The Golden Voyage of Sinbad Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 19, 2017

Gordon Hessler's "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad" (1973) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of courtesy of British label Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; exclusive new video interviews with actors Tom Baker and Caroline Munro; promotional materials; archival audio interview with interview with Ray Harryhausen and Charles H. Schneer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Gordon Hessler's The Golden Voyage of Sinbad is included in this three-disc box set together with Nathan Juran's The 7th Voyage of Sinbad and Sam Wanamaker's Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. For a complete analysis of The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, please see my colleague Jeff Kauffman's review of the North American release here.

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Gordon Hessler's The Golden Voyage of Sinbad arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

The release is sourced from a 2K restoration that was prepared by Sony Pictures. Generally speaking, all of the basic qualities that we typically scrutinize in our reviews look quite good -- detail is very pleasing, fluidity is consistent, and color balance is convincing. As it is the case with the rest of the Sinbad films there are some very noticeable fluctuations in terms 0f density, but these are the type organic fluctuations that can very easily be traced back to the film's original visual style and composition. Basically, you should be able see these fluctuations primarily in areas where the special effects become quite prominent -- compare screenwriters #1 and 4 and 3 and 18. Grain appears nicely exposed and resolved, though during a few of the darker sequences there is room for specific optimizations (see screencapture #11). Also, there are a few segments with some pretty noticeable black crush (see screencaptures #6 and 13). Large debris, damage marks, cuts, and warps have been removed as best possible. My score is 4.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit), and English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit). Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the film with the lossless Mono track and I could instantly tell that it was remastered. While I don't know when exactly, the overall excellent stability and balance clearly point to a range of efforts that must have been done to eliminate as many age-related imperfections as possible. So even if in the future additional work is done on the film, the current audio mix will almost certainly be retained.

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Theatrical Trailer - original trailer for The Golden Voyage of Sinbad. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Image Gallery - a large collection of original promotional materials for the film.

• Isolated Score - presented as DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.

• Super 8 Versions - presented here are four version. In English, with optional English subtitles. (30 min).
  
  1. Sinbad and the Oracle
  2. Sinbad Battles the Monsters
  3. Sinbad Duels the Magic Sword
  4. Sinbad Duels the Idol with Many Arms

• The Harryhausen Legacy - this archival featurette focuses on the career and legacy of Ray Harryhausen. Included in it are clips from interviews with archivist and film historian Bob Burns, directors John Landis and Joe Dante, and visual effects artists Phil Tippett (Jurassic Park) and Hoyt Yeatman (The Abyss), amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (26 min).

• Golden Girl - in this brand new video interview, actress Caroline Munro recalls how she was cast to play Margiana, and discusses her initial impressions of Ray Harryhausen and producer Charles Schneer, the shooting process, the visual style of the Sinbad films, the lasting appeal of The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, etc. The interview was conducted exclusively for Indicator/Powerhouse Films. In English, not subtitled. (15 min).

• Golden Years - in this brand new video interview, actor Tom Baker discusses in great detail his contribution to The Golden Voyage of Sinbad and some memorable interactions with various cast and crew members. The interview was conducted exclusively for Indicator/Powerhouse Films. In English, not subtitled. (37 min).

• BFI Audio Interview with Ray Harryhausen and Charles H. Schneer - presented here is an archival audio interview with Ray Harryhausen and producer Charles H. Schneer which was conducted at the National Film Theatre, London, in 1970. The two gentlemen discuss a variety of different topics, from the evolution of their professional relationship and careers to their experiences with the BBFC to the special effects that were done for the Sinbad films. In English, not subtitled. (90 min).

• Booklet - also included with this release is an 80-page illustrated booklet with new essays and film credits.

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you like the other two films in the The Sinbad Trilogy there is an excellent chance that you will also have a good time with Gordon Hessler's The Golden Voyage of Sinbad. I can't say that I have ever been a big admirer of this film, but I think that the music score that Miklós Rózsa composed for it is fantastic and Caroline Munro looks absolutely terrific in it, so it was nice to revisit it on Blu-ray. The release is sourced from a good 2K restoration that was prepared by Sony Pictures. Recommended, but only to fans of the Sinbad films.