The Eohippus

Creator: Ray Harryhausen

Film: The Valley of Gwangi

Eohippus Video Clip

 

The tiny eohippus or “El Diabo” as some called him, was the new main attraction for Buffalo Bill’s Circus Show, a creature that came from what was called the Forbidden Valley. The eohippus was believed to be the ancient ancestor to the modern horse. The small creature even though cute came with a curse, according to Tia Zorina the creature must be return to the valley or doom will befall. Professor Bromley learns of the eohippus, and cons the Zorina into stealing the horse so that he can follow her to the valley. Now TJ, Tuck, Champ Connors, and the rest must travel to the Valley in search of the creature. Following the Professor they find the secret entrance to the valley but are attacked by prehistoric creatures, indeed the Forbidden Valley is a place lost in time where Dinosaurs roam freely, one of which is Gwangi a huge Allosaur. The men battle with the creatures and end up trapping Gwangi and taking him back to town, for the Circus Show. The curse of the eohippus came true as the town is nearly destroyed by Gwangi but in the end the creature is defeated…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Eohippus Facts

 

• In the original story there was a herd, but in this version only one was shown, introducing the adventures into the forbidden valley.

 

• The tabletop, including the barn and corral, were miniatures used for the live-action shots with Gila, Jim and Naismith as well as for the animation.

 

• Using a cardboard cut-out of the Eohippus Ray would rehearse the actors, telling them that the creature would move from point A to point B, after which he would shoot the sequence without the cut-out.

 

 

Credit: An Animated Life

By Tony Dalton