Cheap The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (Video) (Kerwin Mathews, Kathryn Grant, Richard Eyer) (Nathan Juran) Price

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Customer Reviews of The 7th Voyage of Sinbad

Magical Harryhausen Special Effects In Lavish Fantasy Story
In this day and age of computer technology and fantastic special effects created on a computer screen I find myself appreciating more and more the wonderous efforts of the early special effects wizards such as Ray Harryhausen with his unique creations in a string of classic films through the 1950's and 60's. "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad", is one of my favourites of his efforts from the 1950's and has everything that the fantasy film lover seeks combining an exciting Sinbad adventure tale with ground breaking special effects depicting fire breathing dragons and savage one eyed Cyclops amongst other things, terrific location photography, beautiful colour and with enough action to appeal to young and old audiences alike. Through the wonders of the new process of "Dynamation", Harryhausen created a breathtaking visual look to this exciting film that really became the benchmark for all future attempts in fantasy film making. These effects have for the most part definately stood the test of time and it is easy to see why "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad", was such a talked about and groundbreaking effort when it was released in 1958. <
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>The story opens with Sinbad (Kerwin Mathews), returning from a peace mission to a neighbouring country. Running short of supplies he stops in at the uncharted island of Colossus where he and the crew barely escape with their lives when they are attacked by a savage giant Cyclops and take with them a strange magician by the name of Sokurah (Torin Thatcher). Sokurah however has lost a magic lamp in his escape from the Cyclops and once he is safely in Baghdad with Sinbad he schemes on how to return to the island to get it back. Using a spell he shrinks Sinbad's fiancee Princess Parisa (Kathryn Grant) to miniature size and when her father vows war on Sinbad's family Sinbad is forced to cooperate with the magician who says he can return the Princess to normal size but only after he is returned to Colossus. Hiring a crew of cut throats Sinbad travels with Sokurah and the Princess to the island but many obstacles get in his way where he has to fight the menacing Cyclops, a fire breathing dragon and risk his life to get part of the shell of an egg laid by the monsterous two headed bird called the Roc which is needed in the spell to cure the Princess. After returning the Princess to her correct size however Sinbad is betrayed by Sokurah and he finds himself fighting against a deadly skeleton soldier created by the magician that nearly kills him in a deadly sword fight before Sinbad is able to destroy him. Sinbad and his group then barely escape with their lives having to get past the savage fire breathing dragon on guard at Sokurah's castle. Sokurah however pays for his treachery with his life and Sinbad is at last able to board his ship reunited with his fiancee at her correct size and the two sail home to get married. <
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>The legendary Arabian Nights tale of the intrepid Sinbad lent itself very well to Harryhausen's creative style of presentation and the use of rich colour for the first time in one of his efforts aided greatly in making this a memorable viewing experience. Of course the visual effects are the real star of the movie with some of the unforgettable creatures such as the Cyclops, the two headed flying Roc, and probably best of all the fighting skeleton, becoming some of the most classic creatures put onto film from this or any other decade. Beside the spectacular effects you would think the human performances would pale however there were some great casting choices in "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad", that greatly enhance the story. Kerwin Mathews is an ideal choice as Sinbad and with his handsome looks, earnest delivery along with great skills as a swordsman he is the perfect image of what Sinbad should be like, fighting all types of unknown terrors for the sake of the woman he loves. Mathews had his work cut out for him in this role as he was required to do all his reaction shots and fencing scenes without the benefit of a visual partner as the special effects creations were added later. The smoothness of his delivery is all the more remarkable because of that and still look perfect in the many scenes where he is dealing with the monsters he encounters in his adventures. Equally impressive is veteran character actor Torin Thatcher who specialised in villianous characters and here has one of his best as the crafty Sokurah the Magician. His deliciously evil character is a perfect contrast to Sinbad's upright and honest character making for some great interactions between the two. Kathryn Grant has the more conventional role here of the endangered Princess which she handles well despite most of her work merely involving her on the sidelines of the main action. The other visuals in "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad", are equally impressive with the Spanish locations standing in for the Middle East giving the film a beautiful visual quality and the superb exotic costumes in all their rich colour being greatly enhanced by the use of colour photography. <
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>"The 7th Voyage of Sinbad", is the ultimate in exciting escapism from a simpler time in movie going. I can always imagine how blown away 1958 audiences must have been to first see this visually stunning film with its incredible special effects up on the big screen. While in effects lavishness it may now have been surpassed by our modern movie makers this film is still a treat for audiences seeing it again after many years or for the first time. The innocent straight forward story of good against evil with plenty of dangers along the way for our hero and heroine still makes for exciting viewing but I admire the film first and foremost for the great innovations it introduced with the incredible Dynamation process that changed forever the way fantasy films were made. For an old fashioned Saturday Matinee adventure/fantasy treat you can't get better than Columbia Studio's dazzling "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad".

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Not as impressive as later offerings.
Monday, January 24, 2005 / 3 of 5 / Not as impressive as later offerings. <
>Hadn't seen this one in decades and had forgotten much of the plot. Interestingly there wasn't much there, the baddy is not as notable as the Golden Voyage or the Eye of the Tiger, but oh that Cyclops and Dragon! A bit sad to see the Roc baby barbequed, but the prisoner/crew got their comeuppance when mom got home. Sinbad is blackmailed into getting the magician's genie lamp. The magician had shrunk the betrothed princess so it's off to the isle of Colossi with a crew of prisoners. Hmm, mutiny possibilities anyone? Fortunately the formula would be perfected in later Sinbad films, this one lacks a bit. But I did get a kick out of watching the magician egg on the Dragon like a puppy to chase Sinbad.

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Excellent =)
Real fun movie to watch, great effects, and also great story line as well. I LOVE when the maiden is turned into a half cobra half human by the evil magician for the sultans party, that was really kewl :) <
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>A great movie to have and watch over again!