann Helm are totally American, but who cares? It's Neverland. And of course Basil Rathbone. Memorable score by Richard Markowitz that I hummed as a kid as much as Herrmann's 7th (Voyage that is).
JACK THE GIANT KILLER (1962) Edward Small's shameless "remake" of 7th VOYAGE (complete with Kerwin Matthews and Torin Thatcher) is still a fun trip, even if the animated monsters aren't up to Harryhausen. It's still stop-motion, God love it, and so Cormoran, Galligantua, the dragon and sea monster, are still a blast. Odd companion to MAGIC SWORD, the year's other Olde English quest (interesting to compare their supporting demons). Thatcher is still a fun villain, backed now by creepy Walter Burke, Judi Meredith is delectable and Don Beddoe amusing as a leprechaun. And, yes, if you have a chance, seek out the nutso dubbed musical version just so you can say you saw it.
CAPTAIN SINDBAD (1963) Once past the brief disappointment that this Sinbad (or Sindbad) won't be battling stop-motion critters, this is a really fun time. The perils make up for it by being, well...different. Especially fond of the giant fist and the invisible monster in the arena, and there's also some really twisted stuff involving the villain's physicality. Guy Williams--between ZORRO and LOST IN SPACE--is fine in the title role and Pedro Armendariz is a rich villain. Colorful, fast-paced fun. Byron Haskin directs.
JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS (1963) Seems widely considered Harryhausen's best movie. Cast and script are top-notch (though Kerwin Matthews might have been a better Jason, certainly in the sword-fighting department). Sequences with Talos and the battling skeletons are tours-de-force of pacing, design, and choreography--among Ray's most brilliant. Another amazing Herrmann score, and some fine direction by Don Chaffey.
Anyone else grouped these together? Any additions?
