The Dark Crystal (1982)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Directors:

Jim Henson
Frank Oz

Writers:

Jim Henson (story)
David Odell (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 December 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Another World, Another Time... In the Age of Wonder.

Plot:

On another planet in the distant past, a Gelfling embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of a magical crystal, and so restore order to his world.

Plot Keywords:

Crystal | Shard | Evil | Quest | Monster

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Jim Henson	...	Jen / High Priest (Ritual Master) / Podling / Additional Characters
Kathryn Mullen	...	Kira, A Gelfling (performer) / Jen, A Gelfling (assistant) / Additional Characters (uncredited)
Frank Oz	...	Aughra - A Keeper Of Secrets / Chamberlain / Podling / Additional Characters
Dave Goelz	...	Fizzgig, A Friendly Monster (performer) / General (Garthin Master) (performer) / Dying Emperor (performer) / Podling (performer)
Steve Whitmire	...	Scientist (performer and voice) / Kira, A Gelfling (assistant) (voice)
Louise Gold	...	Gourmand (performer)
Brian Muehl	...	Ornamentalist (performer and voice) / Urzah (performer) / Dying Master (performer and voice) (voice)
Bob Payne	...	Historian (Scrollkeeper) (performer)
Mike Quinn	...	Slave Master (performer)
Tim Rose	...	Treasurer (performer)
Jean-Pierre Amiel	...	Weaver (performer) (as Jean Pierre Amiel)
Hugh Spight	...	Cook / Landstrider (performer)
Robbie Barnett	...	Numerologist (performer) / Landstrider (performer)
Swee Lim	...	Hunter / Landstrider - Performer
Simon Williamson	...	Chanter (performer)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:LH | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Malaysia:(Banned) | Iran:(Banned) | South Korea:All | Japan:G | Hong Kong:I | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Twyecross, Leicestershire, England, UK

Company:

Henson Associates (HA)

Trivia:

The movie's conceptual artist Brian Froud and puppet designer Wendy Midener met on the set of the movie and were later married.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Jen and Kira are climbing into the Castle via the water duct, Kira bumps her head on the tooth of the water-spouting gargoyle.

Quotes:

Jen: Where is this Augrah? How does she look like? How will I find her? "Follow the Greatest Sun for a day to the home of Augrah"... hmph. Some directions!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Sasquatch Gang (2006)

If only Jim were still with us...what magic he'd make!

When this movie first came out (1982) I was 13 years old, and remember seeing it in the theatre with friends. I loved it then and love it now. It remains one of the best fantasy films of all time, but only because of the sheer effort given to it by the Henson company; only he could have made this all work. His genius is timeless. If only he were still alive now to make more films like this (and better!)

Our world is a dimmer place without Jim Henson.