Capitaine Simbad

I saw this film first run at the tender age of 9 in the summer of 1963 at the Loew's State Theater, a downtown movie palace. I loved it so much that I sat through a dreary black and white co-feature just to watch it again. A few weeks later I saw it again when it played our second run neighborhood theater. I even bought a comic book adaptation of it which I own to this day. I just watch the DVD of it and I must say it is somewhat hokey and the special effects were a little cheesy even for its time. I am not some old fogey who degrades todays superior CG effects because I can still enjoy a fantasy film of this period without denegrating the present state of the art. This film has enough color, magic and music, along with luxurious sets, a good cast and solid direction from Byron Haskin (who helmed the original War of the Worlds) to make it a more than pleasurable viewing experience. The nine year old me would have given this 10 out of 10, but the 65 year old me can see how wonderfully cheesy some of it is. Even if some of the wonder I once experienced is gone, I still enjoy this movie a great deal.

People who complain about the special effects in this 1963 adventure flick just don't understand how different the state of film fx was 45 years ago. I suspect that they're all too young to know much of anything. Back in the day, it wasn't the quality of your CG artists that counted. It was "how do I find simple photographic tricks that tickle the imagination, still tell the story and are fun"? This movie is full of well done yet low budget effects that beat all hell out of all the crappy, cookie cutter CG stuff out there today. Tell me you didn't smile when the magician's arm grew out about two miles long. Go on, tell me. And if you're answer is "I didn't" then why are you even watching this movie? Go somewhere and crow about how great the effects in that snorefest remake of King Kong was and leave the fun to the rest of us. I mean, really--so it's not Harryhausen. Get over it. It's still great fun.

Through many viewings I've enjoyed this Sin(d)bad film much more than any in the better-known Columbia/Harryhausen series, which I thought had great monsters but dull stories and heroes. This one has it all: gorgeous color photography, interesting plot and characters, and unusual monsters (including an invisible (!) dragon. The late Guy Williams is fine as Sinbad, and more mature and dignified than any in the Columbia films. And Pedro Armendariz, in one of his last roles before his untimely cancer-related death, is simply wonderful as the villain, El Karim. This film (produced by the same folks who gave us "Gorgo") is aimed at young audiences, but I've watched it with viewers of varying age, and never run across anyone who wasn't delighted with it.

Mildly fun movie based on ancient legends , being a loose retelling of the ¨Arabian nights¨ or ¨1001 nights¨ . Swashbuckling/legendary movie with a valiant hero , Sinbad/Guy Williams , who proves some his feats , as fighting , batting , and sword-play against the heinous enemies , but he buckles his way gallantly through this stirring actioner . Here Sinbad (Guy Williams who passed away in 1989 at age 65) must destroy the evil El Kerim (Pedro Armendariz) and his hoodlum Col. Kabar (Henry Brandon) in the peaceful kingdom of Baristan . Kerim schemes to capture his rival , Sinbad , who will soon go back from far seas along with his crew (Bernie Hamilton , Walter Barnes , John Crawford , and Helmut Schneider who died at 51) . Meanwhile , the wonderful Princess Jana (Heidi Brühl married to actor Brett Halsey and died early at 49) convinces the wizard Galgo (Abraham Sofaer) to transform her into a small bird . As Sinbad and his sailors sail towards Baristan , the Princess-Firebird descends and lands on the ship . But before she can deliver the message , El-Carim turns his warriors into giant human falcons , to drop rocks onto Sindbad's ship sinking it.... Later on , Sinbad must tackle a lot of dangers , such as an invisible monster , a many-headed hydra , quicksands , man-eating fish , crocodiles , a large fist clad in a spiked glove , and more . To kill the nasty Visir , Sinbad must slash his heart , which is kept in a tower with no entrance . Sinbad helped by the magician Galgo will have to face off several risks , villains and Kerim's henchmen .

Swashbuckling adventures of Sinbad the sailor accompanied a group of engaging adventurers . An enormous , epic US/Germany co-production lavishly shot in Bavaria studios , Múnich , recreated with matte-painting , and a great number of special effects , FX , in traditional and primitive style . Riveting and swashbuckling film with amazing adventures in which Sinbad rescues the beautiful princess and searches for destroy a heart located in a terrifying island . Stars Guy Williams who was no stranger to swashbuckling , as he also performed ¨The Prince and the pauper¨ , ¨The Golden blade¨ , "Damon y Pitias" and especially Zorro on the ¨El Zorro¨ (1957) TV series . Guy Williams fits perfectly in this eminent swashbuckling . Gorgeous Heidi Bruhl as Princess Jana , and excellent Pedro Armendariz as evil ruler named El Kerim . Support cast is frankly good , such as : Bernie Hamilton , Helmut Schneider , Walter Barnes , Guy Doleman , James Dobson , John Crawford and Henry Brandon , among them .

In the movie there are emotions , mythology , adventures , fantasy , swashbuckling and results to be pretty amusing . It is an exciting fantasy-adventure , though hamhanded and self-mocking , with some brief moments excessive , for its confusion and mayhem . Don't see this one for the script , which almost doesn't exist ; otherwise mildly fun . The runtime is adequate with various incidents and sub-plots . Director Byron Haskin works his magic around a well-developed screenplay and charming acting by the entire performers . The confrontation amongst the protagonist and enemies is mesmerizing and fascinating , plenty of leaps and bounds in which Sinbad runs , hits , fights and smiles . Cinematography by Günther Senftleben is colorful , brilliant and shining . Evocative music composer Michel Michelet creates an attractive and astounding score . This huge and high-budgeted motion picture was well directed by Byron Haskin , delivering a great sense of wonder . It's all in fun , and it is fun . The yarn will appeal to fantasy and fancy imagination buffs , well catching .

Other pictures about the great hero Simbad are the followings : ¨Sinbad the sailor¨ (1947) by Richard Wallace , it displays an all-star-cast formed by Douglas Fairbanks Jr , Maureen O'Hara and Anthony Quinn ; ¨Ray Harryhausen's Sinbad trilogy¨ , all of them full of special effects with great monsters and breathtaking scale models that are made by the Dynamation system and created by means of stop-motion technique by the magician Ray Harryhausen , Ray can once again claim credit for the unusual and marvelous mythical creatures springing to life , as : ¨The 7th voyage of Simbad¨ , directed Nathan Juran with Kerwin Matthews and Kathryn Grant ¨ , ¨Simbad and the eye of tiger¨ directed Sam Wanamaker with Patrick Wayne and Jane Seymour , ¨The Golden voyage of Sinbad¨ by Gordon Hessler with John Philip Law , Caroline Munro and Tom Baker . Furthermore , an Italian muscle epic titled ¨Sinbad of the seven seas¨ by Enzo G Castellari with Lou Ferrigno , Alexandra Martines and John Steiner . In addition , Hollywood cartoon movie ¨Simbad the legend of seven seas¨ (2003) produced by Dreamworks , a combo of computer generator and hand-drawn animation by Patrick Gilmore and Tim Johnson with voices from Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta Jones . In addition , TV series as ¨Adventures of Sinbad¨ (1996-1998) with Zen Gesner , George Buza and ¨Sinbad¨ TV series (2012) with Elliot Knight , Marama Corlett and Elliot Cowan .

The reviews/comments listed here are hilarious, especially the one from Karadhe Kahn. Really hilarious. I laughed in genuine appreciation. I just posted a review for THE MAGIC SWORD and could not resist coming here either. I saw CAPTAIN SINDBAD in first release and was completely enchanted as an 8 year old. Some things were unforgettable: the big thumping fist in a glove, the princess becoming a bird, and the 'jelly' heart in a box, pulsating away. We all screamed in 1963 at the lovely Metro Cinema Bondi Junction Australia. I saw it again in the 70s as an adult and was flabbergasted at how easily I could see the strings on everything and how bargain counter all the costumes were. Until tonight I didn't realize the spelling was different to SINBAD either. Jeez 42 years later I still find out weird things about this very enjoyable film. Watch it with kids and have a great time. Yes it is sort of crummy, but the color and the scary fantasy works well and the circus sideshow like faces are great. especially in a turban. Yes, it is the Zorro actor Guy Williams later to be LOST IN SPACE.