- (Working Title: Jason and the Golden Fleece)
- Directed by Don Chaffey
- June 13, 1963
- Based on the epic 3rd century BC Greek poem The Argonautica by Apollonius Rhodius
The legendary Greek hero leads a group on a quest to find the Golden Fleece.
Jason and the Argonauts is the kind of film and just general fantasy movie that I have loved since I was a young boy. Dialogue written like they were aiming for Shakespeare. The actors performing it in such a manner with accompanying high production values and engaging special effects even if they do not look cutting edge today. All to produce a thrilling adventure.
What really sells Jason and the Argonauts and perhaps made it famous is the dynamic effects work of Ray Harryhausen. An artist of stop motion he put so much effort and detail into his creations that it was easy to feel they were real. Small movements and tiny details in each in every scene that lesser creators would not think to execute.
This contains some of the most famous examples of stop motion executed in film history. It is a marvel of the technique and a perfect showcase in what can be accomplished when used. I would dare say it’s a technique that should be brought back and with modern computer technology you could clean up the rough edges but I’m getting off track…
Ray Harryhausen made movies to showcase his skill with stop motion techniques. He wanted to show people what he could do. Cinematic bragging if you will. And there was always a good story. The narrative never suffered. These were special effects extravaganzas that sought to do more than impress.
I’m not sure if you could call our hero Jason (Todd Armstrong as Jason and dubbed by an uncredited Tim Turner) but he comes as close as one can get in a world with clear evidence of gods and magic to being an atheist. The assorted Greek gods have done little if anything to help him during the course of his life and their indifference at times towards his quest puts him in a mind of not really caring about them. Is this to be some kind of message? Not sure.
If I had any complaints about Jason and the Argonauts I would say that it feels like it just ends. The story just stops while feeling like there is more to come. Maybe they were aiming for a sequel. Or maybe that’s the ending they had in mind. It’s just there’s so much action and then credits. Jason does not even achieve his prophesied goal.
As a film it is a series of adventurous vignettes connected by the characters but really independent shorter stories. You could show each independently and lose nothing. And to describe each section would barely take up much space on a sheet of paper. For good or bad there is a lot of padding that does not feel like it when you are watching. It is only when you think about it that you realize it.
This is an epic story of great heroes doing great things and overcoming impossible odds to succeed. There is no modern cynicism in this at all. It’s just old-fashioned fun and it’s a refreshing throwback. Jason and the Argonauts is a great bit of throwback that is not only a fun adventure, but a fine showcase of special effects.
Warren Watched A Movie 