CULVER CITY, Calif., April 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Movie Channel pays tribute to Ray Harryhausen—the special effects pioneer who passed away a year ago this month—with themed blocks every Wednesday in May, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. On May 7, explore "The Early Work" with the SMC-exclusive documentary RAY HARRYHAUSEN: SPECIAL EFFECTS TITAN—a career-spanning retrospective as the man behind the monsters discusses his timeless films, combined with sit-down interviews with the filmmakers he inspired, such as Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg, and Guillermo del Toro. The doc is followed by IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA and 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH.

"Sinbad" is the focus on May 14, with THE 7^th VOYAGE OF SINBAD; THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD; and SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER; then it's "Seafaring Adventure" with JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS and THE 3 WORLDS OF GULLIVER, on May 21; and, on May 28, experience Jules Verne's MYSTERIOUS ISLAND, and the H.G. Wells-inspired FIRST MEN IN THE MOON in the "Fathers of Science Fiction" double feature. Additionally, SMC presents a nine-film marathon highlighting some of Harryhausen's most classic works, on Saturday, May 3 at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT.

Sony Movie Channel presents two television premieres in May starting with THE RUM DIARY on Friday, May 9 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. THE RUM DIARY stars Johnny Depp in this Hunter S. Thompson adaptation. Then, on Thursday, May 15, the Channel is broadcasting the television premiere of the British thriller RETREAT, starring Cillian Murphy and Thandie Newton, at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Every Sunday in May, SMC is putting the spotlight on five Best Cinematography nominees whose boldness is best enjoyed in high definition in its new "HD Classics" block, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The lineup launches with A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT on May 4, followed by SENSE & SENSIBILITY on May 11; CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON on May 18; and DAS BOOT on May 25.

And SMC salutes the troops with a special 17-film Memorial Day Marathon on Sunday, May 25, at 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT, through Monday, May 26. The diverse lineup opens with THE PRINCESS AND THE MARINE, and features such military-themed favorites as HANOVER STREET, THE NIGHT OF THE GENERALS, THE FOG OF WAR, 1941, THE COCKLESHELL HEROES, and SAHARA.

Suggested Tweets:

• Click to Tweet: Sony Movie Channel Celebrates The Legacy of Ray Harryhausen Every Wed. In May, And Presents A 9-Film Marathon May 3 @Sonymoviech
• Click to Tweet: Johnny Depp Stars in the TV Premiere of "THE RUM DIARY," on Sony Movie Channel Friday, May 9, at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT @sonymoviech

MAY PROGRAMMING PRIME TIME HIGHLIGHTS  (All Times Eastern)

Mandays-Action Adventure Movies

Monday, May 5 – Sci-Fi Action
8:10 p.m. – SILENT RAGE (1982)
10 p.m. – THE 6^th DAY (2000)

Monday, May 12 – Christopher Lambert
8:20 p.m. – FORTRESS 2: RE-ENTRY (2000)
10 p.m. – THE POINT MEN (2001)

Monday, May 19 – Cuba Gooding Jr.
8:10 p.m. – TICKING CLOCK (2011)
10 p.m. – HARDWIRED (2009)

Monday, May 26 – Memorial Day
8 p.m. – SAHARA (1995)
10 p.m. – IKE: COUNTDOWN TO D-DAY (2004)

Take Two Tuesdays

Tuesday, May 6 – Sexy Drama
8:20 p.m. – SWEPT AWAY (2002)
10 p.m. – BASIC INSTINCT 2 (2006)

Tuesday, May 13 – Military Romance
8:30 p.m. – THE PRINCESS AND THE MARINE (2001)
10 p.m. – HANOVER STREET (1979)

Tuesday, May 20 – Desperate Cops
8:20 p.m. – BLOOD CRIME (2002)
10 p.m. – DESPERATE MEASURES (1998)

Tuesday, May 27 – Jeff Bridges
7:50 p.m. – AGAINST ALL ODDS (1984)
10 p.m. – JAGGED EDGE (1985)

The Recline: Ray Harryhausen

Wednesday, May 7 – Ray Harryhausen: The Early Work
8 p.m. – RAY HARRYHAUSEN: SPECIAL EFFECTS TITAN (2011)
9:45 p.m. – IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA (1955)
11:10 p.m. – 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH (1957)

Wednesday, May 14 – Ray Harryhausen: Sinbad
8 p.m. – THE 7^th VOYAGE OF SINBAD (1958)
9:30 p.m. – THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD (1974)
11:20 p.m. – SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER (1977)

Wednesday, May 21 – Ray Harryhausen: Seafaring Adventure
8 p.m. – JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS (1963)
9:45 p.m. – THE THREE WORLDS OF GULLIVER (1960)

Wednesday, May 28 – Ray Harryhausen: Fathers of Science Fiction
8 p.m. – MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (1961)
9:45 p.m. – FIRST MEN IN THE MOON (1964)

Killer Thursdays

Thursday, May 1 – Sexy Urban Drama
10 p.m. – MOTIVES (2004)
11:40 p.m. – TROIS: THE ESCORT (2004)

Thursday, May 8 – Urban Legend Franchise
10 p.m. – URBAN LEGENDS: THE FINAL CUT (2000)
11:45 p.m. – URBAN LEGENDS: BLOODY MARY (2005)

Thursday, May 15 – Specter of Disease
10 p.m. – RETREAT (2011) – Television Premiere
11:40 p.m. – CLIVE BARKER'S THE PLAGUE (2006)

Thursday, May 22 – Iconic Horror Films
10 p.m. – CANDYMAN (1992)
11:45 p.m. – FRIGHT NIGHT (1985)

Thursday, May 29 – Stalked Women
10 p.m. – I'LL ALWAYS KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER (2006)
11:35 p.m. – THE NET 2.0 (2006)

Friday Features (Blockbusters, Indie Favorites)

Friday, May 2 – Wacky Comedy
8 p.m. – 1941 (1979)
10 p.m. – USED CARS (1980)

Friday, May 9 – Travels in Latin America
8 p.m. – THE TAILOR OF PANAMA (2001)
10 p.m. – THE RUM DIARY (2011) – Television Premiere

Friday, May 16 – LA Noir From Director Carl Franklin
8:10 p.m. – ONE FALSE MOVE (1992)
10 p.m. – DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS (1995)

Friday, May 23 – Native American Drama
8 p.m. – GERONIMO: AN AMERICAN LEGEND (1993)
10 p.m. – THUNDERHEART (1992)

Friday, May 30 – Mark Wahlberg
10 p.m. – THE BIG HIT (1998)
11:35 p.m. – WE OWN THE NIGHT (2007)

For a complete schedule of films and times, visit www.Sonymoviechannel.com/schedule.

In addition to airing these films on the dates noted above, some of the movies mentioned are scheduled for further broadcasts throughout the month. (See listings for further details.)

About Sony Movie Channel
Sony Movie Channel is the first U.S. multi-platform television network from Sony Pictures Television created specifically for the Hollywood movie fan. Offering uncut, uncensored theatrical releases in stunning high definition, Sony Movie Channel showcases titles from Sony Pictures' vast library including award-winning features, cult favorites, family comedies and gripping dramas. Programming is selected from more than 3,500 Sony Pictures films, which collectively have received 184 Academy Awards including 12 for Best Picture. Sony Movie Channel is available on DISH Network, DIRECTV and AT&T U-Verse TV on linear as well as on authenticated VOD and online platforms. For more information, visit SonyMovieChannel.com, Facebook and/or Twitter @SonyMovieCh.

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