Ray Harryhausen

Two 19th-century opportunists become serial killers so that they can maintain their profitable business supplying cadavers to an anatomist.

There’s only one person who so accurately personifies movie magic in the history of film, and that man is special effects maestro Ray Harryhausen. Focusing on the man behind the landmark effects on films like Clash Of The Titans, One Million Years B.C., Jason And The Argonauts and many more, this in-depth film features interviews with the great man himself, and with an array of animators and directors influenced by his work including Guillermo del Toro, Peter Jackson, Nick Park, Terry Gilliam, James Cameron and Steven Spielberg. The film also features unseen footage of tests and experiments recently uncovered.

The extraordinary life of cinema pioneer Segundo de Chomón.

When young Buddy falls into Santa's gift sack on Christmas Eve, he's transported back to the North Pole and raised as a toy-making elf by Santa's helpers. But as he grows into adulthood, he can't shake the nagging feeling that he doesn't belong. Buddy vows to visit Manhattan and find his real dad, a workaholic.

Hugh Hefner, Stan Lee, Mark Hamill and Kevin Smith journey into the world of comic book fandom! Documentary filmmaker Donald Swan heads to the world's largest comic book convention where he encounters a culture of craziness that he's totally unprepared for.

Famous Monster takes a fast-paced, colorful look at the life of science fiction's greatest fan - Forrest J. Ackerman, whose 85 year love affair with the genre helped bring it into the mainstream and shape the way we view science fiction today.

A quirky anthology, consisting of four separate short films connected by host segments. The first one, BOOGIE WITH THE UNDEAD, has an all girl rock band booked to play a gig in a town overrun by flesh-eating zombies. In the second one, THE DEVIL'S DUE AT MIDNIGHT, a coven of beautiful witches conjure up Brad Dourif as The Devil, and endures the inept attacks of witch killer Ken Foree. In the first long segment, HER MORBID DESIRES, an actress gets the lead role in a vampire movie, only to discover that starlets are being murdered on the set. The other long segment, CRY OF THE MUMMY, has the reincarnated mummy, formerly the last Pharaoh of the 4th Dynasty, looking to sue the movie studios because he can't get work as a mummy. His new lawyer offers to represent him as an agent, but the mummy will only work in film if he can direct.

For over a half century, Ray Harryhausen has amazed and inspired countless filmmakers and fans around the world with his breathtaking motion picture effects and stop-motion animation. Presented here for the first time ever is the authorized collection of his earliest work, along with hours of supplemental features.

Legendary all-stars of cinema bring to life the evolution of science-fiction and special effects films from the wild and funny days of B-movies to blockbusters that have captured the world's imagination. This is the story of the Sci-Fi Boys, who started out as kids making amateur movies inspired by Forrest J Ackerman's FAMOUS MONSTERS magazine and grew up to take Hollywood by storm, inventing the art and technology for filming anything the mind can dream.

Documentary film about visual effects master Emilio Ruiz del Rio. From his early works on films at 1942, to his last contribution at 2007, Emilio Ruiz talks on his film experiences and traditional trickery, using foreground miniatures, glass shots, and painted cut out miniatures. It shows interviews with some of the professionals he has worked with, like, Rafaela de Laurentiis, Ray Harryhausen, Guillermo del Toro, or Enzo Castellari

The astonishing story of the genesis, production, worldwide success, and legacy of King Kong (1933), directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, a landmark of cinema, one of the most influential motion pictures in history.

Behind the scenes documentary about the stop-motion animation that began production 50 years ago, abandoned, and then picked up by two animators who worked with Harryhausen to complete the film.

Behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of the 1953 sci-fi classic "The War of the Worlds". Included are interviews with some of the cast and crew and unreleased footage from the film itself.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of paleontologist Barnum T. Brown's discovery of a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, Discovery Channel presents this amusing and intriguing "biography" of the huge dinosaur and his life as a media darling. Through archival footage, movie excerpts and interviews with scientists and grumpy rivals such as King Kong, the portrayal of the Lizard King through the decades and his influence on modern culture are scrutinized.

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Ray Harryhausen discusses the making of 'Mighty Joe Young' with the Chiodo brothers.

Documentary about the technical achievements of the 1940 film classic The Thief of Bagdad.

Early test 1952. After an introduction from Ray, we see a glimpse of another un-made Harryhausen film. A test animation to encourage interest in this fantasy project, whereby a dragon-like being is attacking a man.

Early test 1952. After an introduction from Ray, we see a glimpse of another un-made Harryhausen film. A test animation to encourage interest in this fantasy project, whereby a dragon-like being is attacking a man.

Special-effects wizard Ray Harryhausen is the honored guest star of this presentation, a bonus feature on the "Mighty Joe Young" DVD. The Chiodo brothers - three of them - all interview Harryhausen on the 50th anniversary of the film. The Chiodo brothers - Charles, Edward and Stephen - are modern-day special-effects movie men.

Early test 1950. After an introduction from Ray, we see a glimpse of another un-made Harryhausen film. The Baron has a conversation with a giant on the moon.

Early test 1949 - 50. After an introduction from Ray, we see a glimpse of another un-made Harryhausen film. Shows concept art and a film test of a Martian emerging from a crashed rocket.

Ray Harryhausen discusses his animation of the eohippus and allosaurus in The Valley of Gwangi (1969), especially the difficult lassoing scene. Meanwhile, five Industrial Light & Magic animators relate how Ray's pioneering work has inspired and influenced their careers: they view him as the father of visual effects.

Early tests 1935 - 36. This black and white footage was shot by Ray in his backyard.

When his boss is killed, Detroit cop Axel Foley finds evidence that the murderer had ties to a California amusement park called Wonder World. Returning to sunny Beverly Hills once more, Foley reunites with Detective Billy Rosewood to solve the case. Along with Billy's new partner, Detective Jon Flint, they discover that Wonder World is being used as a front for a massive counterfeiting ring.

As a child living in Africa, Jill Young saw her mother killed while protecting wild gorillas from poachers led by Andrei Strasser. Now an adult, Jill cares for an orphaned gorilla named Joe -- who, due to a genetic anomaly, is 15 feet tall. When Gregg O'Hara arrives from California and sees the animal, he convinces Jill that Joe would be safest at his wildlife refuge. But Strasser follows them to the U.S., intent on capturing Joe for himself.

The incredible evolution of George Lucas' special effects dream factory, including an inside look at "Star Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace."

Explore the most legendary horror studio of all time with this fascinating, frightening journey hosted by terror titans Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. England's most successful independent film company, the "fear factory" of Hammer Studios, has a history filled with feuds, censorship battles and streaks of luck both good and bad. Now the legacy of horror returns, featuring interviews with such Hammer legends as Raquel Welch, Veronica Carlson, Caroline Munro, Ingrid Pitt, Jimmy Sangster, Hazel Court, Martine Beswicke, Freddie Francis, Val Guest and Ray Harryhausen. Plus you'll be treated to behind-the-scenes home movies and nonstop shock scenes from over 40 classic films, including Horror of Dracula, Curse of Frankenstein, The Devil Rides Out, Curse of the Werewolf and many more! It's the definitive study of one of the greatest names in horror!

As an actor, director and producer, Ray Harryhausen has been a vibrant figure in Hollywood, working on everything from family films to mind-bending sci-fi. But his true genius lay in the creation of special effects for movies such as Mighty Joe Young and It Came from Outer Space. Narrated by Leonard Nimoy and featuring appearances by George Lucas and Ray Bradbury, this film documents Harryhausen's remarkable life's work.

Hosted by everyone's favorite vamp, Elvira, this program is a lighthearted look back at the monster movies of the '50s. All the monsters that scared your parents make appearances here including Godzilla and King Kong. Also included are many interviews with the men behind the monsters including special effects wizards and directors. A special look at the monsters of Japan and Great Britain are included as well.

Join "Mr. Science Fiction", Forrest J. Ackerman, on a star-studded romp through 75 years of classic sci-fi and fantasy film magic.

A tribute to stopmotion supremo and special effects genius extraordinaire Ray Harryhausen, the man behind some of cinema's greatest fantasy films - The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, Jason & The Argonauts and One Million Years BC. Featuring exclusive footage of Harryhausen at work on his first stopmotion for over 20 years, and contributions from many of Hollywood's top special effects directors and creators.

A documentary covering the history of Apes in the movies. Written and Directed by Donald F. Glut.

Oscar-winning animator Ray Harryhausen gives an exclusive insight into cinema's most famous monster creations and special effects secrets with the actual models used in such classics as Clash of the Titans.

Dinosaurs Vs. Apes: DINOSAUR MOVIES and HOLLYWOOD GOES APE! have been hailed as the definitive documentaries on the prehistoric and anthropoid creatures that have appeared on the silver screen. Filled with rare movie clips, behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.

Two bumbling government employees think they are U.S. spies, only to discover that they are actually decoys for nuclear war.

Documentary about the life and work of Ray Harryhausen.

Among the legends of Hollywood, George Pal takes his place as a true visionary, an innovator and a showman who profoundly shaped the art of motion pictures. A peer of Walt Disney, Pal pioneered stop motion animation and went on to virtually invent the modern science fiction and fantasy film genres. Pal's extraordinary genius molded a dazzling array of films, which earned an incredible total of eight Academy Awards and left a cinematic legacy that served as formative inspiration for the movies of George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Gene Roddenberry.

A behind the scenes look at the making of "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad".

When the first manned flight to Venus returns to Earth, the rocket crash-lands in the Mediterranean near a small Italian fishing village. The locals manage to save Colonel Robert Calder, the mission commander. A young boy also recovers what turns out to be a specimen of an alien creature. Growing at a fantastic rate, it manages to escape and eventually threatens the city of Rome.

A look at the fairy tale-based Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons, starring characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, and more.

Nudism. Esperanto. KING KONG. Sci-Fi. What do all of these things have in common? Simple: Forrest J Ackerman! Who's that? Glad you asked... Forrest J Ackerman was an agent, a notorious serial bit player, and an honorary lesbian. Known the world over as "Uncle Forry," "EEEE," "4SJ," "Dr. Acula," and numerous other pseudonyms (a few none too kind), Mr. Ackerman was perhaps best known as the original editor of FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND magazine, the creator of VAMPIRELLA, and all-around mega-fan. So what? So what! Well you should know that the things you love and people you admire most thought of Forry as a treasure trove of knowledge and enthusiasm: Whether horror, science fiction, fantasy, or just generally being naked, he was there, did it, saw it done, or turned away from it...