THE PRIMEVALS/SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER DOUBLE FEATURE (HAMILTON NJ/6/11)

It sure took me a spell, but at  long last I got to see Full Moon's release of director/animator Dave (Puppet Master/Caveman) Allen's The Primevals. Man, oh man, did it ever exceed my expectations. I mean, I figured it would be good, but whoa!

I now have the honor of presenting the 2023 release on a 120", outdoor screen, coupled with 1977's Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, on June 11 (Wednesday), commencing 8:30 pm, at 685G+Q7 Hamilton, NJ (near Veteran's Park), in the niche adjacent the Hamilton Ramp. (Both movies will be beamed from searing Blu-rays.) 

The Primevals was scripted by Allen and Randall William Cook and stars Juliet (Beyond the Door) Mills, Tai Thai, Richard Joseph Paul, Robert Cornthwait, Kevin Mangold and Walker Brandt, who embark on a quest to locate Yetis beyond the realm of ice and snow, which just so happens to be where belligerent, extraterrestrial, lizard-men roam. Both the yetis and lizard-men were rendered by Allen's skillful hands. Indeed, it may have taken him and Full Moon decades to get the production finished, but as implied, the remarkable results more than compensate for the wait. 

Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger is beloved by many, produced by Charles H. Schneer, directed by Sam (The Executioner) Wannamaker and written by Beverly (Clash of the Titans) Cross, with stop-motion effects by Willis O'Brien's prized disciple, the legendary Ray Harryhausen. 

The adventure stars Patrick (The People That Time Forgot) Wayne as the titular hero, who's joined by Patrick (Doctor Who/The Omen 1976) Troughton, Jane (Somewhere in Time/Battlestar Galactica/Live and Let Die) Seymour, Taryn (The Count of Monte Cristo 1975) Power, Damien (Twins of Evil) Thomas, Kurt (The Golden Voyage of Sinbad) Christian and as the villainous Zenobia, Margaret (The Informers/The Counterfeit Constable) Whiting. 

Eye of the Tiger is also packed with fascinating creatures, including the amiable Trog, bug-eyed ghouls, a giant walrus, a cursed prince/baboon, a sabretooth tiger and the Minoton (performed in a few non-animated shots by Peter "Chewbacca" Mayhew).  

Though held in high regard, I still feel that Eye of the Tiger doesn't get the mass respect that it deserves, and perhaps the same can be said of the striking Primevals, which in the very least, deserved a national, theatrical release. At any rate, the two pictures go well together, not just because of their grandiose animation, but their comparable, snowy sequences. 

To me, this double feature is a match made in fantasy-adventure heaven, and if you don't believe me, join the event and see for yourself. It's free-of-charge, with lawn chairs supplied (but feel free to bring your own for assured comfort).

BTW: Please, email my wife, Donna Gale, at bizarrechats@gmail.com by noon, June 10 (Tuesday), if you plan to attend, so that we might get a better idea of how many chairs to bring. (And oh, in the inconvenient event of rain, we'll reschedule and update you from there. It was a tad tricky getting permission to schedule this event, but if we did it once, I'm confident we can do it again.) 

GOODBYE, TARYN POWER...

You followed in the footsteps of your parents, Tyrone Power and Linda Christian and even wedded one of Soupy Sales' sons, solidifying your place among Hollywood royalty. 

Fans enjoyed you in "The Count of Monte Cristo '75", "House of Pleasure for Women" (aka, "Bordello"), "Tracks" and Armando de Ossorio's underrated "The Sea Serpent" (aka "Hydra").

However, for Ray Harryhausen fans, your crowning achievement is that of Dione in the stop-motion classic, "Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger". 

With your golden mane and amiable smile, Ms. Power, you sure made many a heart go pitter-pat and because of such, you'll remain one of fantasy's best loved leading ladies.  

SO LONG, PETER MAYHEW...

You stood tall, strong and furry as the mighty and lovable Chewbacca, accentuating the "Star Wars" franchise during its heyday and greeting appreciative fans along the decades-spanning way.

That appreciation was reciprocal and visited varied venues, such as "The Muppet Show"; "Slice of SciFi"; "Donny and Marie"; "Dark Towers"; "The Kenny Everett Television Show"; "Identity"; and "Glee".  

You also found your way into the '78 horror film, "Terror" and the offbeat fantasy, "Yesterday Was a Lie"; and shared your talents with "Dragon Ball G.T." and Mark Hamill's wry mockumentary, "Comic Book: the Movie". However, to Ray Harryhausen fans, you're best and most admired for your stand-in work as the illustrious Minoton in "Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger".

With that said, it wasn't only on the screen where you excelled, Mr. Mayhew. Your children's books, "Growing Up Giant" and "My Favorite Giant", have taught young readers to hold their heads high and relish the fact that being unique is a pretty darn neat. 

You'll always be as a giant of pop-cultural and galactic stature: a historic, iconic figure whose aura will continue to inspire, even though your noble spirit has moved on...