Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977)
Return to Index
Villian(s)
Minotaur, giant walrus, sabre-toothed tiger
Actor(s):
Patrick Wayne, Taryn Power, Margaret Whiting, Jane Seymour
Brief Description
Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977) is a classic fantasy adventure film directed by Sam Wanamaker and featuring the iconic stop-motion "Dynamation" visual effects of filmmaking legend Ray Harryhausen. It serves as the third and final installment in Columbia Pictures' legendary Sinbad trilogy, following The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) and The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973).
Plot:
The story follows the daring sailor and Prince of Baghdad, Sinbad (played by Patrick Wayne), who arrives in the city of Charak to seek permission to marry Princess Farah (Jane Seymour). Upon arrival, he discovers that Farah's brother, Prince Kassim, has been transformed into a baboon by their wicked stepmother, the witch Queen Zenobia (Margaret Whiting). Zenobia did this to pave the way for her own son, Rafi, to be crowned Caliph. Princess Farah refuses to wed Sinbad until her brother is restored. To break the curse, Sinbad, his crew, and the princess must embark on a perilous voyage to find the ancient Greek sage Melanthius. Guided by Melanthius, they travel to the frozen arctic realm of Hyperborea to find the Shrine of the Four Elements, whose magic power is the only thing that can turn Kassim back into a human.
The film is celebrated for its dense showcase of Harryhausen's stop-motion animation creatures, which include: The Minoton: A menacing bronze minotaur golem with a clockwork heart built by Zenobia. Kassim the Baboon: A highly expressive, human-like animated primate. Trog (Troglodyte): A giant, primitive, one-horned caveman who befriends the crew in Hyperborea. A Giant Walrus: A massive arctic beast encountered on the way to the shrine. The Sabre-Toothed Tiger: A fierce prehistoric guardian encountered in the film's climax.