What
more could a kid want from a Saturday movie matinee than cowboys and
dinosaurs? Well, that minor Ray Harryhausen classic, THE VALLEY OF
GWANGI ($20), delivers them both in a rootin’ tootin’ shootin’
good time! THE VALLEY OF GWANGI started out as a project that stop
motion effects master Willis O'Brien had hoped to produce, but ultimately
abandoned. Decades later, Ray Harryhausen decided to tackle his former
mentor’s discarded project, whose story structure has some marked
similarities to KING KONG (for which O'Brien had provided the
special effects). However, other than its similarities to KING KONG,
the screenplay for THE VALLEY OF GWANGI is a bit juvenile and
features the kind of cardboard stock characters that truly make Ray
Harryhausen’s stop motion special effects the real star of the movie. Of
course, if you love the notion of cowboys and dinosaurs sharing the
screen, you aren’t likely to notices the screenplay’s shortcomings!
Set
in circa 1900 Mexico, THE VALLEY OF GWANGI tells the story of a
mildly rundown Wild West Show looking for a new star attraction. At first,
that star attraction comes in the form of a recently discovered miniature
horse, which captures the attention of the self-promoting Tuck Kirby
(James Franciscus), as well as that of paleontologist Prof. Horace Bromley
(Laurence Naismith), who insists that this marvelous scientific find
should have been extinct for millions of years. However, the local gypsies
believe that the tiny horse comes from a cursed forbidden valley, so they
steal the animal as to return it to its home. Of course, the gypsies lead
the scientist and the cowboys right to the forbidden valley, where they
discover dinosaurs and other prehistoric forms of life. As one might
suspect, the cowboys capture one of the dinosaurs, which they make into
the featured attraction of the Wild West Show. Anyone who has seen KING
KONG can almost guess what happens next. The cast of THE VALLEY OF
GWANGI also includes Richard Carlson, Gila Golan and Freda Jackson.
Warner
Home Video has made THE VALLEY OF GWANGI available on DVD in a
1.78:1 wide screen presentation that features the anamorphic enhancement
for 16:9 displays. Considering its age and relatively low budget origins, THE
VALLEY OF GWANGI looks pretty darn good on DVD. The image is usually
sharp and nicely defined. There is some softness in the optical
composites, but otherwise the picture holds its own. Colors are pretty
vivid, but again, the opticals do create some shifts in the hues. Blacks
appear accurate, whites are stable and contrast is good. The film element
used for the transfer has its share of age related blemishes and a bit of
a grain structure, but neither is objectionable. Digital compression
artifacts are always well concealed. The Dolby Digital monaural soundtrack
is pretty much free from background hiss, as well as noise or distortion.
Dialogue is always understandable and the music sounds fine. A French
language track is also provided, as are English, Spanish, and French
subtitles.
Music
underscores the basic interactive menus, which allow one access to the
standard scene selection and set up features, as well as a few nice
supplements. Return To The Valley is an excellent
eight-minute program that features Ray Harryhausen talking about the
production. The program also offers interviews with current day special
effects wizards that talk about the Harryhausen influence and their
appreciation of THE VALLEY OF GWANGI. Also included is a theatrical
trailer, as well as trailers for THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS and THE
BLACK SCORPION.
THE
VALLEY OF GWANGI provides plenty of Saturday matinee movie fun, as
well as some great Ray Harryhausen special effects. Warner has done a good
job with the DVD, providing a fine looking widescreen transfer and
thoughtful supplements. If you are a Harryhausen fan, then picking up THE
VALLEY OF GWANGI is pretty much a no-brainer.
What
more could a kid want from a Saturday movie matinee than cowboys and
dinosaurs? Well, that minor Ray Harryhausen classic, THE VALLEY OF
GWANGI ($20), delivers them both in a rootin’ tootin’ shootin’
good time! THE VALLEY OF GWANGI started out as a project that stop
motion effects master Willis O'Brien had hoped to produce, but ultimately
abandoned. Decades later, Ray Harryhausen decided to tackle his former
mentor’s discarded project, whose story structure has some marked
similarities to KING KONG (for which O'Brien had provided the
special effects). However, other than its similarities to KING KONG,
the screenplay for THE VALLEY OF GWANGI is a bit juvenile and
features the kind of cardboard stock characters that truly make Ray
Harryhausen’s stop motion special effects the real star of the movie. Of
course, if you love the notion of cowboys and dinosaurs sharing the
screen, you aren’t likely to notices the screenplay’s shortcomings!
Set
in circa 1900 Mexico, THE VALLEY OF GWANGI tells the story of a
mildly rundown Wild West Show looking for a new star attraction. At first,
that star attraction comes in the form of a recently discovered miniature
horse, which captures the attention of the self-promoting Tuck Kirby
(James Franciscus), as well as that of paleontologist Prof. Horace Bromley
(Laurence Naismith), who insists that this marvelous scientific find
should have been extinct for millions of years. However, the local gypsies
believe that the tiny horse comes from a cursed forbidden valley, so they
steal the animal as to return it to its home. Of course, the gypsies lead
the scientist and the cowboys right to the forbidden valley, where they
discover dinosaurs and other prehistoric forms of life. As one might
suspect, the cowboys capture one of the dinosaurs, which they make into
the featured attraction of the Wild West Show. Anyone who has seen KING
KONG can almost guess what happens next. The cast of THE VALLEY OF
GWANGI also includes Richard Carlson, Gila Golan and Freda Jackson.
Warner
Home Video has made THE VALLEY OF GWANGI available on DVD in a
1.78:1 wide screen presentation that features the anamorphic enhancement
for 16:9 displays. Considering its age and relatively low budget origins, THE
VALLEY OF GWANGI looks pretty darn good on DVD. The image is usually
sharp and nicely defined. There is some softness in the optical
composites, but otherwise the picture holds its own. Colors are pretty
vivid, but again, the opticals do create some shifts in the hues. Blacks
appear accurate, whites are stable and contrast is good. The film element
used for the transfer has its share of age related blemishes and a bit of
a grain structure, but neither is objectionable. Digital compression
artifacts are always well concealed. The Dolby Digital monaural soundtrack
is pretty much free from background hiss, as well as noise or distortion.
Dialogue is always understandable and the music sounds fine. A French
language track is also provided, as are English, Spanish, and French
subtitles.
Music
underscores the basic interactive menus, which allow one access to the
standard scene selection and set up features, as well as a few nice
supplements. Return To The Valley is an excellent
eight-minute program that features Ray Harryhausen talking about the
production. The program also offers interviews with current day special
effects wizards that talk about the Harryhausen influence and their
appreciation of THE VALLEY OF GWANGI. Also included is a theatrical
trailer, as well as trailers for THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS and THE
BLACK SCORPION.
THE
VALLEY OF GWANGI provides plenty of Saturday matinee movie fun, as
well as some great Ray Harryhausen special effects. Warner has done a good
job with the DVD, providing a fine looking widescreen transfer and
thoughtful supplements. If you are a Harryhausen fan, then picking up THE
VALLEY OF GWANGI is pretty much a no-brainer.
