As an animator myself I've been a fan of Jim's work since I was a kid. When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth is a masterpiece. I watched the super-8mm reels bought from the back of Famous Monsters over and over. I was thrilled to chat with Jim on a couple of occasions. What a masterful artist and master of the craft.
In the 1966 Columbia remake of The Ten Commandments, the standard logo of Columbia was stylized into Moses holding the tablets in one hand and the staff in the other hand with the same gesture as the Columbia woman holding a torch.. ( The 1956 Paramount original had the Paramount logo stylized as Mount Sinai)
He painted Jack frame by frame on pieces of glass. He and Phil Kellison came up with what they called, “The animated glass shot.” It was also used where Jack knocks the sand bucket into the giant’s eyes. Painted on glass frame by frame during the stop-motion. Must’ve taken forever.
Jim Danforth was also a Boss in stop-motion, I was amazed with his work in "When Dinosaurs…", this movie clip confort my opinion, his talents are great and various. I saw the wonderfull illustrations he painted and even glass matte paintings!
Both Willis Obrian and Ray Harryhausen's stop motion creatures seem to have one foot in reality and the other in fantasy on the screen. Both men's subjects appear very warm and alive, While displaying a great deal of peronality. Creatures made by Computer graphics lack the warmth & personality of Ray H. & Willis O. creatures. Todays subjects/creatures made by computer are not limited to the laws of gravity. So this will usually have a negative effect on the operators self discipline which will effect the outcome of the film.
The Kraken looks better then the cutesy gumby looking creature they went with in the final version of the film. Plus Delgado's best days were behind him at this point. Could you imagine if Harryhausen had built and animated the creatures?
This, for me too, was a special film...because it told a special story -- philosophical as it was frightening, poignant as it was thrilling. I saw it when it first came out, as a seven-year-old (whuh?!), and its ending haunts me to this day
One can never get enough about the Great Ray Harryhausen: single-handedly did the fantastic and magnificently dramatic creations for decades of wondrous productions. Only him. One man! One incredibly brilliant, charming, humble man. If it was a Ray Harryhausen movie, you knew you were in for a magical experience like nothing you'd ever seen before! Creatures the pathos of which could make an audience weep.
It wasn't just the animation, but Ray's ability to style his creatures and with the use of lighting and he understood the limits of film. He was a true pioneer. I admire his discipline, patience and determination to get his vision on film. What would my childhood have been without the nursery ryme stories, monster and fantasy movies?
