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Dragonslayer
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Dragonslayer (1981) More at IMDbPro »

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Dragonslayer (1981) -- A King has made a pact with a dragon where he sacrfices virgins to it, and the dragon leaves his kingdom alone...

Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   4,385 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 24% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Matthew Robbins
Writers:
Hal Barwood (written by) &
Matthew Robbins (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Dragonslayer on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
26 June 1981 (USA) more
Tagline:
IN THE DARK AGES DRAGONS WERE REAL. [USA theatrical] more
Plot:
A King has made a pact with a dragon where he sacrfices virgins to it, and the dragon leaves his kingdom alone... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 nominations more
User Comments:
one of the best more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Peter MacNicol ... Galen
Caitlin Clarke ... Valerian
Ralph Richardson ... Ulrich
John Hallam ... Tyrian
Peter Eyre ... Casiodorus Rex
Albert Salmi ... Greil
Sydney Bromley ... Hodge
Chloe Salaman ... Princess Elspeth
Emrys James ... Valerian's Father
Roger Kemp ... Horsrik

Ian McDiarmid ... Brother Jacopus
Ken Shorter ... Henchman
Jason White ... Henchman
Yolanda Palfrey ... Victim
Douglas Cooper ... Urlander
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Additional Details

Runtime:
108 min | USA:109 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Vistasonic (some 35 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)
Filming Locations:
North Wales, Wales, UK more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
First film to use go-motion, a variant of stop-motion animation in which parts of the model (in this case, the dragon) were mechanized and the movement programmed by computer. During shooting, the computer moves the model while the camera is shooting, resulting in motion blur, which makes the animation more convincing. more
Goofs:
Continuity: During the scene in which the wizard teleports himself to the mountaintop for the final battle, thunder continually rumbles under a clear sky in the soundtrack though the wizard hasn't yet magically summoned the electrical storm (which he will do in a few moments). more
Quotes:
Hodge: Ah, so it's a test you're looking for. We don't do tests!
Tyrian: No, of course not. They never do tests. Not many real deeds either. Oh, conversation with your grandmother's shade in a darkened room, the odd love potion or two, but comes a doubter, why, then it's the wrong day, the planets are not in line, the entrails are not favorable, "we don't do tests"!
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Napoleon Dynamite (2004) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
27 out of 33 people found the following comment useful:-
one of the best, 6 July 2004
Author: moondragon85501

Dragonslayer came out when "Dungeons & Dragons" was getting to be a big thing where I live, so there was a lot of interest. It was even adapted into a book by Wayland Drew (in a rare instance when a movie preceded a book).

Two things I like mainly. First, of course: Vermithrax. I rather hope that Dragonslayer is never remade, for there's no way the digital animation done these days could do this magnificent creature justice. New isn't always better.

It's also nice to see a film which doesn't stereotype Pagans and magicians as evil. In fact, the film treads the whole good-evil line rather lightly; Ulrich displays a certain respect for Vermithrax, even while planning the dragon's demise.

I find it easy to be swept up in the lovely mystery of Dragonslayer: a mystical film from 1981 (a more mystical age).

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Dragonslayer (1981)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Just read the book - a few interesting bits (BOOK SPOILERS) Third-Age-Mage
Dragonslayer: BEST Dragon movie ever. Geek_of_Geeks
uh... if they kill virgins... just get naughty?? fishboy266
Is Caitlin Clarke attractive Musketoon
My Uncle taught Peter M to juggle!!! jamblot
A real gem of a film fantasy - worthy of a remake? gerardx
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