The Story of King Midas
About The Story of King Midas
A visitor grants King Midas the touch that turns things to gold. Food hardens before he can eat it. When he embraces his daughter she becomes a gold statue. The visitor comes back and lets him give the gift up.
Cast & crew
More about The Story of King Midas
Ray Harryhausen produced and directed this ten-minute stop-motion short in 1953. Charlotte Knight wrote the narration. Del Moore narrates.
Themes
Making
Harryhausen animated the transformations himself, replacing objects and the daughter puppet pose by pose.
Technique
The opening titles say the short was photographed in three-dimensional animation.
Preservation
The Academy Film Archive preserved it in 2004.
Notes
- Martha Reske is credited for the costumes.
- Walter Soul is credited as music editor.
- Del Moore later played supporting parts in Jerry Lewis films, including The Nutty Professor.
Scenes
- Each bite of food turns to gold in Midas's hands.
- He hugs his daughter and she stiffens into a statue.
- The visitor returns and lifts the touch.
Influenced by
- The Midas story
Also available
- Internet Archive (StoryOfKingMidas)
- Academy Film Archive
