Academy Presents Harryhausen Double Feature 7/16

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present two classic films highlighting the work of stop-motion animation and visual effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen, "20 Million Miles to Earth" and "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad," on Friday, July 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The screening is presented in conjunction with the Academy's current exhibition "The Fantastical Worlds of Ray Harryhausen," and there will be special gallery hours from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and after the screening.

Directed by Nathan Juran and produced by Charles H. Schneer, "20 Million Miles to Earth" (1957) was Harryhausen's final black-and-white film. It features one of his favorite monsters, the Ymir, who survives the crash of a spaceship returning from the first human exploration of Venus, and ultimately wreaks havoc on the city of Rome.

In "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" (1958), the famed sailor and his fiancée Princess Parisa land on an island in search of provisions while on their way to Baghdad to be married. On the island, they encounter an evil magician, a genie and many Harryhausen creations, including a man-eating Cyclops. Also directed by Juran and produced by Schneer, this action-packed adventure was Harryhausen's first Dynamation film in color and is considered one of his best.

"The Fantastical Worlds of Ray Harryhausen" is open to the public through August 22 in the Academy's Fourth Floor Gallery in Beverly Hills. Regular viewing hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends, noon to 6 p.m. Admission to the gallery is free.

Tickets for the Harryhausen double feature on July 16 are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID, and may be purchased online at www.oscars.org, in person at the Academy box office or by mail. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The Samuel Goldwyn Theater is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. All seating is unreserved. For more information, call (310) 247-3600 or visit www.oscars.org.