This was the first of the Ray Harryhausen fantasy epics, wonderful films packed with loads of special effects in the form of monsters and weird beasts (JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS and THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD combine with this, in my mind, to make a great trilogy - just don't bother with SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER, as it doesn't have the same feel to it). To me, it seems like a pretty influential film, especially on the Italian industry who went on and inserted loads of mythological monsters into their peplum films in the early '60s.
Once the plot gets started, the pacing is fast and the film is packed with loads of different special effects, some good, some not so good. Back projection is used quite extensively and in a realistic way. Once the princess is shrunk down to miniature size they use the old mixture of gigantic sets and back projection to create the illusion, and it works. The only effect to the film's detriment is, I feel, the magic lamp. The scenes of the annoying boy-genie emerging from the lamp were probably done as best they could be but I still think they look pretty awful. Kerwin Matthews is the square-jawed hero, and has the correct attributes (fitness and charisma) for a leading man in this type of film. Playing the bad, bald magician is Torin Thatcher, who does so well in the role that he was brought back as the villain in JACK THE GIANT KILLER (another great film which incidentally re-teamed him with Mattews). Kathryn Grant I found to be quite an unattractive love interest, and Richard Eyer, as the boy genie, is just plain irritating.
Elsewhere, we have plenty of great locations, colourful cinematography, and a wonderful stirring score from Bernard Herrman which helps to draw out the magical and fantastic feel of the film. As is always the case with Harryhausen, his special effects are the best thing in the film, and they do not disappoint here at all. The first to pop up is a "snake woman", a very exotic looking creation. Then we have one of his cyclops monsters, which often pop up in films such as this and always provide a great menace. Also appearing are a huge green fire-breathing dragon, a two-headed giant bird and, for the piéce de resistance, a sword-wielding skeleton who fights with Sinbad. This skeleton is excellently animated and looks like a dry-run for the finale of JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS. The film is packed with action and many battle scenes. Mutinies are attempted, monsters fight with other monsters, humans battle monsters, and a whole load of the cast get crushed, burnt or slashed to death along the way. All of the action sequences are exciting to watch, even if some of the punches are thrown a little too wide for my liking. THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD is a wonderful fantasy adventure from the golden age of cinema, and a real delight for children and adults alike.
Once the plot gets started, the pacing is fast and the film is packed with loads of different special effects, some good, some not so good. Back projection is used quite extensively and in a realistic way. Once the princess is shrunk down to miniature size they use the old mixture of gigantic sets and back projection to create the illusion, and it works. The only effect to the film's detriment is, I feel, the magic lamp. The scenes of the annoying boy-genie emerging from the lamp were probably done as best they could be but I still think they look pretty awful. Kerwin Matthews is the square-jawed hero, and has the correct attributes (fitness and charisma) for a leading man in this type of film. Playing the bad, bald magician is Torin Thatcher, who does so well in the role that he was brought back as the villain in JACK THE GIANT KILLER (another great film which incidentally re-teamed him with Mattews). Kathryn Grant I found to be quite an unattractive love interest, and Richard Eyer, as the boy genie, is just plain irritating.
Elsewhere, we have plenty of great locations, colourful cinematography, and a wonderful stirring score from Bernard Herrman which helps to draw out the magical and fantastic feel of the film. As is always the case with Harryhausen, his special effects are the best thing in the film, and they do not disappoint here at all. The first to pop up is a "snake woman", a very exotic looking creation. Then we have one of his cyclops monsters, which often pop up in films such as this and always provide a great menace. Also appearing are a huge green fire-breathing dragon, a two-headed giant bird and, for the piéce de resistance, a sword-wielding skeleton who fights with Sinbad. This skeleton is excellently animated and looks like a dry-run for the finale of JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS. The film is packed with action and many battle scenes. Mutinies are attempted, monsters fight with other monsters, humans battle monsters, and a whole load of the cast get crushed, burnt or slashed to death along the way. All of the action sequences are exciting to watch, even if some of the punches are thrown a little too wide for my liking. THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD is a wonderful fantasy adventure from the golden age of cinema, and a real delight for children and adults alike.