Here is a review of Harryhausen's Gwangi by the famous B-Monster
himself:


"VALLEY OF GWANGI
Film historian and Dinoship Publishing CEO Bob Madison weighs in with
the following assessment of an often-overlooked Ray Harryhausen
classic:

"Valley of Gwangi," long a neglected part of the Ray Harryhausen
canon, has received deluxe treatment in its DVD release from Warner
Home Video. "Gwangi" is a picture with everything: cowboys,
dinosaurs, a circus -- even a dinosaur-elephant fight near the end.
So, why has the picture never come into its own with genre fans? The
reasons for that are many. "Gwangi" really is a fantasy western, and
most genre fans are ambivalent about westerns, at best. Also, the
film's pace is more leisurely than other Harryhausen vehicles,
and,
though fierce, Gwangi himself lacks the mythic resonance of the Ymir
or Talos.

The perception that Gwangi's flaws outweigh its virtues is a
shame
because -- heresy alert on! -- "Gwangi" really is one of
Harryhausen's best films. The western aspects of the film play
well,
with a welcome focus on a traveling Wild West show, there are some
fine performances, and it features some of Harryhausen's most
stunning set pieces. In short -- when some Wild West show types get
their hands on a mini prehistoric horse, they follow gypsies bent on
returning the beast to a lost valley in the American badlands where
dinosaurs still live. They rope a fierce allosaurus, Gwangi, and take
it back to headline in the Wild West show. Needless to say, it
escapes…

In synopsis, Gwangi sounds like too much Buffalo Bill Meets King
Kong, but the film is surprisingly effective. Gwangi may be
Harryhausen's most convincingly animated creature -- it's an
animal
that never looks too fantastic to be unreal. The sequence where the
cowboys rope Gwangi like a steer is beautifully done (and surpasses
the similar scene in "Mighty Joe Young"), and the elephant battle is
more convincing (and harrowing!) than the twin sequence in "20
Million Miles to Earth."

The performances (usually a low point in Harryhausen films) are
particularly good, with Franciscus in great form as the initially
venal hero and Naismith as the scientist who would also exploit
Gwangi. (Like the film itself, Franciscus never seems to have gotten
his due from genre fans for this and his other major credit, "Beneath
the Planet of the Apes." He's a good actor and one hell of a lot
easier to take than Charlton Heston.)

The DVD print is crisp and clear -- this is the first time I've
seen
this 1969 film in widescreen format and it's a treat. Also
included
are various Harryhausen trailers, and a short featurette, "Return to
the Valley." While not bad, the featurette is in no way a "making
of," which would have been much appreciated. Instead, we are
treated
to Harryhausen's reminiscences on his work in the film. Fun, but
it
could have been more. Make time to visit "The Valley of Gwangi."
It's
a trip you'll never forget."
__________________

I'll take his word for it. I find I agree with most all of this
review.

Dean