Clash of the Titans (1981)

Country of Origin: UK
Year of Production: 1981
Running Times: 118 mins
Format: Prints in Metrocolor     Dynarama
Ratio:
Sound: Recorded in Dolby Stereo

PRODUCTION
Production Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer presents a Charles H. Schneer production
Copyright: © 1981 Titan Productions
Produced by: Charles H. Schneer and Ray Harryhausen
Associate Producer: John Palmer
Italian Production Supervisor: Mario Pisani
Spanish Production Supervisor: Luis Roberts

SCRIPT
Written by: Beverly Cross

DIRECTION
Directed by: Desmond Davis
1st Assistant Director: Anthony Waye
2nd Assistant Director: Gerry Gavigan, Terry Madden

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Ted Moore
Camera Operator: Mike Roberts
Underwater and Aerial Cameraman: Egil S. Woxholt
Focus Puller: Tony Gaudioz
Clapper Loader: Mike Bulley
Chief Electrician: John May
Camera Grip: Jimmy Spoard
Still Photographer: Keith Hamshere
Processing by: Rank Film Laboratories

EDITING
Editor: Timothy Gee
Assistant Editor: Christopher Thompson

MUSIC
Music by: Laurence Rosenthal
Orchestration by: Herbert W. Spencer
Music Performed By: The London Symphony Orchestra
Music Editor: Robin Clarke

SOUND
Sound Mixer: Robin Gregory
Boom Operator: Terry Sharrat
Sound Effects Editor: Terry Poulton
Chief Dubbing Mixer: Gordon K. McCallum
Dubbing Mixers: Graham V. Hartstone, Nicolas Le Mesurier

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Make-Up: Basil Newall, Connie Reeve
Hair Stylist: Stephanie Kaye
Costume Designer: Emma Porteous
Masks: Colin Arthur
Wardrobe Supervisor: Keith Denny
Wardrobe Mistress: Helen Gill

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Floor/Physical Effects: Brian Smithies

VISUAL EFFECTS
Creator of Special Visual Effects: Ray Harryhausen
Assistants to Ray Harryhausen: Jim Danforth, Steven Archer
Special Opticals: Frank Van Der Veer, Roy Field
Special Miniatures: Cliff Culley
Blue Screen Technician: Dennis Bartlett
Titles: Camera Effects

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Frank White
Art Directors: Don Picton, Peter Howitt, Giorgio Desideri, Fernando Gonzalez
Set Dresser: Harry Cordwell
Production Buyer: David Lusby
Construction Manager: Bill McLaren, Robert Cross
Model Makers: Janet Stevens, Colin Chilvers

OTHER CREW
Continuity: Doreen Soan
Production Accountant: George Marshall
Production Assistant: Norma Hazelden
Unit Publicist: Ann Tasker

LOCATIONS
Made at Pinewood Studios, London, England and on location in Spain, Italy and in Malta in co-operation with Mediterranean Film Facilities
Location Manager: Bryan Coates

STUNTS
Stunt Co-Ordinator: Ferdinando Poggi

CASTING
Casting: Irene Lamb, Sam Christensen & Joyce Robinson

CAST
(opening credits)
Starring
Harry Hamlin as Perseus
Judi Bowker as Andromeda
Burgess Meredith (Ammon)
Maggie Smith (Thetis)
Ursula Andress (Aphrodite)
Claire Bloom (Hera)
Siân Phillips
Flora Robson (Stygian witch)

and
Laurence Olivier as Zeus

With
Tim Pigott-Smith (Thallo)
Neil McCarthy (Calibos)
Susan Fleetwood (Athena)
Anna Manahan (Stygian witch)
Freda Jackson (Stygian Witch)

(Closing Credits)
The Immortals
Laurence Olivier (Zeus)
Claire Bloom (Hera)
Maggie Smith (Thetis)
Ursula Andress (Aphrodite)
Jack Gwillim (Poseidon)
Susan Fleetwood (Athena)
Pat Roach (Hephaestus)

The Mortals
Harry Hamlin as Perseus
Judi Bowker as Andromeda
Burgess Meredith (Ammon)
Siân Phillips (Cassiopeia)
Flora Robson, Anna Manahan, Freda Jackson (Stygian witches)
Tim Pigott-Smith (Thallo)
Neil McCarthy (Calibos)
Donald Houston (Acrisius)
Vida Taylor (Danae)
Harry Jones (huntsman)

The Mythologicals
As Themseves
In alphabetical Order

Bubo
Charon
Sioskilos
Kraken
Medusa
Pegasus
Scorpions
Vulture

PLOT SUMMARY

Perseus, son of Zeus, is due to marry the Princess Andromeda when she's taken to be sacrificed in order to appease the sea monster Kraken, awoken by the evil Calibos and his mother, the Goddess Thetis. Perseus must track down the dreaded Gorgon Medusa whose head can turn men to stone and is the only thing that can kill the Kraken.

The end of the road for the Harryhausen magic and it's far from his best. The advent of the Star Wars era put paid to Harryhausen's brand of mythological fantasy and Clash of the Titans is a sad way to bow out. The effects work is as impressive as ever, but the younger cast struggles wit the lacklustre script while the elders simply look embarrassed. It's not a patch on Jason and the Argonauts (1963).

USA
Theatrical Distributors: MGM
Video Distributors: MGM
Laserdisc Distributors: MGM Home Video (ML100074); (ML102979)

Finland
Rating: K-12

Germany
Rating: 12

Sweden
Rating: 15

USA
Rating: PG (MPAA: 25716)

1982
Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films, USA
Saturn Award: Best Supporting Actor (Burgess Meredith) - winner

Young Artist Awards
Best Motion Picture: Fantasy or Comedy Family Enjoyment - winner

1981
July
1: Sweden - theatrical release
8: France - theatrical release

November
6: Finland - theatrical release

Kampf der Titanen
Scontro di titani - Italian title

LINKS

SEE ALSO
Orgazmo (1997)

MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS

The Movie pp.1996-1997
credits, review

Radio Times 2 - 8 April 1988 pp.26
credits, synopsis

Screen International 7 July 1979 p.12
review

BOOKS

Elliot's Guide to Films on Video p.151
credits, review

Hoffman's Guide to Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Movies 1991 - 1992 p.74
credits, review

OTHER SOURCES

screen
credits

ancient greece, deities, flying horses, kraken, medusa, monsters, mythology, owls, pegasus, princesses, robots, royalty, sea monsters, stop motion animation, sword fights

Last Updated: 15 October, 2008