Dragonslayer (1981)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1981
Running Times: 108 mins
Format: Metrocolor 35mm 70mm (blow-up) Panavision (anamorphic)
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: Dolby

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Paramount Pictures / Walt Disney Pictures
Executive Producer: Howard W. Koch
Producer: Hal Barwood
Associate Producer: Eric Rattray
Unit Production Manager: Donald Toms

SCRIPT
Script: Hal Barwood, Matthew Robbins

DIRECTOR
Director: Matthew Robbins
2nd Unit Director: Peter MacDonald
Assistant Director: Barry Langley
2nd Unit Assistant Director: John Downes
2nd Assistant Director: Roy Stevens
2nd 2nd Assistant Directors: Andrew Wood, Charles Marriott
3rd Assistant Director: Jerry Daly

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Derek Vanlint
Additional Photographer: Jim Veilleux
Camera Operator: Eddie Collins
2nd Unit Camera Operator: John J. Campbell
Assistant Camera: Brian Harris, John Keen, Nick Schlesinger, Robin Carlyle, Tony Brown
2nd Unit Assistant Camera: Beaumont Alexander, Mark Cridlin
2nd Assistant Camera: John Golding
Extra Unit Clapper Loader: Ian Foster
Chief Electrician: Bert Bosher
Chargehand Electrician: Ron Hutton
Grips: Albert Cowlard, George Beavis
2nd Unit Grip: Frank Batt
Halo Crane Operators: Dennis Low, Nick Allder, Ray Evans
Stills: Joe Pearce, Laurie Ridley, Terry Chostner
Assistant Stills: Kerry Nordquist, Roberto McGrath
Grip and Lighting Equipment: Lee Lighting Ltd

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Tony Lawson
Assistant Editors: David Spiers, Duwayne Dunham, Paul Hodgson

MUSIC
Music: Alex North
Period Music: Christopher Page
Music Recordist: Eric Tomlinson
Music Editor: June Edgerton
Music Contractor: Sidney Sax

SOUND
Sound Designer: Dale Strumpell
Assistant Sound Designer: Louis Benioff
Production Sound Recordist: Anthony Dawe
Boom Operator: Nicholas Dunn
Supervising Re-Recording Mixer: Mark Berger
Re-Recording Mixers: Dale Strumpell, Walter Murch
Sound Editors: Jay Boekelheide, Teresa Eckton, Tim Holland
Dialogue Editor: Leslie Shatz
Sound Effects Recordists: Douglas Hemphill, Andy Aaron
Production Sound Assistant: David Batchelor
Sound Apprentices: Daniel Kenney, George Blidd
Sound Assistants: Carol Jean Appel, Barbara Ellis, Cliff Latimer, Dennie Thorpe, Karen G. Wilson, Ken Fischer

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Make Up: Graham Freeborn, Jane Royle, Nick Dudman
Hair: Barbara Ritchie, Bobbie Smith
Costume Designer: Anthony Mendleson
Wardrobe Master: John Hilling
Wardrobe Mistress: Dorothy Edwards
Wardrobe Assistants: Ken Crouch, Ken Lawton, Rene Leonard, Renee Helmer

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects: Dreamstate Effects; Industrial Light and Magic
Special Effects Crew: David Knowles, Barry Whitrod, John Hatt, John Pakenham, Martin Gant, Nick Middleton, Norman Kerss, Ronald Hone
Special Effects Technicians: Philip Knowles, Alan Barnard, Andrew Kelly, David H. Watkins, John Gant, Mike Reedy, Neil Swan, Peter Hutchinson, John McLeod (uncredited)
Special Effects Assistants: Alan Poole, Anthony Speake, Chris Gant, Clive Beard, Desmond Morgan, Digby Milner, Guy Hudson, Ian Corbould, Mark Pickford, Peter Skehan, Philip Smith, Sean Nagle
Special Effects Assistant Camera: Jody Westheimer
Pyrotechnician: Thaine Morris

VISUAL EFFECTS
Effects Production Coordinator: Laurie Vermont
Special Visual Effects: Brian Johnson, Dennis Muren, Ken Ralston, Phil Tippett
Effects Production Supervisor: Thomas G. Smith
Effects Technicians: Bobby Finley III, Patrick Fitzsimmons, Dick Dova, Edward Hirsh, John McCleod, Ted Moehnke, William Beck
Dragon Designer: David Bunnett
Close-Up Dragon: Christopher Walas
Dragon Movers: Gary Leo, Stuart Ziff, Tom St Amand
Dragon Assistants: Bessie K. Wiley, E. Eric Jensen, Marc Thorpe, Peter Stolz, Wesley Seeds
Dragon Set Designer: Dave Carson
Dragon Action Property: Danny Lee
Dragon Consultant: Jon Berg
Animation Supervisor: Samuel Comstock
Animators: John Van Vliet, Deitrich Friesen, Gary Waller, Judy Elkins, Kim Knowlton, Loring Doyle, Scott Caple, Sylvia Keulen
Additional Animators: Chris Casady, Katherine Kean, Len Morganti, Pam Vick, Peter Kuran, Susan Turner
Animation Camera Operator: Robert Jacobs
Model Shop Supervisor: Lorne Peterson
Model Makers: Bruce Richardson, Ease Owyeling, Paul Huston, Scott Marshall, Charlie Bailey, Mike Fulmer
Optical Coordinator: Warren Franklin
Optical Photography Supervisor: Bruce Nicholson
Optical Camera Operator: James Hagedorn
Optical Printer Operators: John Ellis, David Berry, Kenneth Smith
Optical Technician: Duncan Meyers
Optical Line-Up: Tom Rosseter, Ed Jones, Mark Vargo
Matte Painting Supervisor: Alan Maley
Matte Photography: Neil Krepela
Matte Artists: Christopher Evans, Michael Pangrazio
Matte Camera Assistant: Craig Barron
Travelling Matte Consultant: Dennis Bartlett
Blue Screen And Optical Consultant: Roy Field (uncredited)
Equipment Engineering Supervisor: Gene Whiteman
Effects Cameramen: Michael J. McAlister, Rick Fichter
Effects Assistant Camera: Selwyn Eddy III, Ray Gilberti
Visual Effects Editors: Arthur Repola, Howard Stein
Effects Editor Assistant: Peter Amundson
Computer Engineer: Kris Brown
Electronic Systems Designer: Jerry Jeffress
Electronic Engineer: Mike MacKenzie
Electronic Technician: Marty Brenneis
Mactronics: Conrad Bonderson, Udo Pammel

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Elliot Scott
Art Director: Alan Cassie
Assistant Art Director: Ernest Archer
Set Decorator: Ian Whittaker
Property Master: Barry Wilkinson
Property Maker: John Kijko
Dressing Props: Bernie Hearn, Nick Rivers
Property Buyer: Bryn Siddall
Property Stand-By Crew: Robert Sherwood, Tommy Davies, Wally Hill
Property Storeman: Sid Alden
Construction Manager: Michael Redding
Assistant Construction Manager: Tony Morris
Chief Carpenter: Bill Evans
2nd Unit Stand-By Carpenter: Graham Britton
Chief Plasterer: Andrew Knapman
Chief Painter: Jock Campbell
Chief Draughtsmen: Frank Walsh, Peter Childs, Ted Ambrose
Chief Sculptors: Arthur Healey, Brian Muir, Derek Howarth
Scenic Artist: Ernie Smith

MISCELLANEOUS
Continuity: Pamela Davies
2nd Unit Continuity: Doris Martin, Georgiana Hamilton
Production Accountants: John Sargent, Laura Kaysen
Assistant Accountant: Alex Matcham
Production Staff: Deborah Vertue, Davina Watson, Jennie Johnson, Monica Rogers, Paul Tucker, Roberta Johnson, Sally Forino, Susan Axworthy, Susan Kane, Susie Harrod, Terry Needham
Stand-By Crew: Fred Meakin, Michael Spivey, Philip Connolly, Tony Jordon, Trevor Nicol, Terry Newvell
Production Secretary: Norma Garment
Administrative Coordinator: Chrissie England
Choreographer: Peggy Dixon
Unit Publicist: Doreen Landry
Magic Advisor: Harold Taylor
Latin Advisor: Eric Watts
Pilot: Clay Lacy

LOCATIONS
Locations: Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK; North Wales, Wales, UK; Saye Island, Scotland, UK; Snowdonia, Gwynedd, Wales, UK
Studio: Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
Location Manager: Rita Davison

STUNTS
Stunts: Terry Walsh, Tony Smart, Kiran Shah (uncredited)

CASTING
Casting: Deborah Brown, Deborah McWilliams

CAST
Peter MacNicol (Galen)
Caitlin Clarke (Valerian)
Ralph Richardson (Ulrich)
John Hallam (Tyrian)
Peter Eyre (Casiodorus Rex)
Albert Salmi (Greil)
Sydney Bromley (Hodge)
Chloe Salaman (Princess Elspeth)
Emrys James (Valerian's father)
Roger Kemp (Horsrik)
Ian McDiarmid (Brother Jacobus)
Ken Shorter, Jason White (henchmen)
Yolande Palfrey (victim)
Douglas Cooper, Alf Mangan, David Mount, James Payne, Chris Twinn (Urlanders)

PLOT SUMMARY

As the Dark Ages are coming to an end, the sorcerer Ulrisch and his apprentice Galen are called on by the people of Urland to help them rid their land of the last of the great dragons, Vermithrax Pejorative. When Ulrich is killed, Galen sets off on a quest to slay the dragon, aided by Valerian, a young woman initially disguised as a boy. Galen eventually has to enter the cavernous lair of Vermithrax and face the creature in a duel to the death, assisted by an unexpected ally.

With the best-ever big screen dragon at its disposal, Dragonslayer couldn't help but be a winner and this dark, atmospheric film is a cut above the plethora of sword and sorcery films that appeared in the early 1980s. Marvelous set-pieces abound and although the human cast tend to get a bit swamped by it all, that amazing dragon tends to make up for any small deficiencies. A rather under-rated film that desperately needs a DVD release soon.

Japan
Laserdisc Distributor: Bandai

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Video Distributor: Paramount Home Video
Laserdisc Distributor: Columbia Home Video; Paramount; Paramount (LV 1367)

Argentina
Rating: Atp

Australia
Rating: M

Chile
Rating: TE

Finland
Rating: K-16

Sweden
Rating: 11

UK
Rating: PG

USA
Rating: PG

1982
Academy Awards, USA (Oscars)
Best Effects, Visual Effects (Brian Johnson, Dennis Muren, Ken Ralston, Phil Tippett) - nominated
Best Music, Original Score (Alex North) - nominated

Hugo Awards, USA
Best Dramatic Presentation - nominated

1981
June
26: USA - theatrical release

1982
September
30: West Germany - theatrical release

October
22: Finland - theatrical release

1983
February
11: Sweden - theatrical release

1995
April
18: USA - laserdisc release (Paramount)

In the Dark Ages, Magic was a weapon. Love was a mystery. Adventure was everywhere... And Dragons were real.

Der Drachentöter - German title
El dragón del lago de fuego - Spanish title
El verdugo de dragones - Argentinian title
Lohikäärmeentappaja - Finnish title
Il drago del lago di fuoco - Italian title
Zabójca smoków - Polish title
Drakdödaren - Swedish title

dragons; magic; sorcerors; anvils; telekinesis; sword and sorcery