By Edwin Jahiel
THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD (1958). Nathan Juran directed this fantasy which gives Torin Thatcher a rare chance to be almost at the center of things, as an evil magician.The adventures involve Sinbad (pretty-boy Kerwin Matthews); his fiancee Princess Kathryn Grant (Mrs. Bing Crosby) --who has been lilliputized; a demonstration of the magician's skill; a mutinous crew; giant roc eggs :two-headed birds; a duel withskeletons which remains a marvel to this day; and more wonders. The special effects by Ray Harryhausen are almost legendary, though now, after we hav seen what can be done withcomputers, some of the tricks ,albeit still admirable, may be less impressive. The production is lavish. in beautiful Technicolor.
Kathryn Grant, in mien, voice and delivery, is less believable as a princess than the magic creatures. She is much closer to a telephone operator, an elevator attendant, or at most, an All-American chorus girl.
The Genie, played by a kid who mouths his lines by rote, is yukky. The film is fun, but it would be "just" a top technical achievement were it not for the rich, inventive Bernard Herrmann score. After blase future viewers will have been exposed to even more special effects cine-magic, Herrmann's music will be by far the movie's most enduring accomplishment. (Edwin Jahiel)