Sinbad and the Eyes of the Tiger is the third and final trilogy of Sinbad films that stop-motion maestro Ray Harryhausen made for Columbia, the others being The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) and The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973). It was not a commercial success apparently but I have fond memories of watching it in my youth, either on a rainy weekend or some national holiday or half-term. Of the three Sinbad movies created by Harryhausen and director Charles H. Schneer, this movie is the one I remember the most because of the iconic bronze minotaur creature but was my fondness well placed or was it sepia-tinted memories of a poor film? To answer this, on a typically rainy Easter half-term afternoon, I decided to watch it again and see- thus completing my journey of the three Sinbad films.
The story is quite simple, as it has been in each time; A sorceress (and evil stepmum) wants her son to ascend to the throne and so curses the actual prince of the land, turning him into a baboon. Along the way, she tried to kill Sinbad and his crew to prevent them from helping the prince but he prevails. He also learns of a way to transform the prince back in order to repay a favour and make himself a hero worthy of the princess. He travels to an island to seek advice from a wise man, Melanthius, who might be able to turn the prince back but they need to travel to the icy north. Will the plan work though?
Patrick Wayne plays Sinbad but, whilst he certainly looks impressive with his groomed beardline, curly hair and gold earring, his acting it a bit wooden and lacks charisma, a major flaw when you are the main protagonist who is known to be dashing, swashbuckling and daring. Jane Seymour is Princess Farah and does okay with what she is given, speaking earnestly and with a slight accent to make herself suitably 'Arabian'. Margaret Whiting chews the scenery as the evil sorceress Zenobia and is effective in a Mighty Morphin Rita Repulsa kind of way. Meanwhile, Patrick Troughton's Melanthius plays the old wise man well but makes ridiculous choices like giving a hornet a potion that makes it grow larger and it then proceeds to attack him: not so wise then…
There is earnestness in the acting but the plotting is wonky at best and the special effects are not as effective as they were in the earlier film. Harryhausen is still a master but the imagination isn't flowing fully here, sure the Minoton bronze minotaur is impressive looking (and is pretty much a glorified rower) but Talos in Jason and the Argonauts was better (and done earlier). The other fantastical creatures such as the gryphon and cyclops from the earlier Sinbad films are lacking here, being replied by a huge walrus and hornet, hardly the special effects showcase we'd come to know and love from the myths and legends of the Arabian Nights. However, the final battle between the smilodon and troglodyte is well staged and suitably dramatic but is too little to late to save this film from mediocrity- a sin with a world as ripe for interpretation as Sinbad.
That said, the matte art is impressive and the location shooting in Petra, Jordan and some Balearic isles makes it a pretty journey. The costumes are great too and the soundtrack and sound effects suitable for this type of movie.
Taking the movie as a whole, it is simple daft fun; it is still worth a watch but it does lack the heart and, dare I say, fun and creativity shown in the earlier Sinbad films.
Out if the three, I'd say this was the worst of the bunch but it isn't bad per se, just underwhelming.
LINK- The Golden Voyage of Sinbad- Cult Movie Review
LINK- The 7th Voyage of Sinbad- Cult Movie Review
LINK- Into the Unknown Exhibition Shines Bright at the Barbican
LINK- Ray Harryhausen: Titan of Cinema Virtual Exhibition Experience- Review
LINK- Children of the Stones: Cult TV Series Review
LINK- Tom’s Midnight Garden: Cult TV Review