Plot: What’s it about?
Dr. Lemuel Gulliver (Kerwin Matthews) has run into hard times, which means he has no cash, no employment, and on the whole, no real prospects. He is engaged to a woman, but he chooses to board a ship for greener pastures, since his current location has yielded little prosperity, to say the very least. The ship he takes is headed toward India, but it won’t reach that destination as planned, at least not with all the passengers on board. As the ship crashes across the waves, a storm sweeps into their path and as it rages, Gulliver ends up getting washed over the side and left behind, to fend for himself. He soon finds himself on an island however, but he soon discovers this is no normal tropical paradise, as the locals are a most curious lot. You see, all the inhabitants a very small people and when I say small, I mean very, very small indeed. Gulliver manages to win their trust and be accepted, which leads the little folks to ask him for some assistance. It seems another group of people live on the island, but they’re not small, more like giants. Will Gulliver rise to the challenge and in any event, will he ever return to his own land?
This is a most welcome release indeed, as is any film that enlisted the services of Ray Harryhausen, special effects pioneer and legend of cinema. In The 3 Worlds of Gulliver, he makes the world of Gulliver come to life in a most magical fashion, thanks to some innovative trick photography & special effects techniques. No, Harryhausen’s efforts don’t look as realistic as more modern special effects work, but his special effects look terrific and have his unique signature look, as you can always recognize his handiwork. The film stars Kerwin Matthews as Gulliver and is a fun, well crafted take on the classic tale. I don’t think it measures up to some of the Sinbad films or Jason and the Argonauts, but it is a solid picture and has a lot of great visuals, including some nifty Superdynamation work from Harryhausen. It seems aimed more at a children’s audience, but adults should find it worthwhile also, especially the male viewers, if just for the special effects and presence of June Thorburn. I think this movie is worth a look to fans of Harryhausen’s work and since Columbia has issued a nice disc, it is very recommended.
Video: How does it look?
The 3 Worlds of Gulliver is presented in a full frame transfer. At first, I assumed this was the intended aspect ratio, as framing seems accurate in most scenes and no detail loss is evident, but then I watched the included theatrical trailer. The trailer is shown in widescreen and this throws all of my assumptions out the window, leaving me unsure of the original aspect ratio, so if you know, please send me an email. In terms of technical presentation, the film looks good and of course, that all starts with a solid, but worn source print. The print has some nicks and grain (especially in some specific scenes), but looks better than expected and should please fans. The colors come across in warm, vivid form and contrast seems well balanced also, a solid overall treatment. Of course, this is has been modified, the score will be lowered when that information is confirmed, as that is inexcusable, especially from a larger studio like Columbia.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio here is stable and acceptable, but is a little worn at times, thanks to the years that have passed since it was produced. Even so, the flaws present never amount to much and if you’re used to viewing older pictures, than you’ll know what to expect and by turn, find the included track to be quite good. A few scenes do contain some hiss and distortion, but as I mentioned, nothing too serious and on the whole, the track remains better than expected. No problems with dialogue either, as vocals are clean and easy to understand throughout. This disc also includes a Spanish language option, as well as subtitles in English and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The main extra here is a five minute featurette on how The 3 Worlds of Gulliver was made, which runs far too short, in my opinion. Even so, it is worth a look and contains some insightful interviews. This disc also includes a Harryhausen Chronicles featurette, special This is Dynamation featurette, some talent files, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
