Jason and the Argonauts lobby card set image courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries

Columbia Pictures brought Jason and the Argonauts to movie theaters in 1963. Todd Armstrong has the title role, with Nancy Kovack, Gary Raymond and Honor Blackman in strong support.

Charles H. Schneer Produces Jason and the Argonauts

Charles H. Schneer produced Jason and the Argonauts for Morningside Productions and Columbia Pictures. Schneer was no stranger to sci-fi/fantasy films, having previously produced such fare as The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960) and Mysterious Island (1961).

Jan Read and Beverley Cross wrote the screenplay, with Don Chaffey directing. Bernard Hermann created the original music score and Wilkie Cooper served as cinematographer.

Jason and the Argonauts Cast

Todd Armstrong (Jason), Nancy Kovack (Medea) and Gary Raymond (Acastus) head the cast. Other players include 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) and John Crawford (Polydeuces).

Jason and the Argonauts Filmed in Italy

Budgeted at $1 million, Jason and the Argonauts was filmed from September to October 1961. Much of the movie was shot in Italy, giving the production a rich, lush Mediterranean look. Shepperton Studios in England and S.A.F.A. Studios in Rome served as the picture’s in-house production facilities.

While filming off the coast of Italy, Jason’s ship, the Argo, suddenly found herself sharing the same waters with a replica of The Golden Hind, Sir Francis Drake’s famous vessel. The British television series, Sir Francis Drake, had also been shooting in the same stretch of ocean. “Get that ship out of here,” Jason’s producer Charles H. Schneer good-naturedly called out to The Golden Hind’s British crew. “You’re in the wrong century!”

Ray Harryhausen’s Special Effects

Touted by Ray Harryhausen as his personal favorite, Jason and the Argonauts afforded the legendary special effects wizard one of the best career opportunities to showcase his talents. Rising to the challenge, Harryhausen delivered, salting the production with a dazzling array of fantastic scenes: the colossus Talos coming to life on the Isle of Bronze; the blind Phineas and his struggle with the Harpies; the bearded Triton rising from the frothing sea to hold back the cliffs at the Strait of the Clashing Rocks; the slaying of the six-headed Hydra; and Jason’s climactic battle with the deathly skeleton army…

Jason and the Argonauts’ Quest for the Golden Fleece

Jason and the Argonauts begins with the murder of the Thessalian king Aristo, who is killed by the scheming Pelias. Escaping the slaughter is Aristo’s son, Jason, who is aided by the Greek goddess Hera. Two decades later a determined Jason attempts to recapture his father’s throne, and embarks on a fantastic quest to bring back the fabled Golden Fleece.

Manning the oars of the Argo are a number of Greece’s finest warriors, including the mighty Hercules. A guilt-ridden Hercules, however, elects not to go on following the loss of young Hylas, whose death on the Isle of Bronze the strongman attributes to his own greed.

As the gods watch and manipulate from the lofty heights of Mount Olympus, Jason and his Argonauts continue their journey. In gratitude for rescuing him from the flying Harpies, the blind Phineas presents Jason with an amulet, which later proves invaluable when the Argo attempts to navigate the Strait of the Clashing Rocks.

Jason and his men eventually make it to Colchis, the land of the Golden Fleece. But Jason’s difficulties are only beginning, as he must now contend with the treacherous King Aeetes, a traitorous Argonaut, the deadly six-headed Hydra and a band of supernatural skeleton warriors.

Jason and the Argonauts Opens in Boston

Jason and the Argonauts premiered in Boston on June 19, 1963.

“This absurd, unwieldy adventure – if that’s the word – is no worse, but certainly no better, than most of its kind,” reported Howard Thompson of The New York Times (8/8/63).

“A diverting spectacle…Handsome Todd Armstrong does a commendable job as Jason and Nancy Kovack is beautiful as his Medea…” observed Variety (6/5/63).

“In Jason and the Argonauts, a rehash of how Jason got the golden fleece, our hero suffers such a plethora of trials by the special effects department (about twice as many as in the legend) that one’s visual appreciativeness is dulled long before the fleece sparkles into view,” opined Robert Hawk of The New York Herald Tribune (8/8/63).

Jason and the Argonauts Best Scene, Movie Memorabilia, DVD

• One of Jason’s best scenes takes place on the mysterious Isle of Bronze when the mammoth Talos – called “a steam-powered King Kong with a drain plug it its heel” by Time magazine – suddenly comes to life.
• Auction results for original Jason and the Argonauts movie memorabilia, courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries, Dallas, Texas: one sheet movie poster ($69), window card ($20), half sheet poster ($35), French Grande poster ($83.65), set of eight lobby cards ($286.80), lot of ten color production stills ($262.90).
• On DVD: Jason and the Argonauts (Columbia/Tristar, 1998).

Image via Wikipedia

1. Make a bonfire, throw their books in, and say “It’s Magic!”

2. Tell them the Weasley’s are gingers.

3. Say that Harry belongs with Hermoine, rather than her screwing Ron.

4. Constantly tell them that Edward Cullen is hotter than Harry.

5. Argue that Stephanie Meyer could beat J.K. Rowling in a drag race.

6. Tell them that James from Twilight could eat Voldemort. Literally.

7. Repetitively ask if Harry likes playing with magic sticks, if you know what I mean.

8. Remind them Daniel Radcliffe was in a play where he was naked and fantasized about horses.

9. Run around riding a tree branch, shouting “I’M HARRY POTTER!”

10. Talk with a horrible British accent and claim you go to Hogwarts.

11.  Remind them Dumbledore is gay.

12. Exclaim “Well Harry doesn’t sparkle in the sunlight!”

13. Tell them Bella is much prettier than Ginny.

14. Insist that Snape uses Loreal to condition his hair.

15. When seeing a poster or picture with Harry on it, scream “THE BRITISH ARE COMING! THE BRITISH ARE COMING!”

16. Pronounce the actor’s names wrong.

17. Ask who Harry Potter is.

18. Tell them Dumbledore hides a rabbit under his hat.

19. Pronounce the character’s names wrong.

20. Suggest that Harry should look into a pair of D&G glasses rather than his silly round ones.

21. Ask if Voldemort got plastic surgery on his nose.

22. Say Harry should try out Mederma.

23.  Ask “If Harry’s scar hurts so bad, then why doesn’t he just take Tylenol?!”

24. Tell them “Why so Sirus — Black?”

25. Ask them if they do know what Harry means and claim J.K. Rowling is perverted.

After having done so, it is safe to say that Half Blood Prince, the sixth feature film in this saga, did not disappoint.

What I like about the Potter movies – and books – is that they have gotten more sophisticated, complex, serious, and just plain better as they’ve progressed and the characters, and the young actors portraying them, have grown older and matured.

It has been a trip watching Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, as Harry, Ron, and Hermione respectively, grow up on screen, much like a teacher who sees his students years after having them in his class. To me, they are the Beatles of the child star world, which should be considered the ultimate complement.

Directed by David Yates and written by Steve Kloves, this latest Harry Potter film, in my view, is the best among the six that has been released to date.

It was certainly the most dramatic and emotional, with Harry spending much of his sixth year at Hogwarts School with his headmaster Dumbledore, portrayed brilliantly by Sir Michael Gambon, searching for clues that will help defeat the evil Lord Voldemort. All while having to navigate the pangs of teenage love and hormones, as Harry develops feelings for his best friend Ron’s younger sister Ginny (played by Bonnie Wright), who’s dating someone else – we all know how that feels.

One of my favorite scenes was when Hermione was crying on some steps after seeing Ron hook up with Lavender Brown (played convincingly by Jessie Cave), a classmate of theirs, after a Quidditch match. As Harry is consoling Hermione, she tells him that she knows he likes Ginny, and asks him how he feels about her having a boyfriend that’s not him. Harry says, “It feels how you’re feeling now,” as his heartbroken friend cries on his shoulder.

If that scene doesn’t bring back painful memories of unrequited teenage love, nothing will.

A significant factor in my attraction to the boy with the John Lennon-style granny glasses and his magical community is the fact that so much of the tale parallels another iconic movie series from my formative years – Star Wars.

Indeed, Harry Potter is the Star Wars of the new millennium.

When one gives it some thought, it is painfully clear that the main characters are so much like those people from a galaxy far, far away that it is scary.

For instance, it’s obvious that Harry is what Luke Skywalker was, the chosen one whose destiny is to save his world from the evil forces that are destroying it. Dumbledore and Obi-Wan Kenobi are virtually the same as well, both of them signifying the wise old sage guiding the young student to what he is destined to do, then leaving him, in a tragic way, to test his strength and face his demons.

Lord Voldemort is Darth Vader all over again; those two chief villians are so similar they are virtual twins. Both of them started as young prodigies before turning to the Dark Side and ultimately ruling it. Even their nicknames are the same: Lord Voldemort is called “The Dark Lord” by his followers, the Death Eaters. Darth Vader was called the same by his Imperial Empire. 

As another example of these parallels, Hermione and Princess Leia are pretty similar too, both portraying the noble female hero that’s an essential help in the protagonist’s quest and cause. 

But I digress – Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was well worth the two year wait after the fifth Potter film, The Order of the Phoenix, came out in July 2007. The script was extremely well written, the cinematography was beautiful, the acting performances were excellent, and it was just a great movie going experience all around.

Half Blood Prince also succeeded in one very important thing – setting things up for the film adaptation of the final book in Rowling’s epic saga, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which will be released in two installments, the first in November 2010, and the second in July 2011.

At the end of the movie, as I sat in my theater seat watching the closing credits roll by and listening to the uplifting orchestral score, one thing came to mind:

“I can’t wait until the next one comes out.”

I think that sums it all up, don’t you?

Pan’s Labyrinth tops the list of modern grown-up fairytales. The exotic, elaborate Spanish story of a little girl’s quest mixes fantasy and reality in such a way that the audience can decide for themselves whether or not the story was true. The stunning effects are beautiful, but also brutal, even graphic, making this film an inappropriate choice for young audiences.

A more family-friendly film, but with elements of grown-up life heavily involved, Finding Neverland satisfies audiences with its rich fantasy scenes invoking the spirit of Peter Pan, along with its lavishly-costumed reality for frustrated author J.M. Barrie’s life. Themes like death, extramarital attraction, and grief may keep some younger viewers from participating in a film designed to please adults as much or more than children.

Princess Caraboo is a less familiar title to most audiences, but a true adult fairy tale that warms the hearts of its viewers while earning a few lighthearted laughs. Elements of sexuality and oppressive English society are mild, but ultimate question of the tale of the mysterious supposed-princess will entrance viewers who love character-driven stories and fairytale endings.

Fairy Tale: A True Story may feature a young cast, but the heart of the story — wartime grief, death, and loneliness — will appeal to adult viewers as much as the “is it real or not” implications of the true story of the “fairy photos” controversy of the early 1900’s.

A fairytale meant exclusively for grownups, Big Fish churns one man’s strange life of tall tales, fantastic creatures, and modern-day “reality” into a world which invites viewers to escape their own realities. Giants and monstrous fish may be lurking, but the grain of truth in each “big fish” story leaves a warmhearted conclusion for audiences drawn to either side of the story.

Let yourself get swept up in a great story, no matter what your age. With great fantasy stories for young an old, the excuses not to escape are few indeed.

The movie appears to be so colorful. It is presented by Walt Disney Pictures and will be in theaters on May 16, 2008. This is one movie that I would love to see with 3d glasses. I would love to see the lion jump out of the screen and all the other exciting characters. Seeing the scenery would really be beautiful in a pair of 3D glasses. I can not wait to see this movie. I am so anxious and ready to get lost in this one.

You can can learn more at the Disney site. There you will see a picture gallery, more about the movie, the blog, and more. It is almost like entering into Narnia which I think is a beautiful fairy tale world.