The 7th Voyage of Sinbad: The Rip-Roaring Adventure Classic Makes Its 4K Debut (4K/Blu-ray)

The Film:

Over the course of nearly 80 years, there have been several dozen films dedicated to the popular adventurer Sinbad the Sailor, as originally featured in "One Thousand and One Nights," but it's probably more than fair to say that none have been quite as popular as the trilogy of pictures from Columbia that featured the incredible stop motion animation ("Dynamation") of the great Ray Harryhausen.

The first of these films, "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad," is considered one of the very best outings of the character, one that was such a success and has earned such a reputation that it was even inducted into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2008. To celebrate the film, which is quickly coming up on its 70th anniversary, Sony is giving the film a tremendous 4K upgrade and packing it with bonus features, so now it's time to revisit this rousing adventure to see why it's been deemed such a classic.

The film begins with Sinbad (Kerwin Mathews) and his crew landing on the island of Colossa, where they meet a magician named Sokurah (Torin Thatcher) as he's attempting to get away from a cyclops. Sokurah is able to use the power of a genie inside a magic lamp to help all of them get away, but he loses the lamp to the cyclops as they do. He pleads with Sinbad to return to the island, but is refused due to Sinbad's bride to-be, Princess Parisa (Kathryn Grant), being on board.

When they return to Baghdad, Sokurah shows off his magic skills and makes a dark prediction about the city's future, which gets him exiled. However, after he secretly shrinks the Princess, he is able to convince Sinbad to return to Colossa so that he can cure her. And so, after rounding up a crew, which consists of several prisoners, they set sail back to the dangerous island of monsters.

"The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" is one of those adventure films that may seem somewhat familiar to many viewers who haven't seen it before. After all, it contains many of the same elements that we've seen in other films of this type before and after, including a magic lamp, a genie, a cyclops, a dragon, and fighting skeletons, but even with so much familiarity, screenwriter Kenneth Kolb and director Nathan Juran are able to blend them all together quite skillfully to deliver a fun, exciting, and thoroughly-amusing adventure.

Of course, the story itself, while not particularly deep or complex, is a large part of why it's so successful in pulling the audience into its thrilling exploits, but for most, it's likely that the most memorable parts of the entire endeavor are the unforgettable special effects from the legendary Ray Harryhausen, who would go on to do such classics as "Jason and the Argonauts" and "Clash of the Titans." Here he gives us the aforementioned creatures that include a deadly cyclops, a guardian dragon, and a sword-wielding skeleton (a favorite staple of his), all of which add to the wild thrills of the film's adventurous tale, while also helping to overcome its more standard elements.

Overall, "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" is simply a wonderful dose of nostalgia, one that takes us back to the practical days of filmmaking where stop motion animation gave us epic battles with monsters that kept audiences quite entertained. Sure, it may have a certain amount of familiar aspects to it, but that hardly stops it from being the charming & delightful outing that it aims to be, so whether you've seen it before or are new to the tale, it's easy to say that it's a voyage still well-worth taking even after nearly 70 years.

Video/Audio:

"The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" comes to 4K in a 1.66:1, 2160p Ultra High Definition transfer of marvelous quality. The film has been beautifully restored, giving it a sharp & crisp picture throughout its entire 88-minute duration, which perfectly highlights the incredible special effects & designs. Likewise, the 5.1 DTS-HD MA track is outstanding, giving you all of the dialogue, sound effects, and Bernard Herrmann's score in excellent quality. Overall, Sony has done a fantastic job in both departments for the film's 4K debut.

Special Features:

The Harryhausen Chronicles (58 Minutes): A look at the incredible special effects of the legendary Ray Harryhausen.

Commentary with Ray Harryhausen, Visual Effects Experts Phil Tippet and Randall William Cook, Author Steven Smith, and Arnold Kunert

Remembering the 7th Voyage of Sinbad (24 Minutes): A look back at the adventure classic.

The Harryhausen Legacy (26 Minutes): Another featurette that focuses on the work of Ray Harryhausen.

The Music of Bernard Herrmann (27 Minutes): A featurette that explores the collaboration between Harryhausen and the iconic composer.

"Sinbad May Have Been Bad, but He's Been Good to Me" Music Video (3 Minutes): A song written for the film's advertising campaign.

A Look Behind the Voyage (12 Minutes): A behind the scenes look at the film that once again focuses on Harryhausen.

This is Dynamation (Special Effects) (3 Minutes): A promo for the film's special effects.

Ray Harryhausen Interviewed by Director John Landis (12 Minutes)

Conclusion:

"The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" may feature several familiar elements that we've seen in many films of its kind, but that hardly stops it from being a fun, exciting, and thoroughly-amusing adventure that thrills the audience with its wild tale and stop motion animation from the legendary Ray Harryhausen. With the film making its 4K debut in a marvelous new transfer, it's a voyage well-worth revisiting or taking for the very first time.

Score: 3.5/5

Available on 4K/Blu-ray starting tomorrow.

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