JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS
104 min. | Columbia Pictures | US/UK
1963
The epic story that was destined to stand as a colossus of adventure!
- tagline for the theatrical release.
- tagline for the theatrical release.
Starring:
Directed by: Don Chaffey
Stop motion animation by: Ray Harryhausen
Written by: Beverly Cross
Produced by: Charles H. Schneer
- Todd Armstrong as Jason
- Nancy Kovak as Medea
- Niall McGinnis as Zeus
- Honor Blackman as Hera
Directed by: Don Chaffey
Stop motion animation by: Ray Harryhausen
Written by: Beverly Cross
Produced by: Charles H. Schneer
Special effects master Ray Harryhausen considered Jason and the Argonauts (1963) his best film. Without doubt, it is the most beloved. While its original theatrical release was met with indifference, the film grew in stature over time as the Baby Boom generation embraced it after repeated television showings. The film is notable for being the first to stay (relatively) true to Apollonius' Argonautica; however, the structure of the film, culminating in the capture of the Fleece and escape from Colchis necessitated moving the events of the return journey to the outward voyage since the former would not be depicted on screen. The best-remembered sequence of the entire film lasts just four and half minutes but took four months to shoot: Jason's battle with the Spartoi, depicted here as armed skeletons. So popular were they that to this very day action figures of the skeleton warriors are made and sold.
The Argonauts' dramatic fight with the Harpies was shot at the Temple of Poseidon in Paestum (ancient Poseidonia), Italy (left). Ironically, the Greeks and Romans believed that that Jason had himself had actually founded the nearby Temple of Argive Hera when sailing home from Colchis: After the mouth of the Silaris one comes to Leucania, and to the temple of the Argoan Hera, built by Jason, and near by, within fifty stadia, to Poseidonia. -- Strabo, Geography 6.1.1 (trans. Hamilton & Falconer, 1903) |
The following plot summary is reproduced from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License.
PLOT
Pelias (Douglas Wilmer) usurps the throne of Thessaly by killing King Aristo. However, there is a prophecy that he will be overthrown by a child of Aristo wearing one sandal. When he kills one of Aristo's daughters after she had sought and been granted the protection of Hera, Pelias makes an enemy of the goddess.
Twenty years later, Jason (Todd Armstrong), Aristo's son grown to manhood, saves the life of Pelias during a chance encounter, but loses a sandal doing so. He does not know that he has rescued his father's murderer, but Pelias recognizes his nemesis. Pelias keeps his identity secret. However, he cannot kill Jason; the prophecy also says that he himself would die.
When he learns that Jason is undertaking a dangerous quest to obtain the fabled Golden Fleece to rally the people of Thessaly, Pelias encourages him, 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 Argos (Laurence Naismith), 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.
Jason is taken to Mount Olympus by Hermes (Michael Gwynn) to speak to the gods Zeus (Niall MacGinnis) and Hera (Honor Blackman). Hera tells him that she wishes him well, but that Zeus has imposed restrictions on her assistance (Jason, like all mortals, is a piece in a game which the gods play against each other). Jason is told that he can only invoke Hera's aid five times (the same number of times his sister called on the goddess by name for help before she was slain). In response to Jason's unasked questions, Hera tells him to search for the Fleece in the land of Colchis, on the other side of the world.
Many dangers threaten the expedition. When the Argonauts run perilously low on supplies, Jason turns to Hera. She guides him to the Isle of Bronze, but warns him to take nothing but provisions. However, while chasing some goats, Hercules and his young friend Hylas (John Cairney) find a partially-open treasure chamber of the gods, surmounted by an enormous bronze statue of Talos. Despite Hylas' warning, Hercules steals an enormous brooch pin the size of a javelin. The statue comes to life and attacks, causing much mayhem before Jason can destroy it using Hera's advice. Hylas goes missing and is presumed dead, but the guilt-ridden Hercules refuses to leave until he knows for certain. The other Argonauts will not abandon Hercules, so Jason is forced to call on Hera for the last time. She confirms that Hylas is indeed dead and that Hercules is destined not to continue with them.
Hera also directs them to seek out Phineas (Patrick Troughton), the blind seer, for the way to Colchis. They find him tormented by two bat-like Harpies, one blue-skinned, the other violet, sent by Zeus to punish him for misusing his gift of prophecy. In return for imprisoning the flying creatures, Phineas tells Jason what he needs to know and gives Jason his only possession, an amulet. To reach Colchis however, they must pass between the Clashing Rocks, a strait flanked by towering rock cliffs that shake and drop boulders to sink any ships attempting to pass between them. Fortunately for the Argonauts, they learn this second hand. Another ship tries to run the strait from the other direction and founders. In despair, Jason throws Phineas' gift into the water; the god Triton emerges and holds back the rocks long enough to let the Argo pass through. On the other side, they pick up three survivors of the other ship, including Medea (Nancy Kovack), the high priestess of the goddess Hecate. The Argonauts move on.
They sight Colchis the next day. Acastus and Jason disagree on how to approach the King of Colchis. The argument escalates into a swordfight. Eventually Acastus is disarmed and jumps into the sea to escape. Believing him dead, Jason and his men accept an invitation from King Aeëtes (Jack Gwillim) to a feast, but once they are off guard, they are captured and imprisoned. Acastus has betrayed them, telling Aeëtes about their mission. However, Medea helps Jason and his men escape.
Acastus tries to steal the Fleece himself, but is fatally wounded by its guardian, the seven-headed Hydra. Jason succeeds in killing the monster and taking the Fleece. But Aeëtes is not far behind. He strews the teeth of the Hydra on the ground and prays to Hecate. The planted teeth sprout out of the ground as armed skeletons who pursue and battle Jason and two 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). Seeing that his companions have been slain, Jason escapes by jumping off a cliff into the sea.
The quest fulfilled, he, Medea and the surviving Argonauts start the return voyage to Thessaly.
ZEUS: For the moment, let them enjoy a calm sea, a fresh breeze and each other. The girl is pretty and I am always sentimental. But for Jason, there are other adventures. I have not finished with Jason. Let us continue the game another day.
-- Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
-- Jason and the Argonauts (1963)