Ray Harryhausen Gift Set

Although his pioneering special-effects work seems quaint in today's era of hyper-realistic computer-generated imagery, Ray Harryhausen remains legendary among Hollywood filmmakers for the extraordinary passion and perfectionism he brought to many critically and commercially successful movies. Harryhausen, a disciple of King Kong effects wizard Willis O'Brien, specialized in stop-motion animation, the laborious process by which miniature models were animated by moving them ever so slightly and shooting each new position one frame at a time. Costly and time-consuming, stop-motion work was nevertheless impressive when done properly (with realistically crafted models and the animator's infinite patience), and nobody topped Harryhausen. This three-disc set collects a trio of his best-remembered films from the 1950s. It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955), the first collaboration of Harryhausen and longtime producing partner Charles H. Schneer, stars The Thing's Kenneth Tobey in the spine-tingling tale of a giant octopus that emerges from the Pacific Ocean to wreak havoc on San Francisco. Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956), a particular favorite of Harryhausen fans, chronicles an invasion by aliens who target Washington, D.C., and lay waste to our most beloved national landmarks before being defeated. 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957) boasts some of the master's most impressive stop-motion effects; its spectacular climax unfolds in Rome's Colosseum, where a giant monster from Venus makes his last stand against puny Earthling soldiers (including Perry Mason's William Hopper). Each film boasts a fine transfer and includes the same extras—the excellent hour-long documentary The Harryhausen Chronicles and the featurette “This Is Dynamation”—with a bonus “making-of” featurette on Earth vs. the Flying Saucers and a 46-page collectible scrapbook. Recommended. (E. Hulse)