Ray Harryhausen’s Fantastical Land’s

Matte Shot – a tribute to Golden Era & Traditional Special Effects

I’ve been a lifelong enthusiast of Ray’s work and his films with, I guess, VALLEY OF GWANGI being my first exposure to the Harryhausen world on the big theatre screen on it’s initial release. Naturally, I was blown away by the entire ‘headtrip’ and admit to more than a few nightmares associated with the sights of chewed, bloodied cowboys and sundry citizens being shaken and spat out by the very frightening meat eater of the title. I was hooked! Very little in the way of stop motion and all out effects showcases were available at the time in the late 60’s. It would be years before any of those shows ever showed up on our single channel state broadcaster NZBC – with the elusive landmark picture KING KONG still several years away as a first run television ‘event’.

I vividly recall the thrill of seeing Saturday matinee double features with JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS, more often than not paired up with some utterly incompatible companion film such as Charles Bronson’s Mexican prison break actioner BREAKOUT (one of his best by the way). I also recall some years later seeing JASON again on an equally mismatched double bill (I think it was with Steve McQueen’s BULLITT that time!!), though this time being shocked at the state of the 35mm print, which had turned pink and was barely holding together with none too subtle splices, rendering bizarre jump cuts in dialogue and action, with characters suddenly vanishing out of frame with an ill timed ‘pop’ and important bits missing…

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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.