I really enjoyed this film as a kid - and that's because, like in so many of these Sinbad films, the visual effects from Ray Harryhausen are great and here Torin Thatcher's efforts as the malevolent and scheming "Sokurah" work really well too. Kerwin Matthews does fine as the hero, hoping to be married to the princess "Parisa" (Kathryn Grant) until they run into the aforementioned magician whom they rescue from an island. Thing is, he really wants to get back there armed with a mighty crossbow. "Sinbad" is, however, completely loved up and has no intention of returning once they reach Baghdad, so the evil one conjures up a spell that turns the princess into something a little more diminutive. You help me get back to my island and I'll restore "Parisa" from bite size. With caliphs and their armies ready to start a war over their predicament, "Sinbad" is left with no choice than to trust the plotting sorcerer - and yep, betrayal looms large. What's all the fuss about? Why does he want to get back so urgently? Well - that's down to the kindly but all-powerful genie (Richard Eyer) who must obey the person who says the magic words. Can our intrepid sailor fend off his foe, restore his love and make it back against giant rocks (birds), a cyclops and a great big dragon? Well no, jeopardy isn't really the point here - but the hand-crafted, stop-motion, animation shows off well what a creative man Harryhausen was and with Nathan Juran keeping the pace rollicking along we can easily overlook the rather wooden efforts of the couple and the unremarkable writing. I love this genre of cinema, swash and buckle and action all the way - and this is a good example, well worth ninety minutes.
