The Valley of Gwangi (1969)

Director:

Jim O'Connolly

Writers:

William Bast (screenplay)
Julian More (additional material)
(more)

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:

Valley | Horse | Wild West Show | Tyrannosaurus | Allosaurus

Cast

James Franciscus	...	Tuck
Gila Golan	...	T.J.
Richard Carlson	...	Champ
Laurence Naismith	...	Professor Bromley
Freda Jackson	...	Tia Zorina
Gustavo Rojo	...	Carlos
Dennis Kilbane	...	Rowdy
Mario De Barros	...	Bean (as Mario de Barros also)
Curtis Arden	...	Lope
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jose Burgos	...	The Dwarf (uncredited)

Directed by
Jim O'Connolly		(as James O'Connolly)

Writing credits
William Bast		(screenplay) (as William E. Bast)
Julian More		(additional material)
Willis H. O'Brien		(earlier film project "Gwangi") uncredited

Produced by
Ray Harryhausen	....	associate producer
Charles H. Schneer	....	producer

Original Music by
Jerome Moross

Cinematography by
Erwin Hillier		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Henry Richardson

Art Direction by
Gil Parrondo

Production Management
Miguel Gil	....	production manager
Luis Roberts	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Pedro Vidal	....	assistant director
Carlos Gil	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Philip Bottomley	....	dubbing editor
Selwyn Petterson	....	dubbing editor
Malcolm Stewart	....	sound (as Malcolm Steward)
Bill Creed	....	sound (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Ray Harryhausen	....	creator of visual effects
Arthur Hayward	....	creature sculptor
Gerald Larn	....	matte painter (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alec Mills	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
John Furniss	....	wardrobe designer
Tony Pueo	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Antonio Pueo)

Music Department
Jerome Moross	....	conductor
Gary Hughes	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Gladys Goldsmith	....	continuity
Juan Maján	....	horse master (as Juan Majan)
Antonio Saura	....	title designer

Production Companies

• Warner Brothers/Seven Arts (as Warner Bros.-Seven Arts)
• Morningside Productions (uncredited)

Distributors

• Warner Brothers/Seven Arts (1969) (USA) (theatrical) (as Warner Bros. - Seven Arts)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1972) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Also Known As:

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 (video re-rating) (2003) | UK:12 (video rating) (1995) | UK:A (original rating) (passed with cuts)

Filming Locations:

Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company:

Warner Brothers/Seven Arts

Trivia:

The sound that Gwangi makes is that of a camel and a raspberry run backwards.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Gwangi's apparent color changes several times over the course of the movie because there was so much animation to do that Harryhausen did not have enough time to do proper color testing.

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:

Featured in "Friends: The One Where Joey Speaks French (#10.13)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Gypsy Flamenco

Best Dinosaurs vs. Cowboys Movie Ever!

The Valley of Gwangi is a good Ray Harryhausen creature feature with an interesting premise: a group of cowboys down in Mexico find a hidden valley full of killer dinosaurs. They bring one, an allosaurus, back to civilization, with predictably destructive results.

The film is above average Saturday matinée fare, with limited bloodshed and extremely good effects, considering the time period, by Harryhausen. The setting and plot set it apart from the typical jungle based lost world thriller. Furthermore, the performances, while not Oscar winning, are decent, with James Franciscus providing a strong lead.

Overall, this is a good film for families with children that are into creature features, but are too young for more violent modern horror movies.