4K Ultra HD Critique – The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)

      The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, 1958.

      Directed by Nathan Juran.

      Starring Kerwin Mathews, Kathryn Grant, Richard Eyer, and Torin Thatcher.

      SYNOPSIS:

      The 7th Voyage of Sinbad makes its 4K Ultra HD debut, thanks to Warner Archive. While the film is merely passable, it is worth viewing to appreciate the effects work done by Ray Harryhausen, a pioneering stop-motion animator who succeeded Willis O’Brien (from King Kong and other films) and created a remarkable body of work throughout his career. The movie has been restored and includes several new bonus features, as well as a Blu-ray disc (the same one released in 2008) and a code for a digital copy.

      Warner Archive likely wouldn't be releasing The 7th Voyage of Sinbad in 4K Ultra HD if it weren't for its association with Ray Harryhausen. Directed by Nathan Juran, the film tells a charming story of Sinbad’s (Kerwin Mathews) quest to obtain the shell of the legendary bird, the Roc, so that the magician Sokurah (Torin Thatcher) can make a potion to restore the princess Parisa (Kathryn Grant) to her original size.

      Sokurah is the one who shrank Parisa, frustrated that Sinbad refused to return to Colossa Island to help him reclaim a lost magic lamp. Sinbad and his crew remain wary of Sokurah, but I don't recall anyone directly linking him to Parisa’s sudden reduction in size.

      Leaving aside plot inconsistencies, this film is primarily a showcase for the creative magic of Ray Harryhausen, who animated the Roc, cyclops, dragon, skeleton warrior, and other creatures using stop-motion, which was the only feasible method of achieving such effects before the advent of CGI. This was his first full-color project and also the debut of his "Dynamation" technique.

      Warner has done an admirable job restoring the film, though at times the grain is quite noticeable, and many scenes with combined optical effects appear somewhat soft. It’s unclear if any further enhancements could have been made with the existing elements or if additional funding could have improved the quality. If such improvements were feasible, it’s understandable why the budget was tightly controlled.

      The package comes with a Blu-ray disc that mirrors the one issued by Sony in 2008, along with a code for digital access. The 4K disc includes the trailer from the movie’s theatrical re-release and The Harryhausen Chronicles, a nearly one-hour TV special from 1998 narrated by Leonard Nimoy, featuring George Lucas, Tom Hanks, Ray Bradbury, and others celebrating the achievements of the stop-motion animation innovator.

      Special features on the Blu-ray disc start with an archival commentary track featuring Harryhausen, renowned stop-motion effects artist Phil Tippett, and others, including author Steven Smith, who provides historical context. The additional extras on the disc consist of:

      • Remembering the 7th Voyage of Sinbad (23:31): Harryhausen shares his reflections on the film's production, reiterating some points from the commentary but offering plenty of new insights as well.

      • The Harryhausen Legacy (25:32): Tippett returns, joined by fellow effects legends Ken Ralston, John Dykstra, Dennis Muren, directors Joe Dante and Frank Darabont, and others to pay tribute to Harryhausen.

      • The Music of Bernard Herrmann (26:52): Steven Smith, who has authored a biography of the esteemed composer, reminisces about Herrmann’s significant contributions to the film industry over the years.

      • A Look Behind the Voyage (11:47): Additional information about Harryhausen’s career.

      • This is Dynamation (Special Effects) (3:25): A brief look at the film's special effects.

      • Ray Harryhausen – Interviewed by John Landis (11:52): As indicated by the title.

      The package also features a photo gallery and the music video for “Sinbad May Have Been Bad, But He’s Been Good To Me,” which was created to promote the film.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Brad Cook