Ray Harryhausen: Titan of Cinema

Description

Special effects superstar Ray Harryhausen elevated stop-motion animation to an art during the 1950s to 1980s. With material drawn from his incredible archive, his daughter, Vanessa, selects 100 creatures and objects that meant the most to her as she watched her father make world-famous films that changed the course of cinema. The book includes many newly restored works and items that have never previously been seen. In addition to Vanessa's reflections, many of those who worked with Harryhausen or were inspired by him add their own memories and comments. Ray Harryhausen's work included the films Jason and the Argonauts, the Sinbad films of the '50s and '70s, One Million Years B.C and Mighty Joe Young, and a wider portfolio including children's fairy tales and commercials. He also inspired a generation of film-makers such as Peter Jackson, Tim Burton, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg, and his influence on blockbuster cinema can be felt to this day. AUTHOR: Vanessa Harryhausen is the daughter of special effects superstar Ray Harryhausen and a trustee of the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation. SELLING POINTS: . 100 objects selected by the animator Ray Harryhausen's daughter - packed with personal stories that have never previously been heard or published . A fascinating examination of the work of the pioneer of the special effects that we see in modern cinema . Contributions from experts in the field and in conjunction with the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation . A broad readership drawn from those who appreciate art, film, science fiction and fantasy . Tells the story of the man who changed the face of modern cinema - the pioneer of stop-motion animation . Steven Speilberg and Tom Hanks are among his legion of fans . Entries often include earlier versions of finished models and sketches of scenes that illustrate how Harryhausen worked and developed his models . Accompanies a major exhibition at the National Galleries of Scotland from May-September 2020 200 colour images

Vanessa Harryhausen is the daughter of special effects superstar Ray Harryhausen and a trustee of the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation. She grew up around her father's films and creations, and spent time on many of the film sets for which he created special effects.

"Harryhausen brought the stories of antiquity kicking and screaming into the film age - or rather roaring, like the cyclops in the 1958 film The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, and hissing like Medusa in Clash of the Titans (1981)... There is no film, however, quite like his 1963 masterpiece Jason and the Argonauts... This is not just great special effects. This is art." -- The Guardian "Few artists of the 20th century can compete with Harryhausen's illusive brilliance or reach." -- The Spectator "A pioneering, brilliant special effects film-maker whose credits include movie masterpieces." -- BBC News "Ray Harryhausen was a titan of cinema.. After decades, this is our first glimpse of many of Ray's movie models painstakingly restored to their former glorious and gruesome selves. So this preview of extraordinary objects, literally on legendary status, charts the rise of Ray Harryhausen the student, son and friend, visionary, director and inventor. A true master of his craft." -- BBC Arts "The biggest collection of his work ever" -- The Times "The world's biggest ever celebration of Hollywood special effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen" -- The Scotsman "The largest and most comprehensive presentation of his work to date" -- Metro "Ray Harryhausen's special effects... are so seminal that, though his early films were made almost 60 years ago, they still hold up today. Harryhausen influenced countless artists after him and took special effects to a new level. His unique vision and memorable creations make the movies he worked on stand out - you always know when you're watching a movie with a Harryhausen stamp on it". -- SciFi Now