The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present “The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal” on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 4:00 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.
This special event will also feature two Academy Award-winning “Puppetoons” restored in Technicolor:
“Good Night Rusty” and “Dr. Seuss’ The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins”.
Before “E.T.” and “Star Wars” there was “The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal”.
“The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal” is an unforgettable celebration and endearing tribute to the life and career of the father of science fiction and fantasy in modern film — George Pal. Before Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, Pal ignited moviegoers’ imaginations with tales of adventure and fantasy.
The documentary covers the five-decades life and career of the Academy Award-winning producer-director whose vision and groundbreaking works continue to inspire the filmmakers of today. Presented are interviews with the stars and filmmakers whose lives he touched, along with famous movie scenes, rare footage, and original artist’s renderings.
Three years in the making, “Fantasy Film Worlds” details Pal’s life and work from his marvelous Oscar-winning “Puppetoons” to Rod Taylor’s journey in “The Time Machine” and Gene Barry’s battle against Martians in “The War of the Worlds”. The film also includes “Destination Moon” (Chesley Bonestell), “When Worlds Collide” (Barbara Rush), “Houdini” (Tony Curtis & Janet Leigh), “The Naked Jungle” (Charlton Heston), “The Conquest of Space”, “Tom Thumb” (Russ Tamblyn), “Atlantis the Lost Continent, The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm” (Barbara Eden), “7 Faces of Dr. Lao” (Tony Randall) and “The Great Rupert” (Jimmy Durante).
Produced, written and directed by Arnold Leibovit with chief advisor Mrs. George Pal “The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal features Charlton Heston, Rod Taylor, Alan Young, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, Russ Tamblyn, Barbara Eden, Tony Randall, Ann Robinson, Gene Roddenberry, Roy E. Disney, Ray Bradbury, Ray Harryhausen, Robert Wise, Joe Dante, Walter Lantz, Robert Bloch, Chesley Bonestell, Wah Chang, Gene Warren Sr., Jim Danforth, William Tuttle, Duke Goldstone, Gae Griffith, Albert Nozaki, George Pal, Mrs. George Pal and Paul Frees (narrator).
This is the story of a man whose creative talents never ran roughshod over his humanity. Star reminiscences and lavish film scenes add up to a moving portrait and epic journey for anyone who has ever marveled at the magic and imagination of the movies.
Filmmaker Arnold Leibovit will host this special event and discussion following the screening. Leibovit produced and directed “The Puppetoon Movie” (1987), “The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal” (1986), “The Puppetoon Movie Volume 2 & 3”, executive produced “The Time Machine” (2002) (Warner Bros. & Steven Spielberg), produced “The Time Machine Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Score”, co-directed “Rascal Dazzle” and others plus has been the decades-long keeper of the flame of George. Leibovit is the recipient of many awards including George Pal Memorial Award (the Saturn) from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror and the Rondo Award for Best Blu-ray Collection 2024 for “The Puppetoon Movie Volume 3”.