The Big Screen in the Sky

Today Film Gab sadly marks the passing of special effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen. Harryhausen's work with stop motion animation in such films as The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953) and Jason and the Argonauts (1963) not only set the standard for motion picture special effects, but also thrilled a generation of moviegoers who pre-dated the CGI revolution. Whether it was a giant dinosaur, a group of grinning, fighting skeletons, or the terrifying, snake-headed Medusa from Harryhausen's swan song, Clash of the Titans (1981), Harryhausen's creations lept from the screen straight into our imaginations.