This 1963 fantasy classic features just enough impressive special effects and action set-pieces to allow one to overlook its less-perfect qualities. Director Don Chaffey successfully ‘papers over the cracks’ in Jason and the Argonauts largely thanks to Ray Harryhausen’s spectacular animated sequences which feature a whole array of fantastical creatures, including a giant walking statue, winged harpies, a hydra, and an army of skeletons.
Without these wonderful moments, the film might be something of a chore to sit through. With them, however, it is easy for one to make it through the more tedious or ridiculous parts, safe in the knowledge that it won’t be too long before another monster rears its ugly head (or heads).
Todd Armstrong plays Jason, the rightful heir to Thessaly, now ruled by the tyrannical Pelias (Douglas Wilmer). In an attempt to reclaim his birthright, Jason assembles a brave crew of exceptional athletes and, in the good ship Argo, sets sail for the land of Colchis in search of The Golden Fleece, which will give him the power to defeat his enemies.
But before Jason can even start to get excited about the idea of trying out the throne of Thessaly for size, he and his men must face many dangers, battling huge monsters and tackling perilous seas. Fortunately, the ever watchful goddess Hera (Honor Blackman) is looking out for them, and, as she and Zeus (Niall MacGinnis) partake in a chess-like game (with mortals and gods as the playing pieces), Jason’s quest is made somewhat easier through her divine help. Our hero even finds time to rescue a beautiful, big breasted (and tiny waisted) priestess from drowning.
Eventually, the Argo and its crew reach Colchis only to find that they must not only steal the fleece from the current owners, but defeat its guardian—a seven headed Hydra.
Having just re-watched the movie after many years, it is at this point that I found myself struggling the most to stay loyal to the film I remember so fondly from my childhood. I kept asking myself ‘what right does Jason have to steal the fleece?’ and could think of no acceptable answer. In taking the fleece from Colchis, he is also taking health, wealth and prosperity from its people. Utimately, Jason is no better than a common thief, and certainly no more righteous than those intended by the film’s makers to be the villains of the piece.
And while I’m having a whinge, I might as well mention a few other problems I have with the film:
After Talos trashes the Argo, Jason and his men rebuild it—how the hell do they manage that? And where did they get all of the tools?
In saving a blind man from two wicked harpies, the Argonauts use a huge net to trap the creatures. Where did the net come from? (probably the same place as the tools they used to mend the boat!).
Why get shot of Hercules so soon? His character was dispensed with far too quickly.
With these points irking me somewhat, I just cannot hold this film in quite as high regard as many; even with its amazing skeleton battle and rousing Bernard Herrman score, I don’t feel that the film is worthy of the extreme praise heaped upon it. Harryhausen does a sterling job, but fine effects alone do not make a great film.
Don’t get me wrong, the film is still an enjoyable experience,
