A young wizarding apprentice is sent to kill a dragon which has been devouring girls from a nearby kingdom.

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Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
John Hallam ...
Peter Eyre ...
...
Sydney Bromley ...
Chloe Salaman ...
Emrys James ...
Roger Kemp ...
...
Brother Jacopus
Ken Shorter ...
Henchman
...
Henchman
Yolande Palfrey ...
Victim
Douglas Cooper ...
Urlander
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Storyline

A King has made a pact with a dragon where he sacrfices virgins to it, and the dragon leaves his kingdom alone. An old wizard, and his keen young apprentice volunteer to kill the dragon and attempt to save the next virgin in line - the Kings own daughter. Written by Colin Tinto <cst@imdb.com>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Its talons tear. Its breath burns. It is terror. And only sorcery can destroy it. [UK theatrical] See more »


Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

26 June 1981 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

El verdugo de dragones  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$6,000,000 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(some 35 mm prints)| (35 mm prints)| (70 mm prints)

Color:

(Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Including the hydraulic 40-foot model, 16 dragon puppets were used for the role of Vermithrax, each made for flying, crawling and breathing fire. See more »

Goofs

"Twice each year, at the Spring and Summer Equinox, the king selects a new victim." The seasons are: Spring-Equinox (Day and Night of equal length); Summer-Solstice (longest day, shortest night); Autumn-Equinox; Winter-Solstice (Shortest day, longest night). There is no Summer equinox. See more »

Quotes

Tyrian: If he's ready to lay a dragon in its grave, he's nothing to fear from me.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Sacrifice (2000) See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Excellent
27 December 2004 | by (California, USA) – See all my reviews

I saw this when it came out, in the theater, in 1981. It was a sort of surprise hit that summer. This is a movie with plot. It's about a young man and woman meeting challenges, death, redemption, the death of magic and the birth of Christianity, and the hypocrisy of gov't. And it's all disguised as a PG movie about a dragon which is terrorizing a hamlet of decent people in the Dark Ages.

HIGHLY recommended. PG, but does have one foot gnawing which today would probably give it an R or X rating given the gutlessness of parents everywhere :). This is an early movie by Industrial Light and Magic, or ILM as it's known nowadays, and I believe was funded by Disney. Despite that it's got a gritty edge. Check it out, for youths and adults


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