Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977)
Directed by Sam Wanamaker

Film Review

Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger was the third and last of three Sinbad films that effects expert Ray Harryhausen made for Columbia Pictures, and it is generally considered the weakest of the three.  In comparison with The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) and The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1974), both excellent offerings in the fantasy-adventure genre, this third Sinbad film is hampered by a lacklustre script and some poor production values.  Sam Wanamaker's direction is hopelessly pedestrian in all but a few well-staged action sequences and the performances are generally weak.  Poorly paced and lacking the visual flair of the previous Sinbad films, this mediocre offering would be easy to overlook were it not for its one magical ingredient: Harryhausen's extraordinary stop motion animation.

Even though most of the monstrosities that Harryhausen created for this film are based on creatures that exist or once existed in our world, they are still pretty impressive.  Among the marvellous creations that escaped from the effects guru's studio this time are a gigantic killer walrus, an overgrown (and inexplicably cute) troglodyte and a savage, flesh-ripping sabre-toothed tiger.  Whilst many of the special effects in the film are poor for this era (the travelling matte shots are laughably bad), Harryhausen's animation wizardy never fails to hit the spot.  The climactic confrontation between the troglodyte and the prehistoric tiger is one of Harryhausen's great achievements, although you wonder how he managed to get such a gory spectacle past the censor.

Not for the first time, Ray Harryhausen's stop motion creations prove to be far more convincing than the actors.  The performances range from the blasé and apathetic (Patrick Wayne and Jane Seymour) to the absurdly over the top (Margaret Whiting); only Patrick Troughton manages to strike the right balance between wild eccentricity and deadly seriousness.  This is Troughton's second (and best) Harryhausen outing - previously he had featured in Jason and the Argonauts (1963), suffering from an extremely bad case of harpies. 

The release date for Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger was particularly unfortunate - the film came out just after Star Wars (1977), the film that revolutionised the fantasy genre.  Compared with this exciting, effects-packed extravaganza, the plodding Sinbad film could only looked tired and dated, a doddering old dinosaur hobbling about on crutches.  Was this the end for Ray Harryhausen?  No, certainly not.  He would bounce back and redeem himself in style with his next fantasy epic, the magnificent Clash of the Titans (1981).

Film Synopsis

Sinbad, Prince of Baghdad, sails to Charnak, to seek the hand in marriage of the Princess Farah.  On his arrival, he learns that Farah's brother, the Prince Kassim, has been transformed into a baboon by their evil stepmother, the witch Zenobia.  The only man who is capable of restoring the prince to his former self is the Greek alchemist Melanthius, but he lives far away and time is short.  After a perilous sea journey, Sinbad and his party land on an island where they soon find Melanthius, who is more than willing to help them.  The only thing that can restore Kassim is a power source in an ancient shrine buried in the icy wastes of a distant land.  Without delay, Sinbad sets off to brave terrible hazards and battle fantastic monsters, unaware that the wicked Zenobia is close behind him...