The Valley of Gwangi (1969)

Director:

Jim O'Connolly

Writers:

William Bast (writer)
Julian More (additional material)

Release Date:

25 July 1969 (West Germany)

Genre:

Western | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Cowboys Battle Monsters in the Lost World of Forbidden Valley.

Plot:

Cowboy James Franciscus seeks fame and fortune by capturing a Tyrannosaurus Rex living in the Forbidden Valley and putting it in a Mexican circus...

Plot Keywords:

Horse | Wild West Show | Dinosaur | Cowboy | Paleontologist

Cast

James Franciscus	...	Tuck Kirby
Gila Golan	...	T.J. Breckenridge
Richard Carlson	...	Champ Connors
Laurence Naismith	...	Prof. Horace Bromley
Freda Jackson	...	Tia Zorina
Gustavo Rojo	...	Carlos dos Orsos
Dennis Kilbane	...	Rowdy
Mario De Barros	...	Bean
Curtis Arden	...	Lope

Also Known As:

Gwangi
The Lost Valley
The Valley Time Forgot
The Valley Where Time Stood Still

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | USA:G | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company:

Morningside Productions

Trivia:

In 1971, Warner Brothers cleverly reissued this film in the USA on a double bill with When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970).

Goofs:

Factual errors: In several shots something will have a shadow. When Gwangi walks by in that same angle, he will not have a shadow. One example is in the church.

Quotes:

Professor Bromley: This circle of mountains, jagged peaks, steep cliffs, could be the perfect barrier against man and the elements.
Tuck: No wonder they call it the forbidden valley.
Professor Bromley: Yes, it might be the answer to many things. We shall soon see, Mr Kirby.

Movie Connections:

Remake of The Beast of Hollow Mountain (1956)

Cowboys lasso carnivorous creatures from the past.

Special effects master Ray Harryhausen is at the top of his game. What sounds corny turns out to be a very interesting cult classic. Jim O'Connolly directs this western meets science fiction thriller about cowboys discovering a lost valley of prehistoric monsters/creatures. These historical finds are then suppose to be the show saving performers in a traveling circus.

This turns out to be one the best dino movies you will ever see. The stop-motion animation is blended so well, it should take top billing. So many other movies are so fake in appearance...this project sticks out like a masterpiece.

The cast includes James Franciscus, Richard Carlson, Laurence Naismith and the alluring Miss Gila Golan.