Of course his films provided some of the finest opportunities for film composers, ever, as well as influencing generations of moviemakers and filmgoers forever.
Sorry to hear about his passing. He was a pioneer and legend in movie special effects. I watched my dvd IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA two weeks ago and was thinking Harryhausen was very old and reaching the point of no return.
A month ago I bought the alien from EARTH VS. FLYING SAUCERS and the giant octopus attacking the Golden Gate Bridge from IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA to go with my Ymir model from 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH.
Sorry to hear about his passing. I watched my dvd IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA two weeks ago and was thinking Harryhausen was very old and reaching the point of no return.
A month ago I bought the alien from EARTH VS. FLYING SAUCERS and the giant octopus attacking the Golden Gate Bridge from IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA to go with my Ymir model from 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH.
The quintopus! Because it was cheaper to animate five tentacles instead of eight!
Right......I was watching the dvd commentary with Harryhausen commenting on his leg-deprived octopus. On the model I bought which is licensed by Harryhausen and Columbia Pictures, it's obvious the model was taken from the black and white photos from the movie. The Golden Gate Bridge is dark grey, and the green octopus is black (Harryhausen said his actual octopus model was lavender, but it's green in the colorized dvd).
I can't say it's entirely unexpected given his age but I am immensely saddened. The man was/is a special effects giant, a true colossus who's influence is near incalculable. I doubt you'll find any modern day sfx wizard who doesn't site him as an influence and there's more than a few directors too, Tim Burton, Joe Dante and Steven Spielberg all come to mind.
Ray enhanced my childhood and has given me so many hours of enjoyment over the decades, I raise a glass to you Ray, legend and genius.
Sad loss indeed. My personal favourite was always The Golden Voyage of Sinbad. The first Harryhausen film I saw at the cinema and the memory of this film has stayed with me since.
As amazing as his talent was, he was one of the sweetest, most gentle of men you'd ever want to know. I was among a lucky group of people (including John Morgan, Bill Stromberg, my wife Katy, and Jim D'Arc of BYU) who got to get together with him when he came to town in LA. Some wonderful memories of him and his sweet wife Diana that mean as much as his amazing cinematic accomplishments. If you were lucky enough to meet him, you no doubt are aware of what a kind and generous person he was, and always with a twinkle in his eye. The fact that he went into a recording studio with us to "clash some cymbals" for a silly overdub speaks volumes for what a lovely person he was.
The fact that he continues to inspire today's filmmakers is proof that his work will live forever. 
