Jason and the Argonauts (1963)

Director:

Don Chaffey

Writers:

Jan Read (screenplay) &
Beverley Cross (screenplay)

Release Date:

19 June 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Family | Fantasy | Adventure

Tagline:

Greatest Odyssey Of The Ages - for the first time on the screen

Plot:

The legendary Greek hero leads a team of intrepid adventurers in a perilous quest for the legendary Golden Fleece.

Plot Keywords:

Golden Fleece | Skeleton | Hercules | Hydra | Harpy

Cast

Todd Armstrong	...	Jason
Nancy Kovack	...	Medea
Gary Raymond	...	Acastus
Laurence Naismith	...	Argos
Niall MacGinnis	...	Zeus
Michael Gwynn	...	Hermes
Douglas Wilmer	...	Pelias
Jack Gwillim	...	King Aeetes
Honor Blackman	...	Hera
John Cairney	...	Hylas
Patrick Troughton	...	Phineas
Andrew Faulds	...	Phalerus
Nigel Green	...	Hercules

Also Known As:

Jason and the Golden Fleece

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Iceland:12 | Finland:K-12 (cut) (1963) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1963) | Finland:K-8 (uncut) (2000) | Singapore:PG | USA:G (certificate #20139) | Norway:11 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:U | West Germany:12 | Ireland:G | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Capaccio, Salerno, Campania, Italy

Company:

Morningside Productions

Trivia:

The previous Ray Harryhausen films were generally shown as part of a double feature in "B" theatres. Columbia was able to book this film as a single feature in many "A" theatres in the United States.

Goofs:

Continuity: As Talos lifts the Argos, sailors are seen falling from a ship that is obviously still in the water.

Quotes:

Zeus: If I had to punish *every* blasphemy, I would have *no followers*!

Movie Connections:

Edited from Helen of Troy (1956)

Great fantasy film.

I love this movie. I had an 8mm print when I was growing up and I wore it and my projector out. I feel it is Harryhausen's best and according to Harryhausen himself, it is his favorite. There are flaws, Nancy Kovack is horrible, some of the matte paintings are flat looking, but Harryhausen's animation is magnificent and so is Bernard Herrmann's music score. My personal favorite scenes are the ones with Talos and the skeleton battle at the end. The skeleton battle is fantastic, how Harryhausen was not nominated for an "Oscar" is beyond me. Those who wish to be carried off into another world should give it a try. You'll like it.