What it’s about
To break a spell thats reduced his beloved Princess Parisa (Grant) to a fraction of her normal size, Sinbad (Matthews) must venture to the island of Colossus and steal an egg from a huge prehistoric bird. Worse yet, the same island is inhabited by a fierce giant Cyclops, who (not surprisingly) does not welcome visitors. Will Sinbad succeed in this daunting quest and bring his lady back to her normal proportions?
Why we love it
This first and best of the Sinbad movies remains a showcase for the unique special effects “dynamation” of the late Ray Harryhausen, a pioneer in his field. His groundbreaking work (who can forget that Cyclops?), combined with solid storytelling, provides an ideal feature for kids over six that parents will also appreciate. Also, the great Bernard Herrmann turns in an atmospheric music score. (Trivia note: Kathryn Grant, who plays the princess, was at the time newly married to Bing Crosby. Soon she’d quit the screen to give him a second family!)