Review of The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) by Joe A — 08 Dec 2012

An absolutely enchanting fantasy adventure from Director Nathan Juran (20 Million Miles To Earth) and SPFX master Ray Harryhausen. This charming tale has Captain SInbad (Kerwin Mathews) tricked by a sinister magician (Torin Thatcher) in taking him to the island of Colussa under the guise of restoring the brave captain's miniaturized Princess (Kathryn Grant) to her normal size. But, the magician actually seeks a magic lamp held by the cyclops whose genie can grant him ultimate power. This delightfully old fashioned tale is filled with high adventure and some of Harryhausen's most iconic monsters such as the satyr-like cyclops, a sword fighting skeleton and a magnificently menacing dragon. Director Juran gives Ken Kolb's script a fairy tale like atmosphere in which Harryhausen's creations and the cast of characters can dwell. And the cast do play their parts with just enough panache to suit the fantasy material but, never too over the top to evoke campiness. The film plays it's storybook-like drama seriously enough to make it work but, with a slight wink as it is, after all, a bedtime fable of sorts. A timeless classic featuring some of Ray Harryhausen's best creatures and work.

PERSONAL NOTE: The Fairview Cinema in Fairview, N.J. used to play old movies as children's matinees on Saturday afternoons in the early 70s. It was here I not only got to see this great film but, classics like Universal's Frankenstein and Dracula on the big screen.