We’re back in Victoria Park for our annual outdoor screening and things are going to get monstrous!

Love Westerns? Love dinosaur movies? Ever wanted to see a film where those two genres come together gloriously? We give you The Valley of Gwangi!

Let us stress off the bat – we don’t think this is a bad film. However it is criminally underseen, which is why we want to show it.

Lost to the mists of times, The Valley of Gwangi is one of those fascinating films from cinematic history. Originally conceived by King Kong director Willis O’Brien, the film tells the story of a group of cowboys who discover a lost valley of dinosaurs. Naturally, they think the best thing to do is to capture one and put it in a Wild West show.

While, Willis died before his version of ‘Gwangi’ could be made (it would have been set it the Grand Canyon), the project was picked up by director Jim O’Connolly who hired stop-motion legend Ray Harryhausen (Jason and the Argonauts) to create the dinosaurs.

Harryhausen spent over a year on the effects and they look glorious. Don’t miss out on seeing this cult monster movie on the big screen!

When: Saturday 8th August. Arrive for 8.00pm – film will begin after sunset

Location: Victoria Park, in front of the playground near Mrs Brown’s cafe

The screening will continue even if it rains. Only a severe weather event will put us off!

Ticket holders are encouraged to bring picnics and make an evening of it.

Tickets: £5 (in advance) (FREE for children under the age of 10) (all profits going to Friends of Victoria Park in association with VPAG)

ADVANCE TICKETS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED ON THE NIGHT.

When TJ Breckenridge (Gina Golan) hears of a forbidden Mexican valley where mythical creatures are rumoured to exist, she and members of her Wild West show attempt to capture something which she can exhibit at her show. They are amazed to find a huge Allosaurus which the locals have named Gwangi, or “Terrible One”!

“It says something about the production and about Harryhausen’s artistry when we realize that Gwangi, the snarling dinosaur created from a tabletop model, is the most realistically alive character on the screen.” Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com

“How can a dinosaur fan of any age not love ‘Gwangi,’ in which the title Allosaurus makes his public debut with the unscheduled addition of a screaming dwarf between his jaws?”  John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal

“Cowboys and dinosaurs!” Luke Y. Thompson New Times