Clash of the Titans (1981)

Perseus must battle Medusa and the Kraken to save the Princess Andromeda.

Director:

Desmond Davis

Writer:

Beverley Cross

Stars:

Laurence Olivier, Harry Hamlin, Claire Bloom

2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Perseus (Harry Hamlin) is the favored son of the god Zeus (Sir Laurence Olivier), but he has unwittingly ticked off the sea goddess Thetis (Dame Maggie Smith). Just to make things worse, Perseus falls in love with the lovely Princess Andromeda (Judi Bowker), who used to be engaged to Thetis' son, Calibos (Neil McCarthy). Soon Perseus is off on one quest after another, with Zeus helping, Thetis hindering, and lots of innocent bystanders getting stabbed, drowned, and squished.

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Plot Keywords:

quest | gods | remade | mythology | kraken | 

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Taglines:

An Epic Entertainment Spectacular!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Family | Fantasy

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Laurence Olivier was succeeded in the role of Zeus by his The Bounty (1984) co-star Liam Neeson in Clash of the Titans (2010) and Wrath of the Titans (2012).

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Goofs

When Perseus is invisible, he leaves footprints which are those of modern shoes, not sandals.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Acrisius: Bear witness, Zeus, and all you gods on high Olympus! I condemn my daughter Danae, and her son Perseus to the sea! Her guilt and sin have brought shame to Argos! I, Acrisius the King, now purge her crime and restore my honor! Their blood is not on my hands!

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Crazy Credits

In the closing credits, the cast is divided into three categories: The Immortals (for the gods of Olympus), The Mortals (humans, etc.), and The Mythologicals (As Themselves) (In Alphabetical Order) Bubo, Charon, Dioskilos, Kraken, Medusa, Pegasus, Scorpions, Vulture. Those 8 are the non-human animated characters supplied by special effects.

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Alternate Versions

The UK cinema release was cut by the BBFC to secure an 'A' rating and removed the closeup of Calibos stabbing a man's back with a trident, as well as shortening the scene where Calibos is stabbed in the stomach by Perseus. The cuts were restored in all video/DVD releases and the certificate upgraded to a 15 (12 for the DVD).

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Sword and Sandal Movies (2013)

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Soundtracks

Dreams And Omens
(uncredited)
Composed and Conducted by Laurence Rosenthal

User Reviews

A Parting Gift from Ray Harryhausen

I ignored this film when it first came out in 1981. There were just too many cool films to see that year. Friends who saw it told me it was a laughable hoot. Despite it's august cast and attempt to cash in on the mythic quest themes of Star Wars, it rapidly sunk from sight. In 1995, looking for a film appropriate for my 7 year old daughter, I pulled this film out of the 'family' section of my local library. The critics are right. The F/X are clunky, even by 1981 standards.Harry Hamlin is wooden. Judy Bowker is forgettable, and Laurence Olivier hams it up shamelessly...and yet...IT ALL WORKS! The sets and lighting perfectly capture our deepest feellings of mythic Greece. There isn't a drop of contemporary forays into irony & cynicism. It is unalloyed GOOD vs EVIL lovingly given to us by the effects wizard Harryhausen. His monsters have a childlike beauty that makes them 'scary' without trying to gross you out. It's the myth, the quest, and finally the theme that love does conquer all. No need for smart-alecky, eye-winking protaganists. Just a good old fashioned story told straight and true. My now 14yr. old daughter, wife and I just saw it again last night. See it with the child in your life, or the child in you.

Thank you Mr. Harryhausen, for this and all your wonderful films.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 June 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Clash of the Titans

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$41,092,328

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$41,092,328

Company Credits

Production Co:

Charles H. Schneer Productions, Peerford Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1