Harryhausen’s Least Appreciated Masterpiece Revisited

Here’s the latest from the Archives of Matte Shot …

I’ve forever been a fan of the mythical lands, tales and monsters that originated from the imagination and hands of the late Ray Harryhausen. I remember seeing many of these films on the big cinema screen as a kid and teenager, with as best I can recall THE VALLEY OF GWANGI doubled with JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS, probably around 1970, being my first exposure to Ray’s work. Oh man, I was hooked!

It was extremely rare in those days here in New Zealand to see anything remotely along these lines on our single channel, monochromatic, state run tv, so kids like me would acquire 8mm digest versions of some of those great flicks such as 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH and EARTH VS THE FLYING SAUCERS where, the best you could get usually was a 200 foot black and white silent print running around 7 minutes at best. Sometimes a 400 foot digest print, maybe even in colour, might show up and we’d run these things over and over, marvelling in the unthinkably fantastic visions before us.

I was very fortunate in my first job straight out of high school in the mid seventies whereby I got to work for Columbia-Warner Film Distributors who, as luck would have it, distributed most of the Charles H.Schneer-Ray Harryhausen pictures. Being able to freely borrow as often as desired the16mm prints of all of the SINBAD films as well as other Harryhausen-Schneer Morningside productions was a dream come true…

…Read the Full Article @ Matte Shot…

Matte Shot – a tribute to Golden Era & Traditional Special Effects is a tribute to the artistry and ingenuity of traditional matte painters, this collection celebrates the hand‑crafted movie magic that once shaped cinema — from grand, epic vistas to invisible effects even seasoned viewers might miss. It’s designed for both casual fans and dedicated enthusiasts, offering a renewed appreciation for skills largely forgotten today. I’ve also reached deeper into the Matte Shot archives to bring even more of this remarkable work forward, and I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I do.