Hello, Kaiju Lovers! To celebrate Ray Harryhausen’s birthday (and their birthdays), Nate is joined by the “Littlest Gatekeeper,” Elijah Thomas of Kaiju Conversation, to continue their yearly series discussing the filmography of the stop-motion master. Today, it’s 1977’s Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. (Classic rock and Rocky III references, anyone?) It’s the third in the unconnected Sinbad trilogy from Columbia Pictures and stars John Wayne’s son, Dr. Quinn, and the Second Doctor (Who). This was Nate and Elijah’s first time watching the film. Elijah managed not to fall asleep this time—but that doesn’t mean he liked it! We’re prepared for angry letters. 😛
We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander; Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, and The Indiscrite One! Thanks for your support!
“‘Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger’ – The Film” by Bluebottle. h2g2: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition. 12 Dec. 2012. (https://h2g2.com/entry/A87780144).
To say the episode 64 broadcast on 20 Million Miles to Earth was chaotic would be an understatement. I still get angry e-mails from listeners about how crazy it was. Let’s just say there are reasons we edit stuff out for the podcast editions—and two of them are named Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton! Listening back on this reminds me why Michael and I used to butt heads: he’s a bit like Commander Hell and thinks he owns any place he walks into. Travis, on the other hand, is an agent of chaos (and I don’t mean the Get Smart kind).
This episode was just a month before the Kaiju Weekly podcast went on an extended hiatus. Despite my issues with Michael, I was sad to see it go. Kaiju Weekly was the first kaiju podcast Nate and I guested on, and we’ve been tight with Travis and Michael ever since. I’ve lived a storied life, but sometimes I feel “nostalgic” for things that happened three years ago. Does that count as “nostalgia”? Michael would know: he’s addicted to it. (Just listen to The Power Trip podcast: he says he “mainlines” it). 😛
Anyway, on to my notes:
Michael always wanted to be a Power Ranger, so I figured the hazmat suit would be a good start to a costume. It’s what he gets for denying my existence. 😛
Host privileges, Nate? Perhaps you should check some of them at the door.
I can vouch for…Travis’s assertion…whatever it was.
I met Billy Cranston once. I’d found my way to Aquitar after narrowly escaping a Natarl cruiser. We were the Double Dragons of intellect.
I did learn Latin, Marchand. I went to the best schools in New York and Japan!
Yes, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad was Harryhausen’s next film after this.
He can’t cut me off here: Nate’s weird. Beyond weird, even. You should see what his apartment looks like. I think his decorator is a nerdy teenage boy. (Oh, wait…).
Kinko and Sexypus: the latest kaiju porn. And I’m sure Michael watches it daily.
I think Michael is jealous I saw Ymirs in their native habitat. And then I fixed their native habitat. You’re welcome, Venusians!
Jimmys are from Venus. This one is, anyway…well, sorta.
I like space candy. My favorite is Astro-taffy, which is flavored with literal stardust. We call it “Star-Stuff.” We’re all made of it, you know.
Now for Nate’s rather extensive notes. He almost never gets through all of them.
Two in one day! I’m on a roll! Now if only Nate could get caught up on uploading audio. This is what happens when you get promoted to working two jobs.
Release the crossover! Nate and his friend Elijah “The Littlest Gatekeeper” Thomas start a new annual tradition for their podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and Kaiju Conversation, respectively, by discussing a Ray Harryhausen film every year. Why? Because they both share a birthday with the special effects legend. Also, since these two are weird, they’re going in reverse filmography order, starting with the original Clash of the Titans. This epic adventure was a relic when it came out, but given Harryhausen’s romantic love of the past and love of the classics, it’s not surprising. Your hosts dive deep into this film’s production—Arnold Schwarzenegger was nearly the lead?!—and discuss the many incredible mythological creatures that appear in it. As Harryhausen’s best friend, the author Ray Bradbury, said, Medusa in this film is Harryhausen’s “crowning glory.” Just forgive Elijah for being a bit snobby about it. Happy birthday, Ray!
(This episode is also being released on the Kaiju Conversation feed).
Nate’s not the only one who needs catch up on his content. No MIFV episode is complete without the intrepid Jimmy’s trademark blogs. With Winter and Board keeping us busy, and my personal projects in my garage eating up my time (top secret hush-hush stuff, you understand), I haven’t been able to keep up. Now your wait is over! Let’s start dropping some fact (check) bombs on Nate and company, starting with episode 58 on Mighty Joe Young.
Me and Nick’s e-mails are top secret. Although, not as top secret as my garage projects.
I hate to tell you this, Joy, but…
Little did I know this episode would become Memento by working through the film backwards. Reminds me of the time I got caught in a time loop. That may or may not explain how I’ve aged gracefully. But let me tell you, I can only punch M11 so many times to restart and/or break the loop so many times before it gets older than some of the scientists around here.
This whole episode came off the rails—until the Toku Topic. Then it all came to a crashing halt because it was the most boring Toku Topic yet. I don’t know if it was Nate’s presentation, the topic of gorillas in captivity, or the exhaustion of the caffeine. All of the above, probably.
Ah, yes, Adam Smith. Author of The Wealth of Nations and philosopher who advocated for laissez-faire economics. It’s only the best bedtime reading for any kid.
I may have to talk with Mr. Gold about booking Mighty Joe and the Burning Orphans, especially after their album, “Rampage at the Nightclub.”
It wasn’t an interviewer but another special effects artist on the blu-ray commentary with Harryhausen and Moore: Ken Ralston.
Not the singing, Joy! See the above meme!
I could go for spaghetti and a western. Sounds like a great stay-at-home date night.
We’re getting canceled in Africa.
“Mighty Jimmy Young.” I like the sound of that.
Sacrificed orphans? That IS fake news! The textbook definition of slander! I could sue you for libel! (But I don’t want to talk about it).
Here are Nate’s leftover notes. (Am I still contractually obligated to share these? I better check the fine print).
This is what happens when the Three Stooges get drunk. (Was WHG3 one of them? -Jimmy)
He’s gonna realize he knows drunken monkey kung fu. Also, Mighty Joe can’t hold his liquor. Okay, there’s a line that they gave him more. (Actually, I think he does know drunken monkey kung-fu…mostly because he’s a drunken ape. -Jimmy)
I think he killed some lions. But not people.
“No animals were harmed in the making of this motion picture.” You sure?
From “pull” to “push.” You suck at pushing. Stick to pulling. (Words to live by. -Jimmy)
What in blazes started this fire?! (Haha, Marchand. -Jimmy)
Commentary by Terry Moore, Ray Harryhausen, and Ken Ralston
Terry Moore didn’t have any storyboards in her script and acted to lots of nothing alone on set not knowing what Mighty Joe looked like.
She got the role when she came to the lot and Schoedsack asked, “Can you run?” so she took off her high heels, ran, and came back. He said, “You run like a deer. You got the role!” (I think that’s what David Perin was told when he played me in my favorite movie. -Jimmy)
Everyone called Schoedsack, “Monty.”
Harryhausen grew up loving King Kong, so it was an honor to work with that team.
Cooper once complained that the $25/day extras weren’t good enough, so instead of replacing them, they paid them $250/day.
Moore said Cooper promised one of the Mighty Joe puppets to her when he died, but the maid stole it when he died. There’s another one in London at the Museum of Moving Images.
Armstrong modeled his character after Cooper like he did in Kong. Ruth Rose, the screenwriter and Cooper’s wife, put much of him into the character.
The flying tackle was cut out for a while for some reason.
Harryhausen “was” Mighty Joe. He would eat vegetables on breaks to get into character.
Marcel Delgado also built the armatures for this.
This was Ben Johnson’s first movie. He acted in many John Ford westerns.
They shot for 3 months.
O’Brien developed the scenes with sketches while Harryhausen did most of the animation.
Terry Moore could whistle “Beautiful Dreamer.” She was surprised it didn’t make a comeback.
Moore became friends with the wrestlers. The Italian wrestler would put his foot next to hers and say, “Teeny-weeny.” He didn’t speak much English. He’d carry her on his shoulders, and she would go to the wrestling matches.
For the piano scene, Moore was lifted up using what she described as a “huge carjack.”
The long shots of Mighty Joe in the wrestler scene was a smaller armature. 8 inches tall.
Each of the coins was hand-drawn in the coin throwing scene.
Harryhausen covered the puppet’s lips with clay so he could hold the bottle. The liquor was glycerin.
Moore spent a lot of time acting toward a back projection screen. White screen.
Cooper was known for throwing a hat on the ground and stomping it. (Sounds like a certain radio host I know… -Jimmy)
Moore says Howard Hughes saw her in Return of October and told his projectionist, “I’m gonna marry that girl! Find out what she’s done!” He said she’d just made a film for RKO that hadn’t been released. He said, “Buy RKO.”
“Mama Walton” makes a cameo during orphanage scene.
The orphanage miniature was 5-6 feet high.
Marcel Delgado animated the shot of Mighty Joe climbing the tree.
Harryhausen says the Jill doll used for the piano was remade into a caveman.
Moore’s mother makes a cameo saving the little girl.
Mighty Joe peels the banana at the end when he ate it whole before. He was “civilized.”
Special Features
He got no direction from Schoedsack. He only worked with O’Brien during the planning stage. The script only had broad strokes for Mighty Joe’s scenes. He used O’Brien’s continuity stages.
Harryahusen gets mail from people saying they prefer his old films because they have more soul.
One of the armatures was made by Henry Cunningham.
The 4 armatures cost $1,500-$2,000 each!
The fur on Mighty Joe moved less because it was substituted with rubber.
Mighty Joe was brown.
The debris was animated with wires.
LeMay – Kong Unmade 2nd Edition
“The genesis of the story was inspired by a true event, recorded in the book Toto and I: A Gorilla in the Family (1941). The book, by Augusta Maria Daurer Hoyt, told of the author rescuing an orphaned gorilla in 1931 Equatorial Africa and making it part of her family. That is where the similarities ended, though. Using that as a jumping-off point, the rest of the story was essentially a light, happier retelling of King Kong. (The script was even written by Ruth Rose again, who had done one of the Kong drafts.)”
“Though it shares no continuity ties with King Kong, the resultant Mighty Joe Young is what could be called a spiritual sequel to Kong. As previously established, it was made by the same overall team and has the same themes of beauty and the beast, the beast brought to civilization, etc. Even the same trio of main character archetypes reappear. You have the girl that controls the beast in the form of Jill, then her rough-and-tumble cowboy love interest, Gregg, and the showman, Max O’Hara, out to exploit them—the latter even played again by Robert Armstrong. One could even say Mighty Joe Young presented a ‘road not taken’ with King Kong. What if Ann had tamed Kong? What if Denham’s show had been a success rather than a tragic failure? In the years that followed the release and rereleases of King Kong, audiences had grown fonder and more sympathetic for Kong, so it was only natural Joe would be treated as nothing but sympathetic, and in the end, even heroic. The climax, where Joe is on the run from the authorities out to kill him, is quite the nail-biter due to the audience’s sympathy for Joe. But of course, we’re not here to discuss what the film is, but what it could have been.”
Morton – King Kong: The History of a Movie Icon, from Fay Wray to Peter Jackson
Other Kong alumni included Linwood Dunn, Ted Cheesman, and Walter Elliot.
He says it took six months to shoot. (No one can agree on a timeline, it seems. Because time travel is dangerous. -Jimmy)
A big torso only armature was made but never used.
The models were covered with the fur of unborn lambs and rubberized by taxidermist George Lofgren.
He says the animation took 14 months.
O’Brien was unable to use his miniature projection process due to time constraints, so the composite work was done with an optical printer.
The Ray Harryhausen Podcast, Episode 24: Mighty Joe Young, 70th Anniversary Special
Colorized test footage was made, but it’s been lost.
It’s popular with animators because of Harryhausen’s work, especially with how much is in it.
This was essentially the end of O’Brien’s career and big-budget special effects pictures.
Tarzan would’ve been played by Lex Barker, who’d just played the character.
Soundtrack has never been released because it was “married” into the mix. It was re-recorded later and released, with Harryhausen playing cymbals on “Beautiful Dreamer.”
Ray Harryhausen: An Animated Life
Peterson’s trademark was broad humor, most of which was cut. Harryhausen didn’t like it. Example: Mighty Joe slapping his knee during the chase.
Harryhausen was 29 when he worked on this.
Harryhausen is most proud of the lion cage sequence.
I’m pretty sure Nate read most of his notes on that boring interesting Toku Topic, so I cut the rest.
As for upcoming episodes, this moth we have two regular episodes and two bonuses! These include a Damon Noyes double-header with The Giant Claw (yep, antimatter-powered alien Beaky Buzzard) and his Patreon-sponsored episode on Little Shop of Horrors (1986). Then Nate invites his “co-host in kamen” (ba-dum-tsh!) on so he can finally “see the goo” with a bonus episode on Beware! The Blob (aka Son of Blob). Then Nate and his friend Elijah Thomas have their first annual crossover on Ray Harryhausen since the two of them share a birthday with him. They’re being weird and going in reverse order of his filmography, starting with Clash of the Titans (1981).
Despite everything that has happened to all of us at MIFV, as I always say, “We shall overcome!”
Hello, kaiju lovers! “Ameri-kaiju” continues with three of the original MIFV Tourists—Nick Hayden, Joe Metter, and Joy Metter—returning to the Island to the “spiritual sequel” to King Kong (1933): Mighty Joe Young (1949). This classic features the special effects masters of the generations: Willis O’Brien and Ray Harryhausen. As usual, Nate did way too much research, but its almost overshadowed by the BURNING OPRHANS(!). Nate’s guests were blindsided by this film’s climax; so much so, they start the discussion with that and move backwards through the movie, Memento-style. The Toku Topic is gorillas in captivity since Mighty Joe himself was a captive gorilla.
Before the broadcast, Nate speaks with Jessica about her new job as director of tourism on his way to meet with the Island’s new PR director, Darius R. Gold, a big game hunter from Texas. Amidst a metric ton of bravado, Mr. Gold tells Nate to contact Teri Young, the current caretaker for Mighty Joe Young. After the broadcast, Nate finally gets a reply from her—and a suspicious revelation about Cameron Winter.
This episode’s prologue, “Gold and Gorillas,” was written by Nathan Marchand with Michael Hamilton and Daniel DiManna.
As Aerosmith once sang, “I’m back in the saddle again!”
It was nice getting some time off work and spending it in my garage with Jet Jaguar working on Mechani-Kong Mk. 2 (who’s almost done). I’ve only used about half of the parts I salvaged from both Mogueras. I should do something with the rest of them. Hmm….
I heard the initial broadcast for episode 29 while on my Board-mandated vacation, and I admit that Nathan did a good job without me and Jet did fine as my sub. But all of you will have wait until next week to hear it.
It’s “transpacific flight” not “transatlantic flight,” Nathan. Wrong ocean.
Nick, from what the Island’s scientists have told me, there were more dinosaur and kaiju fossils up there in the Arctic than what you found. Possibly. Maybe. … I can neither confirm nor deny.
Oops. I wrote “Harryhausen” when I meant “Bradbury” in the info dump. And yet Nathan still read it that way. Thankfully, he fixed it in post, as obvious as it is.
A Life Day card and present? Seriously, Marchand? I reserve the right not to accept it. Even if that damn holiday is canon now. Also, I’m saving the “chill pills” for you, you hyperactive goof!
“Red” will eat anything, regardless of “deliciousness” or lack thereof.
Yes, I do have a Disco Space Nun flying saucer in my garage. I still haven’t gotten it opened, though. Personally, I’d rather find and examine a Xilien saucer. I’ve heard rumors there might be one of two that survived the invasion of 196X. I’ll keep you posted.
Hmm. A music festival on the Island? Maybe I should get my band back together….
So, funny story about how I found that orbital manhole cover: It was during the final test flight for the Gohten just before the War in Space. We were testing the Space Fighter launcher—you know, the brilliantly designed giant magnum revolver—to make sure it didn’t accidentally switch to laser cannon mode. I volunteered for the test. The launch system worked, but as I flew out, something splattered on my Space Fighter’s windshield. I thought it was a Space Bug (nasty things), but when I returned to the Gohten, I discovered that it was a fragment of that infamous manhole cover. It’d gotten stuck to my windshield thanks to some gum. I’ve no idea how it got there (what was that sewer worker chewing?!) or how it survived atmospheric entry (seriously, what was he chewing?!), and it did need to be removed with my laserknife (tough stuff). I wear it proudly as a pin, as you heard.
Nathan was wrong—Ray Bradbury did not write for The Outer Limits. In fact, he didn’t write for any TV series. However, his works were adapted by several TV series, including Tales of Tomorrow and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. He did contribute several scripts to The Twilight Zone, as Nick alluded to, but only one was produced: “I Sing the Body Electric,” which was the 100th episode and later adapted into a short story. (Who’s the lit nerd now, Marchand?)
Yeah, a World Children’s Land on Monster Island would be interesting, but where would the Board even put it? We barely have room for all the kaiju.
I’m not sure when I’ll finish my memoir, but I could always use your connections in the publishing world, Nathan. As for why I didn’t have you be a beta reader…well, as you’ve said yourself, Nick is the better writer. Sorry not sorry.
Now on to Nathan’s leftover notes. He’s gotten better about not overdoing his research and presenting most of his findings. In fact, he got through all of his notes on the Toku Topics.
The Film
I thought this WB logo wasn’t until the ‘80s? (Perhaps it was added later? –Jimmy)
Swirling drain! (insert obvious joke here). Or is it the proto-Ultra Q?
Gamera the Giant Monster copied some of this beginning. (Much to Nathan’s chagrin. –Jimmy)
Rhedosaurus appears 9 minutes in.
These are impressive arctic sets. The snow is better than Daimajin Strikes Again. You really feel the cold.
Awkward jump cut at 32:00.
Tom knows French? Okay. Convenient.
43 minutes in, we get the ‘adaptation” part of the film. The attack on the lighthouse. Unlike in the story, there’s no fog horn. I think the monster gets angry at the light.
Army/Navy game. College football, man.
Section 8 discharge. I can’t hear that without thinking of Klinger from M*A*S*H*.
Tom and Lee see a ballet together. Which is it? (Shout-out to Bex and Princess Tutu!) (Don’t you owe Bex video proof that you can do ballet positions? Tsk tsk. –Jimmy)
Interestingly, they use a radioactive isotope to kill the beast. This once again illustrates the different attitudes toward nuclear things between the U.S. and Japan. Although, it could be argued that nuclear solutions are used later (Godzilla is atomic, and his ray powers the device that kills Hedorah). Then there’s KOTM19….
The soldier is a dead shot. How about that, Jimmy? (At least he’s not a Stormtrooper. –Jimmy)
It’s short and sweet today.
As I already alluded to, next week Nathan is joined by Sci-Fi Japan writer Ben Chaffins, not for a bonus interview but to discuss the Toho classic War of the Gargantuas. Then Nathan does a mini-analysis of the semi-obscure—and quirky—Toho film, Latitude Zero. Expect lots of Batman jokes.
The Beast! The Beast! THE BEAST! From 20,000 Fathoms!
Nathan is joined by his friend and regular Monster Island Tourist Nick Hayden for the first Ray Harryhausen film covered on MIFV: The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. This 1953 classic—the Jaws of its time, as Nick says—is one of the seminal films in the kaiju genre. It was the first “atomic monster” movie. Without it, we may have not gotten Godzilla in 1954. It was “suggested by” a Ray Bradbury story, which delights Nathan and Nick as both writers and classic lit nerds. Also, if you’re looking for quirky band names, this is the episode for you! So, join them for the final full-length film discussion of the season—despite Jimmy From NASA’s claims of a special Godzilla vs. Kong premiere on the Island in a few weeks.
The Toku Topics are a brief history of nuclear tests and a brief history of amusement parks since both factor into this film.
