Ray Harryhausen-FILM AND VIDEO RELEASES

RAY HARRYHAUSEN VIDEO

RELEASES

See separate pages for Laserdisc and DVD releases.

SPECIAL VIDEO RELEASES:

OMAHA HONORS RAY HARRYHAUSEN: This two hour video document of an event from 1992 is a must have for Harryhausen fans. Click Here for more information on the event.

COMING SOON: The video documentary of the 65th Anniversary celebration of KING KONG in Omaha, Nebraska. Once again Bruce Crawford delivered a fantastic event which featured Ray Harryhausen, Ray Bradbury, Forry Ackerman and Greg Bear as guests of honor. A complete review of the event with images can be found here.

GENERAL VIDEO, LASER AND DVD RELEASES

With the recent release of ONE MILLION YEARS B.C., all of the Ray Harryhausen feature films have been released to the video market. The extremely difficult to find THE ANIMAL WORLD can be obtained through CINEMACABRE VIDEO, P.O. Box 10005, Baltimore, MD 21285. Cinemacbre also offers a featurette tape that contains the making of FIRST MEN IN THE MOON and GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD films. They also stock a heavy assortment of trailer tapes that would be the envy of any and all collectors. In their recent catalog I even came across Ray's MOTHER GOOSE STORIES.

MIGHTY JOE YOUNG: Mighty Joe Young is currently out-of-print. It's owned by Turner Entertainment and one can only imagine that there is a new print in the works. Perhaps a collector's edition with behind the scenes things, like their KING KONG set. With CLASH OF THE TITANS being a very popular item for Turner's TV stations, the interest in Ray Harryhausen should warrant it. Then again this could all be wishful thinking. If I find anything definite out, it will be posted here. The last release of MIGHTY JOE YOUNG offered the film in a restored print which contained a tinted sequence during the fire at the orphanage. It was also released in a horrible colorized version that turned this classic film into a cartoon. MIGHTY JOE YOUNG has been re-released on laserdisc, restoring the color tinted orphanage sequence.

THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS

Available through Warner Home Video. Nice remastering with a dolby encoded soundtrack to enhance your listening pleasure.
Description from video box: Deep in the Arctic Circle, a hardy band of scientists conducts an atom-bomb test. Their fearsome experiment disturbs the sleep of a giant rhedosaurus, encased in ice for over 100-million years and sends it southward on a rampage of death and destruction! The Beast From 20,0000 Fathoms is a film of firsts. It spawned a new era of atomic-age creature features, including Them! and Godzilla, King Of Monsters. It was the first screen adaptation of a work by fantasy fiction titan Ray Bradbury. And it marked the first time legendary Ray harryhausen (Jason And The Argonauts had total control over special effects. He came up with a fantastic creature that swims down from the Arctic to run amok through New York City before being conquered in a spectacular Coney Island sequence. But The excitement isn't all special effects. One sequence shows a real-life shark and giant octopus engaged in a death struggle. Who wins? Well, they both end up as dinner for The Beast From 20,0000 Fathoms.

IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA

Available through Columbia/TriStar and GoodTime video (in a crappy LP transfer). The Columbia/TriStar, while a decent transfer, has to have the worst video box art I've seen in a while (Pictured at left). I'd like to find the guy who wrote the movie description and ask him which movie he saw.
Description from the video box: The action is wet and wild in the sci-fi thriller that pits man-and woman-against a giant octopus. Submarine Commander Pete Matthews (Kenneth Tobey) and scientists Lesley Joyce (Faith Domergue) and John Carter (Donald Curtis) battle and angry sea monster driven from the depths by an H-bomb explosion. In search of non-contaminated food this tentacled tyrant counts among its victims a fishing trawler and its passengers, a family sunning at the beach, several San Francisco skyscrapers and even the Golden Gate Bridge! A daring attempts by the scientists to destroy the monster while saving themselves is a gripping finale to this aquatic adventure. The riveting special effects were created by Ray Harryhausen.

EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS

Available independently or as part of a 3-tape set (THE HARRYHAUSEN SCI-FI COLLECTION). This version has been remastered by Columbia Tristar (60669). I'm not sure about the individual tape, but the copy in the pack contains an interview with Ray Harryhausen.
Description from video box: Relive the exciting days of sci-fi movie matinees with cult classic EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS! Featuring extraordinary visual special effects by cinematic genius Ray Harryhausen, the film pits earthlings against alien humanoids in a violent battle for earth's survival! When the zombie-like aliens arrive at the U.S. army base in search of help for their dying planet, they try to make friendly contact with scientist Dr. Russ Marvin (Hugh Marlowe) and his recent bride, Carol (Joan Taylor). But the military greets their fleet of saucers with gunfire and the aliens are forced to retaliate. Can Marvin invent the ultimate weapon in a deadly game of beat-the-clock to save the human race? Hold on your seat for an intergalactic flight into fantasy with EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS.

THE ANIMAL WORLD:

Currently, THE ANIMAL WORLD is tied up in legalities that will probably never allow for a major release of the video. I have managed to track down an independent dealer who sells a copy from a 16mm film chain. This feature length film only features a sequence that runs about 10 minutes of footage from Harryhausen and O'Brien. While it may be for collector's, the animated segment is worth watching. For more information on getting your own copy of this title contact me.

20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH

Available independently or as part of THE HARRYHAUSEN SCI-FI COLLECTION three-pack. The video is transferred with a hi-fi soundtrack and has been digitally mastered.
Description from the video box: Dazzling special effects by ray Harryhausen highlight this thrilling sci-fi extravaganza about a Venusian monster who wreaks havoc in Italy. On its way home from venus, a U.S. army rocket ship crashes into the sea of Sicily leaving Colonel Calder (William Hopper of REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE) the sole survivor...or so it seems. A sealed container is also recovered from the wreck, and when a zoologist (THE MARK OF ZORRO's Frank Puglia) and his granddaughter (Joan Taylor) open it, the gelatinous mass inside escapes. Overnight, if grows into a horrific monster that has doubled in size. In desperation Calder calls in the Army to help fight the monster, which has taken refuge atop the Coliseum in rome. But it will take more than man's weapons to fight the evil forces of the unknown and save the world from destruction.

THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD

Released through COLUMBIA/TRISTAR HOME VIDEO. This latest edition has been remastered and released with HI-FI STEREO sound. Currently this video is available independently or as part of the boxed sets THE HARRYHAUSEN COLLECTION or THE SINBAD COLLECTION. The videos in the box sets contains exclusive interviews with Ray and behind the scenes materials from the film.
Description from the video cover: The legendary Sinbad's incredible adventures continue in the spectacular epic. Sinbad (Kerwin Matthews), bold sailor and prince of Baghdad, sets out for the mysterious island of Colossa where he obtains the egg of a roc-a fierce, giant bir. The egg will help restore to normal size the Princess Parisa (Kathryn Grant) who has been reduced to the size of a man's thumb by the evil magician, Sokurah (Torin Thatcher). On Colossa Parisa liberates the Genie of the magic lamp (Richard Eyer) and together, Sinbad, Parisa and the Genie battle a man-eating cyclops, a two-headed roc, a fire breathing dragon and a skeleton brought to life by Sokurah. All of these creatures must be defeated before Parisa can be restored. As always, the fantastic animated special effects by Ray Harryhausen are featured in the classic Sinbad adventure.

THE THREE WORLDS OF GULLIVER

Available independently or as part of THE HARRYHAUSEN SCI-FI COLLECTION. Like all the films in this series, it has been digitally remastered. It also contains an exclusive interview with Ray Harryhausen.
Description from video box: The spellbinding adventures of "Gulliver's Travels" is transformed into three-dimensional reality in this live-action adaptation of Jonathan Swift's beloved classic. Kerwin matthews stars as Gulliver, the swashbuckling doctor who sets sail for fame and fortune in the fabled East Indies, but finds adventure, romance and danger instead in "Brobdingnag" and "Lilliput," the infamous lands of the great and small. One of the most complicated films of its time, THE 3 WORLDS OF GULLIVER is both enchanting fantasy and a captivating visual treat. Because the storyline calls for scenes that juxtapose forty-foot giants with six-inch-tall people, special effects wizard Ray Harryhausen perfected a state-of-the-art trick photography process so innovative, they had to invent a new word for it: Superdynamation. The result is a technological tour-de-force that will stand forever as an extraordinary achievement in motion picture history. get ready to sail with Gulliver to imaginative new worlds in this timeless tale of adventure and suspense.

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND

Released by COLUMBIA/TRISTAR HOME VIDEO in a digitally mastered version in HI-FI STEREO sound. Mysterious Island is available separately or as part of THE HARRYHAUSEN COLLECTION box set. The box set edition features a exclusive interview with Ray Harryhausen and original storyboard drawings.
Description from the box: The fantastic Captain Nemo once again inspires the spirit of adventure in another Jules Verne Classic. Captain Cyrus Harding (Micheal Craig) leads three Union soldiers in a daring escape from a Confederate prison camp in a seized Confederate balloon. A raging storm forces the balloon over the ocean toward a Pacific island on which the group becomes marooned. Two ship-wrecked women share in the dangerous encounters the castaways have with a host of gigantic beats. Their fight for survival is aided by the mysterious Captain Nemo (Herbert Lom) of the submarine Nautilus, who, in an attempt to increase the world's food supply, helped create the strange animals. When A volcano erupts and threatens to destroy them, can Nemo save them.

JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS

Released by COLUMBIA/TRISTAR HOME VIDEO. Digitally Mastered in HI-FI sound. The video is available separately or as part of THE HARRYHAUSEN COLLECTION box set. The box set edition includes an exclusive interview with Ray Harryhausen and original conceptual drawings for the film.
Description from the box: Fantastic Special effects by Ray Harryhausen and exciting mythological adventure make this a film that is fun for everyone. It's the story of Jason (Todd Armstrong), a fearless sailor and explorer, who returns to the kingdom of Thessaly after a 20 year voyage to make his rightful claim to the throne. But to do so, Jason must find the magical Golden Fleece. He selects a crew and with the help of Hera, Queen of the Gods, sets sail in search of the Fleece. Jason and his crew must overcome incredible obstacles including a 100-foot bronze giant, the venomous Hydra-a huge creature with the heads of seven snakes-and a spectacular battle with an army of skeletons. Bernard Herrmann wrote the terrific score.

FIRST MEN IN THE MOON

Released by COLUMBIA/TRISTAR HOME VIDEO. Digitally Mastered in HI-FI sound.
Description from the box: H.G. Wells' fantastic account of life on the moon is brought to the screen by special effects master Ray harryhausen in this amazing sci-fi epic featuring unforgettable extraterrestrial creatures. The film begins with a team of United Nations astronauts planning an upcoming moon mission. The astronauts are both confused and intrigued by a man (Edward Judd) who claims he, his fiancee, and a scientist journeyed to the moon 65 years ago and were attacked by "Selenites," grotesque, human-like ant forms that live in immense crystal caverns. Now it's up to the U.N. team to attempt a lunar landing that could be more horrifying than ever believed possible. Directed by Nathan Juran ("Attack of the 50-foot Woman"), FIRST MEN IN THE MOON also stars Martha Hyer and Lionel Jeffries. The box description presented here is another reason why reviewers should have to watch a film before writing about it!!!!

ONE MILLION YEARS B.C.

Available on FOX VIDEO. This video is a transfer of the American release version. The letterboxed laserdisc print, also from FOX contains the original British Version.
Description from video box: In this vivid view of prehistoric life, a man from the mean-spirited Rock People (John Richardson) is banished from his home. He soon finds himself among the kind, gentle Shell People and falls on love with one of their loving tribeswomen (Raquel Welch). The twosome decide to face the world together, cut off from all tribal support, alone in a deadly world of hideous beasts and earth-shattering volcanic eruptions. The film's pioneering special effects have made it a true science-fiction classic.

THE VALLEY OF GWANGI
Available from WARNER HOME VIDEO.
Description from the box: Cowpokes head into a mysterious valley in Mexico to head 'em up and move 'em out. But they're not looking for doggies, they're looking for dinosaurs. James Franciscus stars in this thunderous adventure that features amazing special effects by legendary Ray Harryhausen. Franciscus plays a wide-West showman who leads his riding and roping crew into THE VALLEY OF GWANGI, where prehistoric giants till rule. The cowboys are determined to bring one back alive. Speaking of big ones, how about a pterodactyl...an allosaurus..an ornithomis...and more terrifying dinosaurs? Thanks to the wizardry of Ray Harryhausen and his technical team, these fantastic creatures lunge, fight and rampage in scene after spectacular scene (including an astonishing sequence where the cowboys rope Gwangi, a razor-toothed allosaurus). Saddle up and join in the excitement.

THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD

Released by COLUMBIA/TRISTAR HOME VIDEO in a digitally mastered version with HI-FI audio tracks. The Golden Voyage OF Sinbad is available individually or as part of the Ray Harryhausen signature collection THE SINBAD COLLECTION.
Description from the box: This is a spectacular adventure set in mysterious ancient lands inhabited by incredible creatures! Sinbad (John Phillip Law)-Prince of Baghdad and legendary sailor-finds an intriguing map and sets sail for the previously uncharted island of Lemuria with a beautiful slave girl, Margianna (Caroline Munro), and the Grand Vizier of the land of Marabia. Prince Koura (Tom Baker), an evil wizard who is trying to gain control of Marabia through his manipulation of malevolent spirits, follows in an effort to thwart Sinbad's quest. Sinbad reaches Lemuria in spite of an enchantment Koura casts upon the giant figurehead of Sinbad's ship which brings it to life. On Lemuria, Sinbad and his stalwart Crew encounter a six-armed sword-brandishing statue, a one-eyed centaur and a griffin. Finally, Sinbad confronts Koura in a face-to-face duel to the death!

SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER

Released by COLUMBIA/TRISTAR HOME VIDEO in a digitally mastered version with HI-FI audio tracks.Sinbad And The Eye Of The Tiger is available individually or as part of the Ray Harryhausen signature set THE SINBAD COLLECTION.
Description from the box: Sinbad (Patrick Wayne), daring sailor and Prince of Baghdad, sets sail towards Charnak seeking permission from Prince Kassim to wed his sister, Farah (Jane Seymour). But Sinbad discovers that Kassim has been put under a spell by their fiendish stepmother, Zenobia (Margaret Whiting). To break the wicked spell, Sinbad must set forth on a journey unlike any ever travelled. Awaiting him on this perilous voyage is an assortment of beasts beyond one's wildest imagination. Among the creatures encountered are the Minaton, a bronze colossus; a giant troglodyte; a sabre-toothed tiger; and an almost human baboon that turns out to be the spell-bound Prince. The incredible, animated special effects by Ray Harryhausen will keep you spell-bound as you sail with this Sinbad classic.

CLASH OF THE TITANS

Available from MGM/UA home video.
Description for the box: A spectacular screen entertainment based on centuries-old Greek and Nordic legends. CLASH OF TEH TITANS depicts the heroic adventures of Perseus (Harry Hamlin) as he battles magic and monsters - and even ancient gods - to rescue beautiful Andromeda (Judi Bowker) from a primeval sea horror. Because he is the son of the great god Zeus (Laurence Olivier), Perseus unknowingly is involved in the bawdy bickerings and angry conflicts of the gods themselves - they look down from Mount Olympus and separately decide that the very human love of Perseus and Andromeda is something to help...or to smash. Sword-wielding Perseus has some magic of his own: a winged horse, a helmet that makes him invisible and an owl of uncommon talent. And, inevitably, Perseus has Andromeda. With a cast that includes Burgess Meredith, Maggie Smith, Claire Bloom and Ursula Andress, CLASH OF THE TITANS is true movie magic!

THE HARRYHAUSEN COLLECTION

A special collectors pack of three videos including THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD, MYSTERIOUS ISLAND and JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS. Each tape includes exclusive featurettes on the films.

THE SINBAD COLLECTION

Collector's pack containing all three of the Harryhausen sinbad films, THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD, THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD and SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER. THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD includes the same footage featured in THE HARRYHAUSEN COLLECTION.

THE HARRYHAUSEN SCI-FI COLLECTION

Special collector's edition contain THE EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS, 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH and THE THREE WORLDS OF GULLIVER. The tapes in this set include interviews with Ray Harryhausen.

ALIENS, DRAGONS, MONSTERS AND ME:

OTHER HARRYHAUSEN RELATED VIDEOS