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Jason and the Argonauts (film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Jason and the Argonauts | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover |
|
| Directed by | Don Chaffey |
| Produced by | Charles H. Schneer |
| Written by | Beverley Cross Jan Read |
| Starring | Todd Armstrong Nancy Kovack |
| Music by | Bernard Herrmann |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release date(s) | June 19, 1963 (USA) |
| Running time | 104 min |
| Country | UK |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Jason and the Argonauts is a film produced by Columbia Pictures in 1963. Directed by Don Chaffey, in collaboration with stop motion animation expert and pupil of Willis O'Brien, (the animator of King Kong) Ray Harryhausen, this film is famous for its stop-motion animated monsters including harpies, the bronze giant Talos, the crashing rocks, and the Hydra that guards the Golden Fleece. The Golden Fleece was given from Hecate who was the guardian goddess of Colchis. The sequence where seven skeletons rise from the earth and attack the heroes is still widely considered to be among the greatest achievements of 20th century motion picture special effects. This movie features a score composed by film composer Bernard Herrmann, who is also notable for other of Harryhausen's fantasy films including Mysterious Island and The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad.
Contents |
Pelias (Douglas Wilmer) usurps the throne of Thessaly by killing his own half-brother, King Aeson. However, there is a prophecy that he will be overthrown by a man wearing one sandal. Years later, Jason (Todd Armstrong), Aeson's son grown to manhood, saves the life of Pelias during a chance encounter in the countryside, but loses a sandal as a result. He does not know that he has rescued his father's murderer, but Pelias recognizes his nemesis.
He persuades Jason to undertake a dangerous quest to steal the fabled Golden Fleece, hoping that he will be killed in the attempt. Men from all over Greece compete for the honor of joining Jason. Since their ship is named the Argo after the ship's builder, they are dubbed the Argonauts. Among those chosen are Hercules (Nigel Green) and Acastus (Gary Raymond), the son of Pelias, who is sent by his father to sabotage the voyage.
Meanwhile, on Mount Olympus, the gods Zeus (Niall MacGinnis) and Hera (Honor Blackman) wager on Jason's adventure. Hera communicates with Jason, telling him that she wishes him well, but that Zeus has restricted her aid. The mortal can only call on the goddess for help five times.
Many dangers threaten the expedition, among them a run through a strait flanked by large rock cliffs that crash together frequently, crushing any ships attempting to pass between them. When they run perilously low on supplies, Jason turns to Hera. She guides him to an island, but warns him to take only provisions aboard. However, Hercules finds a storehouse guarded by an enormous bronze statue of Talos and steals some of the contents. The statue comes to life and causes much mayhem before Jason manages to destroy it using Hera's advice. Hercules' young friend Hylas (John Cairney) is missing and presumed dead; the guilt-ridden strongman refuses to leave without finding out what happened to him, so the Argonauts depart without him.
They eventually reach Colchis, the land where the Fleece is to be found. Acastus betrays Jason, telling King Aeëtes (Jack Gwillim) about their mission, but Jason is aided by Medea, the king's daughter. Jason and his men kill the Hydra, the many-headed monster guarding the Fleece, take the treasure and flee. Aeëtes then gathers and sows the teeth of the Hydra, which immediately sprout armed skeletons who pursue and battle Jason and some of his men (in a famous four minute stop motion sequence that took special effects wizard Ray Harryhausen four and a half months to produce[1]). When all but Jason are killed, he escapes by jumping off a cliff into the sea.
With the quest fulfilled, he, Medea and the surviving Argonauts return to Thessaly in triumph.
- Todd Armstrong as Jason
- Nancy Kovack as Medea (high priestess of Hecate)
- Gary Raymond as Acastus
- Laurence Naismith as Argos
- Niall MacGinnis as Zeus
- Honor Blackman as Hera
- Michael Gwynn as Hermes
- Nigel Green as Hercules
- John Cairney as Hylas
- Douglas Wilmer as Pelias
- Jack Gwillim as King Aeëtes
- Patrick Troughton as Phineas
- Andrew Faulds as Phalerus
Ray Harryhausen regards this as his best film.[1][2] Previous Harryhausen films had been generally shown as part of double features in "B" theatres. Columbia was able to book this film as a single feature in many "A" theatres in the United States. The skeletons' shields are adorned with designs of other Harryhausen creatures, including an octopus and the head of the Ymir from 20 Million Miles to Earth.
- ^ a b "Jason and the Argonauts." Culver City: Columbia TriStar Home Video, 1998.
- ^ Ray Harryhausen bio