The Valley of Gwangi (1969)

I love this movie so much

Simply A Masterpiece

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

There were many movies made in the 1950s and 1960s about characters finding undiscovered territories with mythical beasts and them going on a rampage, this was one of those films I was interested in trying. Basically at the turn of the century, from the 19th to the 20th, in Mexico, female cowboy T.J. Breckenridge (Gila Golan) hosts a wild west rodeo show that is struggling, she is reacquainted with her former stuntman and former lover Tuck (James Franciscus). Tuck wants to buy her out, but T.J. has a trick up her sleeve to boost business, a Eohippus, a miniature prehistoric horse, this creature however comes from The Forbidden Valley, a convoy of gypsies are convinced it is cursed, they demand it be returned to the valley. British palaeontologist Professor Horace Bromley (Diamonds Are Forever's Laurence Naismith) has been working in the nearby desert, he is fascinated by the horse, but more so to find out more about its home, so he travels with Tuck, T.J. and her men to The Forbidden Valley in search of other prehistoric specimens. There the crew find a range of living dinosaurs, including a Pteranodon, an Ornithomimus and a Styracosaurus, they battle with these creatures, but the one that dominates all of them, and that humans want the most, is the Allosaurus, known as Gwangi by the gypsies. The Gwangi is captured by the men and taken to T.J.'s show, crowds gather to see this unseen creature, but a gypsy sets it free, the dinosaur attacks and kills many people in the town, including Bromley, until it is stabbed and trapped in a building that is burned to the ground. Also starring Richard Carlson as Champ, Freda Jackson as Tia Zorina and Gustavo Rojo as Carlos. There isn't really anything you can say about the fairly wooden actors, the story is patchy and predictable, an unsuccessful circus trying to save itself by finding a new attraction, but there are the present and ancient creatures, brought to life by the great stop- motion animation by Ray Harryhausen, the music by Jerome Moross (The Big Country) is sweeping in bits as well, it is not the most exciting, but it is an average routine western fantasy. Okay!

James Franciscus plays Tuck, an amiable hustler who comes back into the life of T.J. (lovely Gila Golan). T.J. is one of the participants in a Wild West show that is not doing so well at the moment. However, one of their people, Carlos (Gustavo Rojo) has ventured into a Mexican location known as the "Forbidden Valley" and come back with a prize: an adorable "Eohippus", or miniature prehistoric horse. Circumstances lead Tuck and others to head into the valley, where they encounter other ancient animals, such as a Styracosaurus and a very aggressive Allosaurus.In the well loved tradition of "King Kong", T.J. and her friends, including Champ (Richard Carlson), get the bright idea to introduce the Allosaurus - who gets christened Gwangi - to their show. Havoc predictably ensues.There may be viewers who will grow impatient with the pacing at first. "The Valley of Gwangi" runs longer than previous Ray Harryhausen - Charles H. Schneer productions at 96 minutes, and it's not until the movies' second half that we get to see any dinosaurs. But the little Eohippus is sure to charm people, not just children, and the story is very engaging.It helps that the actors are so sincere. The handsome Franciscus is good in the starring role, with fine support from Ms. Golan and Mr. Carlson. Young Curtis Arden is appealing in the role of Lope the child, who had to fend for himself from an early age and who is clearly eager to make a buck. Freda Jackson is amusing in the somewhat annoying, clichéd role of the wise old doomsayer who rants about the consequences of individuals going into the valley and bringing back "evil" specimens.As expected, Harryhausen's special effects are excellent. They're especially impressive in the movies' major set piece, when Tuck, Champ and others work overtime to try to lasso Gwangi. And once the action kicks into gear in this thing, a real fever pitch is reached and then maintained until the absolute end, with an exciting rampage.Mostly lighthearted entertainment, but G ratings weren't always what they are now: a few people do fall victim to the jaws and teeth of Gwangi.Very well directed by Jim O'Connolly ("Crooks and Coronets", "Tower of Evil").Seven out of 10.

James Franciscus stars as an ambitious cowboy who discovers a valley containing a T-Rex(called Gwangi) that he(along with others) captures and sells to a circus, where it becomes a star attraction. Of course, it doesn't appreciate its captivity, eventually escaping and causing havoc before it meets its fiery fate... Ray Harryhausen's model F/X are quite good, but once again, the story is predictable and routine, with little character involvement. Nice to see veteran actor Richard Carlson turn up, but despite a good pair of performances from him and Franciscus, the film falls short, though is remembered for mixing the cowboy and monster genres.

I always wanted to see Valley of The Gwangi. I mean, it has dinosaurs in it so what is there not to like? The story, plot and acting are all just terrible. This is a MST 3000 flashing blue light special. The Harryhausen F\X are the last that he did and it is obvious that time had passed his style by.There is base B grade movie charm as well as a babe and comedic sidekick action. There are gypsies. There is also an absolutely hilarious ending fight sequence where James Franciscus acts out for the first time scenes he will replay a couple years later in Beneath The Planet of the Apes...complete with organ blast! If you like B grade cheesy dinosaur movies then you will enjoy Gwangi. otherwise...stay away!