Clash of the Titans (1981)

Director:

Desmond Davis

Writer:

Beverley Cross (written by)

Release Date:

12 June 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Fantasy

Tagline:

An Epic Entertainment Spectacular!

Plot:

A film adaption of the myth of Perseus and his quest to battle both Medusa and the Kraken monster to save the Princess Andromeda.

Plot Keywords:

Kraken | Zeus | Princess | Medusa | Quest

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Laurence Olivier	...	Zeus
Claire Bloom	...	Hera
Maggie Smith	...	Thetis
Ursula Andress	...	Aphrodite
Jack Gwillim	...	Poseidon
Susan Fleetwood	...	Athena
Pat Roach	...	Hephaestus
Harry Hamlin	...	Perseus
Judi Bowker	...	Andromeda
Burgess Meredith	...	Ammon
Siân Phillips	...	Cassiopeia
Flora Robson	...	A Stygian Witch
Anna Manahan	...	A Stygian Witch
Freda Jackson	...	A Stygian Witch
Tim Pigott-Smith	...	Thallo
Neil McCarthy	...	Calibos
Donald Houston	...	Acrisius
Vida Taylor	...	Danae
Harry Jones	...	Huntsman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ferdinando Poggi	...	Guard (uncredited)

Directed by
Desmond Davis

Writing credits
Beverley Cross		(written by)

Produced by
Ray Harryhausen	....	producer
John Palmer	....	associate producer
Charles H. Schneer	....	producer

Original Music by
Laurence Rosenthal

Cinematography by
Ted Moore		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Timothy Gee

Casting by
Joyce Agu		(as Joyce Robinson)
Sam Christensen
Irene Lamb

Production Design by
Frank White

Art Direction by
Giorgio Desideri
Fernando González
Peter Howitt
Don Picton

Costume Design by
Emma Porteus		(as Emma Porteous)

Makeup Department
Colin Arthur	....	masks
Stephanie Kaye	....	hair stylist
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist
Connie Reeve	....	makeup artist
Nick Maley	....	prosthetics technician (uncredited)

Production Management
Mario Pisani	....	production supervisor: Italian
Luis Roberts	....	production supervisor: Spanish

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gerry Gavigan	....	second assistant director
Terry Madden	....	second assistant director
Anthony Waye	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Colin Chilvers	....	model maker
Harry Cordwell	....	set dresser
Bob Cross	....	construction manager (as Robert Cross)
David Lusby	....	production buyer
Bill McLaren	....	construction manager
Janet Stevens	....	model maker
Cathy Hill	....	painter: production paintings (uncredited)
Wally Hill	....	props (uncredited)
Brian Muir	....	sculptor (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robin Gregory	....	sound mixer
Graham V. Hartstone	....	dubbing mixer
Nicolas Le Messurier	....	dubbing mixer
Gordon K. McCallum	....	chief dubbing mixer
Terry Poulton	....	sound effects editor
Terry Sharratt	....	boom operator (as Terry Sharrat)

Special Effects by
Brian Smithies	....	floor/physical effects

Visual Effects by
Steven Archer	....	assistant to Ray Harryhausen
Dennis Bartlett	....	blue screen technician
Cliff Culley	....	special miniatures
Jim Danforth	....	assistant to Ray Harryhausen
Roy Field	....	special opticals
Ray Harryhausen	....	creator of special visual effects
Frank Van der Veer	....	special opticals (as Frank Van Der Veer)
Martin Body	....	rostrum/matte cameraman (uncredited)
Costas Charitou	....	titles & opticals: Camera Effects Ltd (uncredited)
Jim Danforth	....	animator (uncredited)
David Smith	....	optical cameraman: Camera Effects Ltd (uncredited)

Stunts
Ferdinando Poggi	....	stunt coordinator
Ralph Faulkner	....	fight choreographer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Bulley	....	clapper loader
Anthony Gaudioz	....	focus puller (as Tony Gaudioz)
Keith Hamshere	....	still photographer
John May	....	chief electrician
Mike Roberts	....	camera operator
Jimmy Spoard	....	camera grip
Egil S. Woxholt	....	underwater and aerial cameraman
David Johnson	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Marc Wolff	....	camera pilot (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Keith Denny	....	wardrobe supervisor
Helen Gill	....	wardrobe mistress
Yvonne Zarb Cousin	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Christopher Thompson	....	assistant editor
Joe Gallagher	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Robin Clarke	....	music editor
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrator
Gordon Langford	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Bryan Coates	....	location manager
Norma Hazelden	....	production assistant
George Marshall	....	production accountant
Doreen Soan	....	continuity
Ann Tasker	....	unit publicist
Enzo Sisti	....	accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents)
• Peerford Ltd. (uncredited)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM/CBS Home Video (1982) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1981) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Esselte Video (1980s) (Finland) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1993) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1999) (Finland) (TV)
• Vídeo Arte (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Camera Effects  titles
• London Symphony Orchestra, The (LSO)  music performed by (as The London Symphony Orchestra)
• Mediterranean Film Facilities  filmed on location in co-operation with
• Music Centre, The  music recorded at (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (as Dolby Stereo)

Certification:

UK:15 (video rating) (1987) | UK:A (original rating) (passed with cuts) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 (re-rating) (1981) | Sweden:15 | West Germany:12 | Norway:16 | Singapore:PG | Iceland:12 | UK:12 (DVD rating) (2005) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:PG (certificate #25716) | Finland:K-16 (original rating) (1981) | UK:12 (video re-rating) (2006) | UK:15 (tv rating)

Filming Locations:

Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

According to Ray Harryhausen's official website, a sequel to this movie entitled "Force of the Trojans" was pitched to MGM in 1984 but further development of the picture never eventuated.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the fight with Dioskilos (the two-headed dog), Perseus slashes its right neck, leaving a large, bloody wound. When Dioskilos falls off the ledge, the wound disappears, and then reappears in the next shot.

Quotes:

Stygian Witch:A titan against a titan!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Home Improvement: Clash of the Taylors (#7.2)" (1997)

Mythology Comes Alive!

This film opens with a woman and her child being shunned by her kingly father and the city he represents, and banished to the depths of the sea. We soon find out that this child is the son of Zeus, king of Mt. Olympus and king of the gods. Zeus then releases this terrible beast called the Kracken to destroy the city. The child is saved and grows to manhood. His name is Perseus. The film is then a chronicle of Perseus's adventures as he battles the deadly, deformed Calibos, giant scorpions, a two-headed giant dog, and the evil Medusa herself, as well as the mightiest of all titans, the Kracken itself. We also see him befriend the magical Pegasus, and meet Cheron on the river Styx. This movie is great fun and makes all these mythological names come alive. The credit for this goes to the wonderful stop-animation work of Ray Harryhausen, in his (unfortunately) last film. Credit also goes to the wonderful supporting cast of British stage nobility playing the gods and such, Laurence Olivier plays Zeus, Maggie Smith is Thetis, and Claire Bloom, Ursala Andress, Flora Robson, and Burgess Meredith play memorable roles as well. Harry Hamlin as Perseus and Judi Bowker as his love-interest Andromeda are lackluster(although Ms. Bowker is VERY easy on the eyes). But their lack of acting savvy is one of the few detriments of the film. This film is fast-paced adventure that is magical, mystical, and memorable!