Jason and the Argonauts (1963)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Don Chaffey

Writers:

Jan Read (screenplay) &
Beverley Cross (screenplay)

Release Date:

19 June 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Family | Fantasy | Adventure

Tagline:

Greatest Odyssey Of The Ages - for the first time on the screen

Plot:

The legendary Greek hero leads a team of intrepid adventurers in a perilous quest for the legendary Golden Fleece.

Plot Keywords:

Golden Fleece | Skeleton | Hercules | Hydra | Harpy

Cast

Todd Armstrong	...	Jason
Nancy Kovack	...	Medea
Gary Raymond	...	Acastus
Laurence Naismith	...	Argos
Niall MacGinnis	...	Zeus
Michael Gwynn	...	Hermes
Douglas Wilmer	...	Pelias
Jack Gwillim	...	King Aeetes
Honor Blackman	...	Hera
John Cairney	...	Hylas
Patrick Troughton	...	Phineas
Andrew Faulds	...	Phalerus
Nigel Green	...	Hercules

Also Known As:

Jason and the Golden Fleece

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Iceland:12 | Finland:K-12 (cut) (1963) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1963) | Finland:K-8 (uncut) (2000) | Singapore:PG | USA:G (certificate #20139) | Norway:11 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:U | West Germany:12 | Ireland:G | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Capaccio, Salerno, Campania, Italy

Company:

Morningside Productions

Trivia:

The previous Ray Harryhausen films were generally shown as part of a double feature in "B" theatres. Columbia was able to book this film as a single feature in many "A" theatres in the United States.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the scene where Medea is performing, she turns around only to reveal her dress has an obvious zipper. Zippers weren't invented until the mid to late 1800s.

Quotes:

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 'Mummy Returns' Visual and Special Effect Formations (2001) (V)

Great fantasy film.

I love this movie. I had an 8mm print when I was growing up and I wore it and my projector out. I feel it is Harryhausen's best and according to Harryhausen himself, it is his favorite. There are flaws, Nancy Kovack is horrible, some of the matte paintings are flat looking, but Harryhausen's animation is magnificent and so is Bernard Herrmann's music score. My personal favorite scenes are the ones with Talos and the skeleton battle at the end. The skeleton battle is fantastic, how Harryhausen was not nominated for an "Oscar" is beyond me. Those who wish to be carried off into another world should give it a try. You'll like it.