Jason and the Argonauts **** (1963, Todd Armstrong, Honor Blackman, Niall MacGinnis, Andrew Faulds, Nancy Kovack, Gary Raymond, Laurence Naismith, Douglas Wilmer, John Cairney) – Classic Movie Review 3,519

The legendary effects wiz Ray Harryhausen provides the endearing old-style stop-motion special effects for director Don Chaffey’s frothy, fun-filled 1963 epic adaptation of the Greek legend, Jason and the Argonauts.

It stars muscleman Todd Armstrong as Jason, who is deprived of his rightful inheritance when Pelias killed his father, and sets out with his brave band of Argonauts to travel to Colchis to find the Golden Fleece. But his journey is interrupted by battles against harpies, a giant bronze Titan, sea monsters and, in the film’s engaging highlight, a sword-waving skeleton army.

This very jolly family-friendly fantasy adventure is cheerful enough already, but it is cheered along even further by Bernard Herrmann’s vibrantly dramatic score. However, the special effects wizardry of Ray Harryhausen is undoubtedly the star of the show.

The excellent cast of British worthies do their level best not to be upstaged by the monsters. Also in that excellent cast are Honor Blackman as the goddess Hera, Niall MacGinnis as Zeus, Andrew Faulds as Phalerus, Nancy Kovack as Medea, Gary Raymond as Acastus, Laurence Naismith as Argus, Douglas Wilmer as Pelias, Michael Gwynn as Hermes, Jack Gwillim as King Aeëtes, John Cairney as Hylas, Patrick Troughton as Phineas, Nigel Green as Hercules, John Crawford and Douglas Robinson.

Honor Blackman as Hera in Jason and the Argonauts (1963).

The screenplay is by Jan Read and Beverley Cross, an expert in this kind of thing: The Long Ships, Genghis Khan, Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger and Clash of the Titans (1981). Cross was married to Maggie Smith from 23 June 1975 until his death on 20 March 1998.

It was remade as a miniseries in 2000 with Jason London.

RIP Douglas Wilmer, who died on March 31 2016, aged 96.

RIP Honor Blackman (22 August 1925 – 5 April 2020).

Scottish stage and screen actor John Cairney.

RIP Glasgow-born actor John Cairney (February 16, 1930 – September 7, 2023. His many films include Lucky Jim, A Night to Remember, Operation Bullshine, The Flesh and the Fiends, Victim, Cleopatra, and Jason and the Argonauts.

Perhaps his most famous film role is in Jason and The Argonauts, where his infamous character Hylas is crushed to death by the bronze statue Talos.

The cast are Todd Armstrong (dubbed by Tim Turner) as Jason, Nancy Kovack (dubbed by Eva Haddon) as Medea, Gary Raymond as Acastus, Laurence Naismith as Argus, Niall MacGinnis as Zeus, Michael Gwynn as Hermes/priest, Douglas Wilmer as Pelias, Jack Gwillim as King Aeëtes, Honor Blackman as Hera, John Cairney as Hylas, Patrick Troughton as Phineus, Andrew Faulds as Phalerus, Nigel Green as Hercules, John Crawford as Polydeuces, Ferdinando Poggi as Castor, Bill Gudgeon as Triton, Doug Robinson as Eupaemus, Davina Taylor as Briseis, and Aldo Cristiani as Lynceus.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3,519

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