Krull (1983)

Director:

Peter Yates

Writer:

Stanford Sherman (written by)

Release Date:

29 July 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A world light-years beyond your imagination.

Plot:

A prince and a fellowship of companions set out to rescue his bride from a fortress of alien invaders who have arrived on their home planet.

Plot Keywords:

Fortress | Planet | King | Monster | Rescue

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Ken Marshall	...	Colwyn
Lysette Anthony	...	Lyssa
Freddie Jones	...	Ynyr
Francesca Annis	...	Widow of the Web
Alun Armstrong	...	Torquil
David Battley	...	Ergo
Bernard Bresslaw	...	Cyclops
Liam Neeson	...	Kegan
John Welsh	...	Seer
Graham McGrath	...	Titch
Tony Church	...	Turold
Bernard Archard	...	Eirig
Belinda Mayne	...	Vella
Dicken Ashworth	...	Bardolph
Todd Carty	...	Oswyn
Robbie Coltrane	...	Rhun
Clare McIntyre	...	Merith
Bronco McLoughlin	...	Nennog
Andy Bradford	...	Darro
Gerard Naprous	...	Quain
Bill Weston	...	Menno
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Elphick	...	Rhun (voice)
Trevor Martin	...	The Beast (voice)
Lindsay Crouse	...	Princess Lyssa (voice) (uncredited)
Derek Lyons	...	White Slayer with Tiger (uncredited)
Dinny Powell	...	Slayer in the Swamp (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	...	Slayer in the Swamp (uncredited)
Tom Rumpf	...	Sword Fighter (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Yates

Writing credits
Stanford Sherman		(written by)

Produced by
Geoffrey Helman	....	associate producer
Ted Mann	....	executive producer
Ron Silverman	....	producer

Original Music by
James Horner

Cinematography by
Peter Suschitzky		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ray Lovejoy

Casting by
Patsy Pollock

Production Design by
Stephen B. Grimes		(as Stephen Grimes)

Art Direction by
Tony Curtis
Norman Dorme
Colin Grimes
Tony Reading

Set Decoration by
Herbert Westbrook

Costume Design by
Anthony Mendleson

Makeup Department
Christine Allsopp	....	special makeup unit
Alan Boyle	....	makeup artist
Nick Dudman	....	special makeup unit
Nick Forder	....	special makeup unit
Magdalen Gaffney	....	special makeup unit
Joyce James	....	hair stylist
Bob Keen	....	special makeup unit
Beryl Leiman	....	special makeup unit
Nick Maley	....	special makeup designer
Christine Oveis	....	special makeup unit
Richard Padbury	....	special makeup unit
Barbara Ritchie	....	hair stylist
Stewart Robinson	....	special makeup unit
Joan White	....	hair stylist
Gloria Maley	....	special makeup unit (uncredited)
Marian Nicholson	....	special makeup unit (uncredited)
Joseph Ross	....	special makeup effects (uncredited)
David White	....	special makeup unit trainee (uncredited)

Production Management
Vicente Escrivá hijo	....	location production manager: Lanzarote
Mario Pisani	....	production manager: Italy
Nigel Wooll	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Andy Armstrong	....	second assistant director
Derek Cracknell	....	assistant director
Derek Cracknell	....	second unit director
Dominic Fulford	....	assistant director: second unit
Kuki López Rodero	....	assistant director: Lanzarote
Luciano Sacripanti	....	assistant director: Italy
Vic Smith	....	second assistant director
Ken Tuohy	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Albert Blackshaw	....	construction manager
Francesco Chianese	....	art director: Italy
Bert Hearn	....	property master
Maurice Jones	....	stand-by props
Danny Skundric	....	stand-by props
Peter Voysey	....	sculptor
Mick Chubbock	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Paul Duff	....	carpenter (uncredited)
David Fyson	....	production buyer (uncredited)
Duncan Guest	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Robert Jackson	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Brian Muir	....	sculptor (uncredited)
Bill Stallion	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Mark White	....	props (uncredited)
Mark White	....	props: re-shoot (uncredited)

Sound Department
Alan Corder	....	assistant foley editor
Richard Daniel	....	sound technician
Dino Di Campo	....	dialogue editor
Nicholas Hosker	....	assistant sound effects editor
Jack T. Knight	....	foley editor
Ray Merrin	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
William Parnell	....	assistant dialogue editor
Bill Rowe	....	supervising sound re-recording mixer
Winston Ryder	....	supervising sound effects editor
Ivan Sharrock	....	sound mixer
Ken Weston	....	boom operator
Scott Brose	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Alan Barnard	....	special effects technician
Peter Biggs	....	special effects technician
Peter Chiang	....	special effects graphic artist
Chris Corbould	....	special effects technician
Michael Dunleavy	....	special effects technician
John Evans	....	special effects
Cyril Forster	....	special effects technician
Martin Gant	....	special effects technician
Robert Gavin	....	assistant special effects editor
Andrew Kelly	....	special effects technician
Norman Kerss	....	special effects technician
John Markwell	....	special effects technician
Mark Meddings	....	special effects
John Pakenham	....	special effects technician
Mike Round	....	special effects editor
Phil Sanderson	....	assistant special effects editor
Terry Schubert	....	special effects technician
Roy Spencer	....	special effects technician
Margaret Thompson	....	assistant special effects editor
Ron Vincent	....	special effects projectionist
Brian Warner	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Robin Browne	....	optical effects
John Fletcher	....	optical effects unit
Jamie Harcourt	....	optical effects unit
Andrew Holder	....	modellist
David Litchfield	....	optical effects unit
Derek Meddings	....	visual effects supervisor
John Morgan	....	visual effects unit camera operator
Terry Reed	....	supervising model maker
Gareth Tandy	....	visual effects unit assistant director
Jonathan Taylor	....	visual effects unit camera focus
Keith Thomas	....	optical effects unit
Malcolm Vinson	....	optical effects unit
Peter Wilkinson	....	visual effects unit construction manager
Paul Wilson	....	visual effects photography
Ken Worringham	....	optical effects unit
Craig Chandler	....	optical effects (uncredited)
Alan Church	....	optical camera operator (uncredited)

Stunts
Vic Armstrong	....	stunt coordinator
Brian Bowes	....	stunts
Graeme Crowther	....	stunts
Terry Forrestal	....	stunts
Nick Hobbs	....	stunts
Billy Horrigan	....	stunts (as Bill Horrigan)
Arthur Howell	....	stunts
Lorenzo Lorenzi	....	stunts: climbing sequence
Les Maryon	....	stunts
Gareth Milne	....	stunts
Dinny Powell	....	stunts
Greg Powell	....	stunts
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (as Fred Powell)
Roy Street	....	stunts
Terry Walsh	....	stunts
Vic Armstrong	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dickey Beer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Brian Bowes	....	stunt double: Ken Marshall (uncredited)
Peter Brace	....	stunts (uncredited)
Andy Bradford	....	stunt double: Ken Marshall (uncredited)
Andy Bradford	....	stunts (uncredited)
David Brandon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ken Buckle	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Cade	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sergio Casadei	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Lane Cooper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Cooper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Barry De Boulay	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jim Dowdall	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Eddon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Max Faulkner	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nick Gillard	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Haggerty	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alf Joint	....	stunts (uncredited)
Wendy Leech	....	stunt double: Lysette Anthony (uncredited)
Wendy Leech	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jimmy Lodge	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bronco McLoughlin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gerard Naprous	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terence Plummer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Greg Powell	....	stunt double: Cyclops (uncredited)
Bill Reed	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Richards	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kiran Shah	....	stunt double: Graham McGrath (uncredited)
Kiran Shah	....	stunts (uncredited)
Colin Skeaping	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Smart	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Sullivan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rocky Taylor	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tip Tipping	....	stunts (uncredited)
Derek Ware	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chris Webb	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Weston	....	stunts (uncredited)
Les White	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nick Wilkinson	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Chic Anstiss	....	camera operator: second unit
Keith Hamshere	....	still photographer
Paul Kenward	....	clapper loader
Billy Mallone	....	assistant camera
John May	....	gaffer
Kelvin Pike	....	camera operator
Peter Robinson	....	camera focus
Mike Rutter	....	camera focus: second unit
John Sullivan	....	best boy
Jack Thetford	....	gaffer
Bob Bridges	....	video assist operator (uncredited)
Maurice Gillett	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Vince Goddard	....	electrician (uncredited)
Douglas Webb	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Animation Department
Steven Archer	....	animator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rosemary Burrows	....	wardrobe supervisor
Renee Helmer	....	wardrober
Ken Lawton	....	wardrober

Editorial Department
Gill Smith	....	assistant film editor
Gordon Stainforth	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Bob Badami	....	music editor
James Horner	....	conductor
Greig McRitchie	....	orchestrator
John Richards	....	music recording engineer

Transportation Department
Michael Marks	....	transportation supervisor

Other crew
Verena Baldeo	....	production assistant: Italy
Sallie Beechinor	....	production assistant
Paolo Fabbri	....	location manager: Italy
Rafael García	....	caterer: Italy
Mike Harris	....	video
Sara Keene	....	unit publicist
Jak King	....	production accountant
Michael John Knatchbull	....	location manager
Cheryl Leigh	....	continuity
Rachel Neale	....	production assistant
Melinda Rees	....	continuity: second unit
Ian Underwood	....	synthesizer effects
Lili Ungar	....	promotion consultant
Chris Warren	....	video
Vic Armstrong	....	head wrangler (uncredited)
Nikolas Korda	....	runner (uncredited)
Craig Miller	....	marketing consultant (uncredited)
Tony Miller	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Enzo Sisti	....	production accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents) (as Columbia Pictures)
• Barclays Mercantile Industrial Finance (uncredited)

Distributors

• Warner-Columbia Film (1984) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1983) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Cinema Classics (video)
• Columbia Pictures
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2000) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Hollydan Works (1999) (Yugoslavia) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (198?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Filmfex Animation Services
• Magic Camera Company, The

Other Companies

• C.T.S. Studios  music recorded at (as C.T.S. Studios, Wembley, England)
• DeLuxe Laboratories  prints by (as DeLuxe)
• E.M.I. Elstree Studios  re-recorded at (as EMI Studios, Elstree, England)
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• London Symphony Orchestra, The (LSO)  music performed by

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:121 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo (Dolby Stereo)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 (cut) (1983) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:L | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) (1992) (2000) | Portugal:M/6 | Spain:T | Argentina:Atp | Peru:PT | Norway:12 | Australia:G | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Last film of John Welsh.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Rell is being crushed between the walls of the fortress, the walls are obviously made of soft elastic material.

Quotes:

Prince Colwyn:Now we have no way to find the fortress.
Ynyr:There is one who might help.
Prince Colwyn:Who?
Ynyr:The Widow of the Web.
Torquil:That creature helps no one. For none who go there return.
Ynyr:She has great powers.
Torquil:Yeah, to kill.
Ynyr:She may not kill me. For I know her name.
Torquil:Her name is death.
Ynyr:She had another name once. An ancient and powerful name.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Robot Chicken: No Country for Old Dogs (#5.8)" (2011)

Nothing here you haven't seen already, but competently done.

In the wake of Star Wars, fantasy films about brave heroes trying to rescue kidnapped princesses were suddenly in demand. Krull was one such film to jump aboard the band-wagon. There are also elements here of Robin Hood (the costumes look like they've been borrowed from natives of Sherwood Forest, and the hero is aided by a rogue's gallery of "merry men") and Perseus and Andromeda (the hero has to complete several mini-tasks before he can get on with his main quest).

Prince Colwyn (Ken Marshall) has just married the beautiful Princess Lyssa (Lysette Anthony) when their city is raided and the princess is kidnapped. She is taken away to a heavily defended citadel. Colwyn sets off to rescue her, and during the course of his quest he picks up additional companions, including a bumbling magician (David Battley), a courageous cyclops (Bernard Bresslaw), and a gang of honourable bandits (which includes Alun Armstrong, Liam Neeson and Robbie Coltrane).

Krull is highly derivative, but reasonably entertaining. The special effects are decent for the time, but probably look a little primitive to over-spoilt modern eyes. Marshall's leading performance is extraordinarily bland, but his unashamed earnestness actually becomes part of the fun once you get used to the fact that he's trying desperately to play it seriously (without a shred of success!) The supporting characters are more interesting and are fairly well-played (despite the hopelessly hokey dialogue they have to contend with). In general, Krull is a likable movie which tries to keep up its lively pace, and manages to provide a fair number of thrills for youngsters and sci-fi afficianados. If you don't expect too much from it, you'll come away satisfied.