1986 release VHS 1963 JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS VHS w/ original box RCA/COL

Description

1986 release VHS 1963 JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS VHS w/ original box
box is in great shape
VHS tapes works well
gorgeous color
classic 1963 film
Jason and the Argonauts
(
working title
:
Jason and the Golden Fleece
) is a 1963 Anglo-American
independent
mythological fantasy
adventure film
produced by
Charles H. Schneer
and directed by
Don Chaffey
. Starring
Todd Armstrong
as
Jason
, along with
Nancy Kovack
,
Honor Blackman
and
Gary Raymond
, the film was distributed by
Columbia Pictures
.
Shot in
Eastman Color
, the film was made in collaboration with
stop-motion animation
master
Ray Harryhausen
and is known for its various
legendary creatures
, notably the iconic fight scene featuring seven
skeleton warriors
.Although it was a box office disappointment during its initial release, the film was critically acclaimed and later became a cult classic.
The film score was composed by
Bernard Herrmann
, who also partnered with Harryhausen on
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad
(1958),
The 3 Worlds of Gulliver
(1960) and
Mysterious Island
(1961).
Directed by
Don Chaffey
Produced by
Charles H. Schneer
Screenplay by
Beverley Cross
Based on
The Argonautica
3rd century BC
by
Apollonius Rhodius
Starring
Todd Armstrong
Nancy Kovack
Honor Blackman
Gary Raymond
Music by
Bernard Herrmann
Cinematography
Wilkie Cooper
Edited by
Maurice Rootes
Release date
June 19, 1963
Running time
104 minutes
P
elias
usurps the throne of
Thessaly
, killing
King Aristo
, but knows that a prophecy states that one of Aristo's children will avenge him. The god
Hermes
, disguised as Pelias's soothsayer, watches as the infant
Jason
, Aristo's son, is spirited away by one of Aristo's soldiers. Pelias slays one of Aristo's daughters after she seeks sanctuary in the temple of the goddess
Hera
. Because the murder has profaned her temple, Hera becomes Jason's protector. She warns Pelias to beware of "a one-
sandaled
man".
Twenty years later, Jason saves Pelias from drowning in a river, an "accident" orchestrated by Hera, but loses his sandal in the process, so Pelias recognizes his enemy. Learning that Jason intends to seek the legendary
Golden Fleece
to rally support against him, he encourages Jason in the attempt, hoping that Jason will be killed.
Hermes takes Jason to
Mount Olympus
to speak with Zeus and Hera. Hera tells him Zeus has decreed that she can help him only five times. This is the same number of times that Jason's murdered sister Briseis called on Hera for protection. She directs him to search for the Fleece in the land of
Colchis
. Zeus offers aid, but Jason declines.
He sets out to build a ship and recruit a crew. Men from all over
Greece
compete for the honor of joining his quest. Because their ship is named the
Argo
after her builder,
Argus
, the crew are dubbed the
Argonauts
. Among them are
Hercules
,
Hylas
, and
Acastus
, the son of Pelias sent by his father to sabotage the voyage.
Hera guides Jason to the Isle of Bronze, but warns him to take nothing but provisions. However, Hercules steals a brooch pin the size of a javelin from a building filled with treasure and surmounted by a gigantic bronze statue of
Talos
. The statue comes to life and attacks the Argonauts. Jason again turns to Hera, who tells him to open a large plug on Talos's heel to release the giant's
ichor
. Talos falls to the ground, crushing Hylas and hiding his body. Hercules refuses to leave until he ascertains the fate of his friend. The other Argonauts are unwilling to abandon Hercules, so Jason calls upon Hera again. She informs them that Hylas is dead and that Zeus has other plans for Hercules.
Hera directs Jason to seek out
Phineus
, who has been blinded and is tormented by
harpies
for misusing Zeus's gift of prophesy. After the Argonauts capture and cage the harpies, Phineus tells them how to reach Colchis, by sailing between the
Clashing Rocks
. He also gives Jason an amulet of the sea god
Triton
. The Argonauts see another ship trying to pass through the other way, only to be crushed and sunk when the Clashing Rocks smash together. Upon Jason's refusal to turn back, when the Argo tries to row through, the ship appears doomed as well. In despair, Jason throws Phineus's amulet into the water, whereupon Triton rises up and holds the rocks apart long enough for the Argo to pass. Upon clearing the rocks, the Argonauts rescue a survivor from the other ship lost, the wonderfully and deadly attractive
Medea
, high priestess of Colchis.
Finally nearing Colchis, Acastus challenges Jason's authority and engages him in a duel. Disarmed, Acastus jumps into the sea and disappears. Jason and his men land and accept an invitation from King
Aeëtes
to a feast. Unknown to them, Acastus has warned Aeëtes of Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece. Aeëtes has the unwary Argonauts imprisoned, but Medea, having fallen in love with Jason, helps him and his men escape.
Acastus tries to steal the Fleece first, but is killed by its guardian, the
Hydra
. Jason is able to kill the beast and take the Fleece. Medea is mortally wounded by an arrow, but Jason heals her with the Fleece. Aeëtes then sows the Hydra's teeth and prays to the goddess
Hecate
. Seven armed
skeletons
, the "
children of the Hydra's teeth
", emerge from the ground. Jason,
Phalerus
and
Castor
, hold them off, while Medea and Argus escape back to the Argo with the Fleece. After a prolonged battle, in which his companions are killed, Jason escapes by jumping into the sea, and he, Medea, and the surviving Argonauts begin their voyage home to Thessaly. On Olympus, Zeus tells Hera that, while Jason can enjoy his triumph, he is not done with Jason.
P
elias
usurps the throne of
Thessaly
, killing
King Aristo
, but knows that a prophecy states that one of Aristo's children will avenge him. The god
Hermes
, disguised as Pelias's soothsayer, watches as the infant
Jason
, Aristo's son, is spirited away by one of Aristo's soldiers. Pelias slays one of Aristo's daughters after she seeks sanctuary in the temple of the goddess
Hera
. Because the murder has profaned her temple, Hera becomes Jason's protector. She warns Pelias to beware of "a one-
sandaled
man".
Twenty years later, Jason saves Pelias from drowning in a river, an "accident" orchestrated by Hera, but loses his sandal in the process, so Pelias recognizes his enemy. Learning that Jason intends to seek the legendary
Golden Fleece
to rally support against him, he encourages Jason in the attempt, hoping that Jason will be killed.
Hermes takes Jason to
Mount Olympus
to speak with Zeus and Hera. Hera tells him Zeus has decreed that she can help him only five times. This is the same number of times that Jason's murdered sister Briseis called on Hera for protection. She directs him to search for the Fleece in the land of
Colchis
. Zeus offers aid, but Jason declines.
He sets out to build a ship and recruit a crew. Men from all over
Greece
compete for the honor of joining his quest. Because their ship is named the
Argo
after her builder,
Argus
, the crew are dubbed the
Argonauts
. Among them are
Hercules
,
Hylas
, and
Acastus
, the son of Pelias sent by his father to sabotage the voyage.
Hera guides Jason to the Isle of Bronze, but warns him to take nothing but provisions. However, Hercules steals a brooch pin the size of a javelin from a building filled with treasure and surmounted by a gigantic bronze statue of
Talos
. The statue comes to life and attacks the Argonauts. Jason again turns to Hera, who tells him to open a large plug on Talos's heel to release the giant's
ichor
. Talos falls to the ground, crushing Hylas and hiding his body. Hercules refuses to leave until he ascertains the fate of his friend. The other Argonauts are unwilling to abandon Hercules, so Jason calls upon Hera again. She informs them that Hylas is dead and that Zeus has other plans for Hercules.
Hera directs Jason to seek out
Phineus
, who has been blinded and is tormented by
harpies
for misusing Zeus's gift of prophesy. After the Argonauts capture and cage the harpies, Phineus tells them how to reach Colchis, by sailing between the
Clashing Rocks
. He also gives Jason an amulet of the sea god
Triton
. The Argonauts see another ship trying to pass through the other way, only to be crushed and sunk when the Clashing Rocks smash together. Upon Jason's refusal to turn back, when the Argo tries to row through, the ship appears doomed as well. In despair, Jason throws Phineus's amulet into the water, whereupon Triton rises up and holds the rocks apart long enough for the Argo to pass. Upon clearing the rocks, the Argonauts rescue a survivor from the other ship lost, the wonderfully and deadly attractive
Medea
, high priestess of Colchis.
Finally nearing Colchis, Acastus challenges Jason's authority and engages him in a duel. Disarmed, Acastus jumps into the sea and disappears. Jason and his men land and accept an invitation from King
Aeëtes
to a feast. Unknown to them, Acastus has warned Aeëtes of Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece. Aeëtes has the unwary Argonauts imprisoned, but Medea, having fallen in love with Jason, helps him and his men escape.
Acastus tries to steal the Fleece first, but is killed by its guardian, the
Hydra
. Jason is able to kill the beast and take the Fleece. Medea is mortally wounded by an arrow, but Jason heals her with the Fleece. Aeëtes then sows the Hydra's teeth and prays to the goddess
Hecate
. Seven armed
skeletons
, the "
children of the Hydra's teeth
", emerge from the ground. Jason,
Phalerus
and
Castor
, hold them off, while Medea and Argus escape back to the Argo with the Fleece. After a prolonged battle, in which his companions are killed, Jason escapes by jumping into the sea, and he, Medea, and the surviving Argonauts begin their voyage home to Thessaly. On Olympus, Zeus tells Hera that, while Jason can enjoy his triumph, he is not done with Jason.