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Despite the presence of DC and Marvel Comics growing up, there was an "independent" super-hero that I'd regularly rewatch on home cassette. Tales of Sinbad the Sailor preceded his addition to the popular One Thousand and One Nights collection of Middle Eastern folktales, also known as the Arabian Nights with first English language edition in 1706. Over 200 years later, my main introduction to Sinbad was through a trio of classic Ray Harryhausen films.

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) starred Kerwin Mathews as the legendary mariner engaged to a shrunken princess while contending with an evil wizard, cyclopes, dragon, and justifiably pissed-off roc. This film remains a real treat thanks in no small part to Harryhausen's imaginative creatures and his ability to animate them, not just with weighty action scenes but also their sympathetic portrayals.

I was half-tempted to substitute Lou Ferrigno's "Sinbad on steroids" (Sinbad of the Seven Seas (1989)) because I'd seen so little of The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973) starring John Phillip Law. We just didn't have that cassette available for viewing growing up the way we did for the 1st and 3rd Harryhausen films. If we did, I'd possibly have recognized John Law from Death Rides a Horse (1967) and the evil magician played by the fourth Doctor himself, Tom Baker. And I certainly wouldn't have forgotten the ultra-hot and barely contained Caroline Munro (Starcrash (1978))!

Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977) starred Patrick Wayne and I must admit to not recognizing him from the supporting role he played in many a Western, sometimes opposite father John Wayne. Not Caroline Munro-hot but still hot, Jane Seymour played Sinbad's leading lady as he contended with another memorable assortment of Harryhausen creatures as well as a female magician for the big bad.

Description

Despite the presence of DC and Marvel Comics growing up, there was an "independent" super-hero that I'd regularly rewatch on home cassette. Tales of Sinbad the Sailor preceded his addition to the popular One Thousand and One Nights collection of Middle Eastern folktales, also known as the Arabian Nights with first English language edition in 1706. Over 200 years later, my main introduction to Sinbad was through a trio of classic Ray Harryhausen films.

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) starred Kerwin Mathews as the legendary mariner engaged to a shrunken princess while contending with an evil wizard, cyclopes, dragon, and justifiably pissed-off roc. This film remains a real treat thanks in no small part to Harryhausen's imaginative creatures and his ability to animate them, not just with weighty action scenes but also their sympathetic portrayals.

I was half-tempted to substitute Lou Ferrigno's "Sinbad on steroids" (Sinbad of the Seven Seas (1989)) because I'd seen so little of The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973) starring John Phillip Law. We just didn't have that cassette available for viewing growing up the way we did for the 1st and 3rd Harryhausen films. If we did, I'd possibly have recognized John Law from Death Rides a Horse (1967) and the evil magician played by the fourth Doctor himself, Tom Baker. And I certainly wouldn't have forgotten the ultra-hot and barely contained Caroline Munro (Starcrash (1978))!

Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977) starred Patrick Wayne and I must admit to not recognizing him from the supporting role he played in many a Western, sometimes opposite father John Wayne. Not Caroline Munro-hot but still hot, Jane Seymour played Sinbad's leading lady as he contended with another memorable assortment of Harryhausen creatures as well as a female magician for the big bad.