Clash of the Titans (1981)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Desmond Davis

Writer:

Beverley Cross (written by)

Release Date:

12 June 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Family | Romance

Tagline:

An Epic Entertainment Spectacular!

Plot:

A film adaption of the myth of Perseus and his quest to battle both Medusa and the Kraken monster to save the Princess Andromeda.

Plot Keywords:

Zeus | Medusa | Kraken | Princess | Myth

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Laurence Olivier	...	Zeus
Claire Bloom	...	Hera
Maggie Smith	...	Thetis
Ursula Andress	...	Aphrodite
Jack Gwillim	...	Poseidon
Susan Fleetwood	...	Athena
Pat Roach	...	Hephaestus
Harry Hamlin	...	Perseus
Judi Bowker	...	Andromeda
Burgess Meredith	...	Ammon
Siân Phillips	...	Cassiopeia
Flora Robson	...	Stygian Witch
Anna Manahan	...	Stygian Witch
Freda Jackson	...	Stygian Witch
Tim Pigott-Smith	...	Thallo
Neil McCarthy	...	Calibos
Donald Houston	...	Acrisius
Vida Taylor	...	Danae
Harry Jones	...	Huntsman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ferdinando Poggi	...	Guard (uncredited)

Directed by
Desmond Davis

Writing credits
Beverley Cross		(written by)

Produced by
Ray Harryhausen	....	producer
John Palmer	....	associate producer
Charles H. Schneer	....	producer

Original Music by
Laurence Rosenthal

Cinematography by
Ted Moore		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Timothy Gee

Casting by
Joyce Agu		(as Joyce Robinson)
Sam Christensen
Irene Lamb

Production Design by
Frank White

Art Direction by
Giorgio Desideri
Fernando Gonzalez
Peter Howitt
Don Picton

Costume Design by
Emma Porteus

Makeup Department
Colin Arthur	....	masks
Stephanie Kaye	....	hair stylist
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist
Connie Reeve	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Mario Pisani	....	production supervisor: Italy
Luis Roberts	....	production supervisor: Spain

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gerry Gavigan	....	second assistant director
Terry Madden	....	second assistant director
Anthony Waye	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Colin Chilvers	....	model maker
Harry Cordwell	....	set dresser
Bob Cross	....	construction manager (as Robert Cross)
David Lusby	....	production buyer
Bill McLaren	....	construction manager
Janet Stevens	....	model maker
Cathy Hill	....	painter: production paintings (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robin Gregory	....	sound mixer
Graham V. Hartstone	....	dubbing mixer
Nicolas Le Messurier	....	dubbing mixer
Gordon K. McCallum	....	chief dubbing mixer
Terry Poulton	....	sound effects editor
Terry Sharratt	....	boom operator

Visual Effects by
Dennis Bartlett	....	blue screen technician
Cliff Culley	....	special miniatures
Roy Field	....	special opticals
Ray Harryhausen	....	special visual effects creator
Frank Van der Veer	....	special opticals (as Frank Van Der Veer)
Martin Body	....	rostrum/matte cameraman (uncredited)

Stunts
Ferdinando Poggi	....	stunt coordinator
Ralph Faulkner	....	fight choreographer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Bulley	....	clapper loader
Anthony Gaudioz	....	focus puller (as Tony Gaudioz)
Keith Hamshere	....	still photographer
John May	....	chief electrician
Mike Roberts	....	camera operator
Jimmy Spoard	....	camera grip
Egil S. Woxholt	....	underwater and aerial camera operator
Costas Charitou	....	titles & opticals: Camera Effects Ltd (uncredited)
David Johnson	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Marc Wolff	....	camera pilot (uncredited)

Animation Department
Jim Danforth	....	animator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Keith Denny	....	wardrobe supervisor
Helen Gill	....	wardrobe mistress
Yvonne Zarb Cousin	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Christopher Thompson	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Robin Clarke	....	music editor
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrator
Gordon Langford	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Steven Archer	....	assistant: Ray Harryhausen
Bryan Coates	....	location manager
Jim Danforth	....	assistant: Ray Harryhausen
Norma Hazelden	....	production assistant
George Marshall	....	production accountant
Brian Smithies	....	floor/physical effects
Doreen Soan	....	continuity
Ann Tasker	....	unit publicist
Nick Maley	....	prosthetics technician (uncredited)
Enzo Sisti	....	accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents)
• Titan Productions

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1993) (USA) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Vídeo Arte (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Camera Effects  titles (as Camera Effects)
• London Symphony Orchestra, The (LSO)  music performed by
• Music Centre, The  music recorded at

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | UK:12 (DVD rating) (2005) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:PG (certificate #25716) | UK:15 (video rating) | UK:A (original rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:12 | Norway:16 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The Kraken was not the name of a titan in Greek mythology, but a sea monster from Scandinavian mythology.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the scenes after Perseus leaves to go on his journey, in some of the shots, the soldiers are wearing the proper Grecian helmets. However, in other shots, the soldiers are wearing helmets that would have been worn by Roman Centurions.

Quotes:

Ammon: I was partial to tragedy in my youth. That was before experience taught me that life was tragical enough without my having to write about it.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Sasquatch Gang (2006)

Mythology Comes Alive!

This film opens with a woman and her child being shunned by her kingly father and the city he represents, and banished to the depths of the sea. We soon find out that this child is the son of Zeus, king of Mt. Olympus and king of the gods. Zeus then releases this terrible beast called the Kracken to destroy the city. The child is saved and grows to manhood. His name is Perseus. The film is then a chronicle of Perseus's adventures as he battles the deadly, deformed Calibos, giant scorpions, a two-headed giant dog, and the evil Medusa herself, as well as the mightiest of all titans, the Kracken itself. We also see him befriend the magical Pegasus, and meet Cheron on the river Styx. This movie is great fun and makes all these mythological names come alive. The credit for this goes to the wonderful stop-animation work of Ray Harryhausen, in his (unfortunately) last film. Credit also goes to the wonderful supporting cast of British stage nobility playing the gods and such, Laurence Olivier plays Zeus, Maggie Smith is Thetis, and Claire Bloom, Ursala Andress, Flora Robson, and Burgess Meredith play memorable roles as well. Harry Hamlin as Perseus and Judi Bowker as his love-interest Andromeda are lackluster(although Ms. Bowker is VERY easy on the eyes). But their lack of acting savvy is one of the few detriments of the film. This film is fast-paced adventure that is magical, mystical, and memorable!