Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger Film Review

For one last time, Ray Harryhausen and his producer Charles Schneer dip into the well of the tales of Sinbad the Sailor from the One Thousand and One Nights. The Seven Voyages of Sinbad. Perhaps it was once too often. At nearly two hours this drags a good bit and never feels as magical as the first two Sinbad films. All three were produced by Columbia Pictures and after the success of the 1973 The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, they had the producer and Harryhausen prepare for the next one. This one did not fare as well and that was the end of it. This was the last theatrical film of Sinbad though his character has continued on in TV and video productions.

Sinbad films are pure old-fashioned family adventure with a sideline of innocent romance. Here the two leads in the opening credits are Patrick Wayne and Taryn Power, both offspring of their famous fathers. But Taryn is not the romantic partner to Wayne - that goes to the lovely Jane Seymour, fresh off her appearance as a Bond Girl in Live and Let Die. She looks spectacular but it is a rather dull role as the woman who looks wistfully into the eyes of Sinbad. Taryn on the other hand has to romance a baboon. The director is Sam Wanamaker whose resume doesn't give you confidence that he could handle a heavy-laden special effects film.

Sinbad and his men arrive in the port of Charak to unload their goods and for Sinbad to see his good friend Kassim and in particular his sister Farah (Seymour) who he wants to marry. Hey, what happened to Caroline Monro and her cleavage from the previous Sinbad film? He discovers that Kassim who was supposed to have become Caliph has been turned into a baboon by his evil aunt, Zenobia (Margaret Whiting) who has a bag of magical tricks up her sleeve. Unless Kassim can be turned back into a human within a few moons he will lose the throne to her son Rafi (Kurt Christian who played the sweet young man in The Golden Voyage). And off they go in search of someone who can reverse the spell. The baboon is a product of Harryhausen - a baboon who can play chess.

They first go to visit a wise man Melanthius (Patrick Troughton) on a faraway island. He has a reputation of being brilliant but he can't help until he whips out a map made by Aristotle and says here is where you can get help. The Artic. Through the ice. Before it began to melt. But more importantly, he has a beautiful daughter (Taryn) who takes an immediate liking to the baboon. And the baboon to her. Baboon love. The latest craze. Following them of course in a ship rowed by a large strong bronze Minoton is Zenobia and son. Other creations from Harryhausen on the trip are a giant walrus, three sword fighting skeletons, a large Troglodyte (who is amazingly a good Troglodyte), a saber-toothed tiger, a giant bee and a miniature Zenobia. They are all fine but nothing to get your blood flowing. The acting from all three of the main leads has no zip, no charisma, no get up and go. It is still decent fun though thanks to Harryhausen.