Cinematic Contribution

Technological advancements soon meant that more people had televisions in their homes. This relatively new and affordable mode of entertainment forced movie makers to come up with ways to make their films more exciting so that people would pay to attend the theater. Harryhausen helped solve this problem with Dynamation, bringing thrilling images to the silver screen.

James S. Thomas and his family watch television in the living room of their home in Vienna, Virginia, ca. 1950, National Archives

People watching a movie, ca. 1940s, The New York Times

Harryhausen left his audiences wondering ‘what the heck just happened?’ so much that it seemed like magic! People would flock to Harryhausen’s films just because they saw his name in the credits or on movie posters.

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad movie poster, 1958, Columbia Pictures

"Any kid who grew up in the 50s, 60s, or 70s that even had a passing interest in movie dinosaurs or fantasy films, worships this man. In the history of movies, Harryhausen was the first superstar technician. When you went to one of his films you didn't care who the director was. You didn't care who the actors were, or even what the movie was about. All you knew was that you were going to witness some visual wonder. You were going to be transported into a magical place."
~ Cinema Scholars

“In 1974, my friend Kenny Ames and I went to a theater and saw The Golden Voyage of Sinbad. Two Now‘N Later [sic]-chomping seven-year-olds, we weren’t there to see the performances of the human actors… We were there to be awed by the onslaught of fantastic creatures: an evil wizard’s flying reptilian spy; a giant six-armed statue of Kali coming to life; the climactic battle between a griffin and a cyclopean centaur. We rushed home and made drawings of them on paper plates while the memories of their hideous screeches and menacing, writhing forms were still fresh."
~ Chris Elliot (People's World)

"His impact is pretty astronomical. There was really nothing else showing in the movie theaters at that time that had the imagination, or the locations, or the fantasies that Ray's films had."
~ Dennis Muren (Star Wars)

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad movie poster, 1973, Columbia Pictures

Harryhausen acknowledged the end of his career and accepted the use of more contemporary methods, but admitted he never would have created his masterpieces using CGI.

"Clash was destined to be my last picture, and looking back, the decision to end my career at that point was absolutely right... I was losing precious control of solo animation, I was forced to concede that it was time to stand aside for others and their new technology to take over. The industry was on the threshold of revolutionary changes, all of which I would have been unhappy with. CGI is a wonderful tool that continues to fascinate me, but I know deep down, it would never have suited me."
~ Ray Harryhausen (Ray Harryhausen: An Animated Life 280)

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