The Story of King Midas

Plot

The Story of King Midas follows the classic Greek myth of a greedy king whose insatiable desire for wealth leads to his downfall. After being granted the magical ability to turn everything he touches into gold by a mysterious visitor, Midas initially revels in his newfound power, transforming ordinary objects into precious metal. His joy quickly turns to horror when he discovers that his gift has become a curse - the food he tries to eat turns to gold before reaching his lips, and in the film's most tragic moment, his beloved daughter is transformed into a golden statue when he embraces her. Desperate and remorseful, Midas is visited again by the mysterious benefactor who offers him a chance to reverse the curse, which the humbled king eagerly accepts, learning that true wealth lies not in material riches but in human connection and love.

Historical Background

Created in 1953, 'The Story of King Midas' emerged during the golden age of American animation and at the dawn of the Cold War era. This period saw renewed interest in classical mythology as filmmakers sought stories with universal themes that could resonate with contemporary audiences. The early 1950s also marked a transition in animation from theatrical shorts to television content, with independent animators like Harryhausen exploring new avenues for their work. The film's themes of greed and its consequences carried particular resonance in an America experiencing post-war prosperity but also facing growing materialism and the beginning of consumer culture. Harryhausen's work represented a bridge between classic animation techniques and the emerging field of special effects that would dominate genre cinema in the decades to follow.

Making Of

Ray Harryhausen created 'The Story of King Midas' during a transitional period in his career, working independently to develop his unique stop-motion animation style. The film was produced in Harryhausen's garage studio in Los Angeles, where he built all the miniature sets and puppets by hand. Harryhausen faced significant technical challenges in creating the gold transformation effects, requiring him to carefully plan each sequence and create multiple versions of props at different stages of transformation. The narration by Del Moore was recorded separately and synchronized with the animation during post-production. This project served as a demonstration reel that helped Harryhausen secure funding for his later, more ambitious projects. The film's preservation by the Academy Film Archive in 2004 helped ensure that this important early work would not be lost to time.

Visual Style

The cinematography of 'The Story of King Midas' was accomplished using 35mm film with careful attention to lighting the miniature sets to create depth and atmosphere. Harryhausen employed forced perspective techniques to make his small sets appear larger and more grandiose. The camera work was deliberately static for most sequences to maintain consistency in the stop-motion animation, though subtle movements were incorporated during transformation scenes to enhance the magical effect. The gold transformation sequences required special lighting adjustments to create the illusion of objects changing material properties, with Harryhausen using reflective gold paint and strategic lighting to achieve the metallic sheen.

Innovations

'The Story of King Midas' showcased several technical innovations that would become hallmarks of Harryhausen's later work. The film demonstrated early mastery of the split-screen technique for combining different elements in the same frame. The gold transformation effects required careful planning and execution, with Harryhausen developing methods for gradually changing the appearance of objects across multiple frames. The film also featured sophisticated puppet articulation, allowing for more expressive character movements than was typical in stop-motion animation of the period. These technical achievements represented significant steps forward in the art of animation and visual effects, laying groundwork for Harryhausen's more ambitious projects.

Music

The film's musical score was composed to enhance the mythological atmosphere while supporting the emotional narrative arc. The music incorporated classical elements reminiscent of ancient Greek themes, using string instruments and subtle percussion to create a sense of antiquity and wonder. The soundtrack was synchronized with the animation to emphasize key moments, particularly during the transformation sequences and the emotional climax when Midas's daughter turns to gold. Del Moore's narration was recorded with a warm, storytelling tone that helped guide viewers through the compact narrative, his voice adding gravitas to the moral lesson at the story's heart.

Memorable Scenes

• The heartbreaking moment when King Midas embraces his daughter and watches in horror as she transforms into a golden statue, his face contorting from joy to utter despair as he realizes the true cost of his greed.
• The initial discovery of Midas's golden touch, where he experimentally touches various objects in his throne room, his growing excitement visible as roses, goblets, and pillars all gleam with newfound gold.
• The frantic dinner scene where Midas desperately tries to eat, only to watch each morsel turn to gold before it reaches his lips, highlighting the curse behind his supposed blessing.

What Critics Said

Contemporary critical reception for 'The Story of King Midas' was limited due to its status as an independent short film, though those who saw it praised Harryhausen's technical innovation and storytelling ability. Animation enthusiasts and industry professionals recognized the film as demonstrating remarkable promise from the young animator. Modern critics and film historians view the work as an essential piece of Harryhausen's artistic development, noting how it foreshadowed the techniques he would perfect in his later career. The film is now appreciated as a masterclass in miniature storytelling and an important artifact from the early days of independent animation production.

What Audiences Thought

As a short film that never received wide theatrical distribution, 'The Story of King Midas' had limited initial audience exposure. However, those who did see it, particularly at animation festivals and special screenings, were impressed by Harryhausen's ability to tell a complete, emotionally resonant story in just ten minutes. The film has gained appreciation over the years among Harryhausen enthusiasts and animation historians who recognize it as a foundational work in the animator's oeuvre. Modern audiences discovering the film through archives and special presentations often express surprise at its sophistication and emotional depth, considering its modest scale and early production date.

You Might Also Like