Barnes & Noble

Greek mythology has been grist for the movie mill since the beginning -- from the 1918 Hungarian silent Aphrodite to Woody Allen's fractured fable Mighty Aphrodite in 1995. But what makes the 1963 screen adaptation of Jason and the Argonauts stand out from the pack is the special-effects mastery of Ray Harryhausen who, in a time before Industrial Light & Magic and Pixar, stood alone as the one-man-band of movie magic. Having already treated film fans to a smorgasbord of dazzling eye candy -- from the murky inhabitants of It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955) to the soaring spaceships of Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956) -- Harryhausen pulled out all the stops for this popular Greek myth. Jason (Todd Armstrong), in an honorable quest for the Golden Fleece, receives aid from the goddess Hera -- portrayed by Honor Blackman, one year before her turn as Pussy Galore in the Bond thriller Goldfinger. Despite Jason's derring-do, it is Hera's divine intervention that spares him in a series of encounters with Harryhausen-inspired nemeses, including: a multi-noggined hydra, a statue-come-to-life and, in the film's most memorable segment, a septet of sword-fighting skeletons. Parents will admire the rich cinematic history of Jason and the Argonauts; kids will just find it a blast to watch. Bruce Kluger

Barnes & Noble

This entertaining screen version of the ancient Greek epic quickly became a staple for hordes of fantasy-minded moviegoers everywhere. Amid hordes of monsters and mythological evil, usurped heir apparent Jason (Todd Armstrong) battles his way to the ends of the earth to retrieve the infamous Golden Fleece and regain his father's throne. Like all entries in the fantasy genre of that period, Jason and the Argonauts offers plenty of campy pleasures, yet it is strong enough to stand on its own as a straight-up adventure tale -- the myth has stood the test of time, after all. The great Bernard Herrmann provides one of his typically evocative scores, and film buffs will enjoy hints of other Herrmann pieces that are weaved into it. The film's greatest claim to fame, however, is the special-effects wizardry of Ray Harryhausen, who also provided his fantastic stop-motion effects for the infamous Clash of the Titans and The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. In Jason, watch for a splendid bit of swordplay between the heroes and a pack of fighting skeletons. Harryhausen's creations -- wonderfully detailed and very much alive -- are seamlessly integrated into the thrilling action sequences that have made Jason and the Argonauts a fantasy genre favorite. Amy Robinson

All Movie Guide

Greek mythology is done up brown by the special-effects expertise of Ray Harryhausen in Jason and the Argonauts. Jason (Todd Armstrong), rightful heir to the throne of Thessaly, is spared from death through the intervention of the goddess Hera (Honor Blackman). The other celestial inhabitants of Mount Olympus watch in amusement as Hera surreptitiously aids Jason in his search for the Golden Fleece. Obstacles to this goal include a giant come-to-life statue named Talos, the screeching harpies plaguing blind prophet Phineas (Patrick Troughton), a set of huge clashing rocks, the seven-headed hydra, and an army of skeletons (this bravura climactic sequence assured Harryhausen's place in the hearts of 13-year-old boys of all ages). Supporting characters include Nancy Kovack as a pre-infanticide Medea and Nigel Green as a pacifistic Hercules. Bernard Herrmann's surging musical score was icing on the cake for this greatest of all Ray Harryhausen creations. Hal Erickson

Product Details

• UPC: 043396002593
• Source: SONY PICTURES
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Pre-1954 Standard (1.33.1), Theatre Wide-Screen (1.85.1)
• Presentation: Pan & Scan, Wide Screen
• Sound: monaural
• Language: English, Français, Español
• Subtitles: English, Français, Español
• Time: 1:44:00
• Sales Rank: 2,868

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Ray Harryhausen Legendary Monster Series

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