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The Animal World (film)

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The Animal World
Theatrical release poster
Directed byIrwin Allen
Written byIrwin Allen
Produced byIrwin Allen
Narrated byTheodore Von Eltz
CinematographyHarold E. Wellman
Edited byRobert Belcher
Gene Palmer
Music byPaul Sawtell
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • May 30, 1956 (1956-05-30) (New York)
Running time
82 minutes
CountryUnited States

The Animal World is a 1956 American documentary film that was produced, written and directed by Irwin Allen. The film includes live-action footage of animals throughout the world, along with a ten-minute stop motion animated sequence about dinosaurs.

Irwin's intention was to show the progression of life over time, although he noted, "We don't use the word 'evolution.' We hope to walk a very thin line. On one hand we want the scientists to say this film is right and accurate, and yet we don't want to have the church picketing the film."[1]

Dinosaur sequence

The special effects in the film's dinosaur sequence were produced by Ray Harryhausen and Willis O'Brien. Irwin originally planned to film the scenes as a series of static dioramas with plastic models, but Harryhausen suggested that the scenes would be more memorable if they were animated.[2] The dinosaurs that appear include a Stegosaurus, a pair of Ceratosaurus, a Triceratops, a Tyrannosaurus (which doubles as an Allosaurus), and a female Brachiosaurus, along with one of her hatchlings.[2]

O’Brien built the dinosaur models and miniature landscapes while the actual animation was performed by Harryhausen. With the stop-motion dinosaur sequence scheduled for only six weeks of filming, Harryhausen used two cameras for the sequence to get more footage in less time, and in interviews after his retirement he stated he ran into a “censorship problem” (apparently with the Hays Office) because it was felt the dinosaur fights were too gruesome, even though, as Harryhausen pointed out, the film's live action sequences show fights between lions and gazelles and the like.

For many years, still shots from the segment were included in View-Master slide show reels.[3] Some of the footage was reused for portions of the Night Gallery season 2 episode "The Painted Mirror," as well as in the 1970 film Trog,[4] and the entire sequence was released as an extra on the 2003 DVD release of The Black Scorpion.[5]

Reception

The film ended up with a profit of over $500,000.[6]

Comic book adaptation

See also

References

  1. ^ Oscar Godbout. "From primordial ooze to primates". The New York Times. 13 February 1955. p. 113.
  2. ^ a b Roy P. Webber. The Dinosaur Films of Ray Harryhausen. McFarland & Company, 2004. p. 87-88.
  3. ^ Scott Shaw. "The Animal World". Comic Book Resource. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
  4. ^ Michael H. Price. "Tape it". The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 4 March 1995. Arts and Entertainment, p. 1.
  5. ^ Randy A. Salas. "Classic silent horror films make creepy mark on DVD". The Augusta Chronicle. 31 October 2003. p. A16.
  6. ^ "Irwin Allen's Slants on Stars". Variety. 9 October 1957. p. 21.
  7. ^ "Dell Four Color #713". Grand Comics Database.
  8. ^ Dell Four Color #713 at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)


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