Jason and the Argonauts (film)
"Jason and the Argonauts" is a 1963 fantasy film produced by Columbia Pictures that adapts the ancient Greek myth of Jason and his quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece from Colchis. The film is inspired by the epic poem "Argonautica," written by Apollonius of Rhodes, although screenwriters Jan Read and Beverley Cross made some modifications to the traditional storyline. The film features Todd Armstrong in his first major role as Jason, with his voice later dubbed by British actor Tim Turner.
Notably, the film is renowned for its groundbreaking special effects created by Ray Harryhausen, particularly the iconic skeleton fight scene that has become a hallmark of fantasy cinema. Harryhausen's innovative stop-motion animation was a significant element of the film, contributing to its lasting impact and popularity. The production took place in Italy and faced cultural sensitivities, such as an incident involving actress Nancy Kovack, which stirred local reactions.
Despite its modest budget of $1 million, "Jason and the Argonauts" achieved commercial success, grossing $2.1 million. The film is celebrated not only for its visual effects but also for its faithful yet creatively interpreted retelling of a classic myth, making it a significant entry in the genre of fantasy films.
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Jason and the Argonauts (film)
- Release Date: 1963
- Director(s): Don Chaffey
- Writer(s): Beverly Cross; Jan Read
- Principal Actors and Roles: Todd Armstrong (Jason); Honor Blackman (Hera); Nancy Kovack (Medea); Niall Macginnis (Zeua); Gary Raymond (Acastus)
Jason and the Argonauts was a fantasy film released in 1963 by Columbia Pictures. The film is a reinterpretation of the classic Greek tale of the hero Jason and his journey to retrieve the Golden Fleece from Colchis. The film is based on the telling of this heroic journey detailed in the epic poem Argonautica written by the Greek poet Apollonius of Rhodes. The film closely follows the original myth, although the film’s screenwriters Jan Read and Beverley Cross modified some of the details of the plot for the film.
The film was originally titled Jason and the Golden Fleece, but filmmakers changed the name after learning about an Italian movie called The Golden Fleece being made around the same time. Todd Armstrong, for whom the film was his first leading part in a major film production, played the title role of Jason. Armstrong was noticed by the wife of an executive at Columbia Pictures and was cast in the film as a result, although British actor Tim Turner later dubbed his voice. The film is noted for its memorable special effects produced by Ray Harryhausen.
Plot
Jason and the Argonauts begins as Pelias overthrows his half-brother, the king of Thessaly, killing most of the royal family in the process. The king’s son, an infant Jason, is rescued and taken out of harm’s way, but the same could not be said for his sister Briseis who is slain in the temple of Hera. Hera, resenting the fact that Pelias has ruined the sanctity of her temple vows to protect Jason and warns Pelias about a man with one sandal. With the help of Hera, Jason and Pelias meet again twenty years later when Jason saves his uncle from drowning. During the rescue, Jason loses one of his sandals in the river, reminding Pelias of the goddess’s warning twenty years prior. Pelias tells Jason that he may take back the throne if he is able to retrieve the Golden Fleece—a task that Pelias knows will be nearly impossible.
Jason is summoned to Mount Olympus for a meeting with Hera and Zeus, during which he is told to look for the Golden Fleece in Colchis, and that he may only ask for Hera’s help five times during his journey. Jason has a ship—the Argo—built for the journey, and assembles a formidable crew dubbed the Argonauts. The Argonauts include the legendary hero Hercules and his companion Hylas, along with Pelias’s son, Acastus, who intends to interfere with Jason’s success. En route to Colchis, the men visit the Isle of Bronze to scavenge for supplies, under strict orders from Hera to take nothing but what they need for the journey. Hercules disobeys the goddess’s instructions, however, and attempts to steal a pin guarded by a large bronze statue of Talos, which proceeds to spring to life to attack the thieving Argonauts. Hera tells Jason how to defeat Talos, and the automaton is defeated but lands on Hylas as he falls. The men are informed by Hera that Hylas has died, and that Hercules will not continue on with the Argonauts for the remainder of the journey.
During the rest of their voyage to Colchis, the Argonauts help defeat two Harpies tormenting a blind oracle and successfully find passage through the treacherous Clashing Rocks, rescuing Medea on the way. Acastus reveals his identity and fights with Jason, before disappearing into the ocean. When the men land on Colchis, Acastus has already warned King Aeetes of Jason’s mission, prompting the king to take Jason and his men prisoner. Acastus attempts to steal the fleece, but encounters its guardian, the Hydra, and is killed. Medea frees Jason and the Argonauts, and Jason kills the Hydra, whose teeth are reanimated as skeletons that battle with the Argonauts. Eventually, Jason is victorious and captures the fleece, leaving Colchis with his prize and Medea.
Significance
Jason and the Argonauts was most memorable for its impressive stop-motion effects— the skeleton fight in particular—done by Ray Harryhausen. Harryhausen was initially inspired to work in special effects after viewing the 1925 film The Lost World and its use of stop-motion animation. Before working on Jason and the Argonauts, Harryhausen used his stop-motion work, called Dynamation, in fantasy films such as Mighty Joe Young (1949) and Mysterious Island (1961). The Dynamation for Jason and the Argonauts was done in a specialized studio and took approximately two years to complete. The memorable skeleton fight scene, which only occupies about three out of the film’s total 104 minutes, took approximately four months to make. Harryhausen named Jason and the Argonauts as his favorite work of his entire career, and he was recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1992 for his achievements in film.
For the parts of the film that were not created with special effects, the cast and crew were sent to a small town in Italy, Palinuto, which was used to replicate ancient Greece. The film production caused a small stir while shooting in Palinuto, when the Nancy Kovack, the actress playing Medea, offended the people of Palinuto by wearing a purple sweater to set, a color that they considered to be a symbol of death. The film was made with a $1 million budget, and was well received at the box office, bringing in $2.1 million.
Bibliography
Harryhausen, Ray, and Tony Dalton. Ray Harryhausen: An Animated Life. New York: Billboard, 2004. Print.
Harryhausen, Ray, and Tony Dalton. A Century of Stop-Motion Animation: From Melies to Aardman. New York: Billboard, 2008. Print.
"Jason and the Argonauts." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2015. Web. 16 Dec. 2015. <http://www.britannica.com/topic/Jason-and-the-Argonauts>.
"Jason and the Argonauts (1963)." Turner Classic Movies. Turner Entertainment Networks, 2015. Web. 16 Dec. 2015. <http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/4655/Jason-and-the-Argonauts/>.
Smith, Neil. "Book IV: The Journey Home." Jason and the Argonauts. Oxford: Osprey, 2013. 70. Print.
Solomon, Jon. The Ancient World in the Cinema. Chelsea: Sheridan, 2001. Print.