Charles H. Schneer

Born in Norfolk Virginia he graduated from Columbia University in 1940 Serving in the US Armys Signal Corps Photographic Unit during the war and moved to Hollywood following demobilisation After joining Columbia Pictures he was introduced to Harryhausen by a mutual friend from Schneers time in the Army1 Together they made It Came From Beneath The Sea 1955 about a giant octopus that wreaks havoc on the Golden Gate Bridge The octopus had only six tentacles which Schneer is reported to have been correct in claiming no one would notice2 This film made use of stopmotion photography which the two men were to use to greater effect in later films including Jason and the Argonauts 1963 The Golden Voyage of Sinbad 1973 and Clash of the Titans 1981 In 1960 he moved his base of operations to London where he remained for 45 years Beside the fantasy films he also produced the film version of the stage musical Half a Sixpence 1967 starring Tommy Steele and Hellcats of the Navy 1957 the only film starring both Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan as Nancy Davis3 Schneer died in Boca Raton Florida aged 88