Jason and the Argonauts

 

Based on the epic poem The Argonautica by Apollonius Rhodius, Jason and the Argonauts is the story of an explorer who returns home to claim his throne only to embark on a quest to find the Golden Fleece where he would fight all sorts of forces. Directed by Don Chaffey and screenplay by Beverley Cross and Jan Read, he film is a fantasy-adventure film that features the work of stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen as it plays into a man dealing with mysterious creatures in his quest to become king. Starring Todd Armstrong, Nancy Kovack, Honor Blackman, and Gary Raymond. Jason and the Argonauts is an exhilarating and exciting film from Don Chaffey and Ray Harryhausen.

The film is about a young man who is asked by a king to retrieve an object known as the Golden Fleece and in return would get revenge on the king who killed his mother many years ago due to a prophecy. It is a film that has this young man named Jason (Todd Armstrong) who saves this king from drowning unaware that he was the man who killed his mother based on a prophecy that would destroy him. The film’s screenplay by Beverley Cross and Jan Read is straightforward as it opens with Pelias (Douglas Wilmer) hearing about a prophecy that a child of a rival king would usurp him as he attacks that king’s palace where he kills one of the king’s daughters who prayed to Hera (Honor Blackman) who would protect the young Jason and warn Pelias that killing Jason would meet his doom. The film moves 20 years later where Pelias is saved by Jason from drowning as Jason has no idea who Pelias is and what he’s done as he agreed to get the Golden Fleece for Pelias.

After assembling of some of the best Greeks including Hercules (Nigel Green) and getting a ship created by Argus (Laurence Naismith), Jason and his crew go on this journey unaware that Pelias sent his son Acastus (Gary Raymond) to join the crew as a saboteur. Yet, Jason and his crew deal with monsters and such as well other things in the course of the film while they’re watched from above by Hera and Zeus (Niall MacGinnis) as observers with the former helping Jason out whenever he prays to her. Still, Jason deals with the challenges towards his destination as well as issues among the crew into this treacherous journey.

Don Chaffey’s direction is stylish in terms of its presentation in the world of fantasy and sword-and-sandal films with a lot of emphasis on visual effects to play into the former. Shot largely on various locations in Italy as Ancient Greece, Chaffey uses the locations to play into this vast world that Jason and his companions would embark on that would include ancient ruins, large statues, and other places where Chaffey would use wide and medium shots to get a scope of this world. Still, Chaffey knows when to move the story forward for non-action scenes as a way to showcase Jason’s development as a leader as he knows he might be way over his head where he does go to his crew for advice but also to the gods as Chaffey’s usage of close-ups and medium shots play into these moments. Through the visual effects work of stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen, Chaffey is able to create these extravagant action scenes that include a confrontation with a giant statue, flying creatures, a seven-headed monster, and skeletons in the film’s climax as they add to this world that Jason would encounter.

Chaffey and Harryhausen would create these sequences that are filled with suspense and adventure as there is something primitive to the effects yet there is also a charm to it. Especially in the film’s memorable climax with the skeleton soldiers where the mixture of live-action and stop-motion animation is strange yet there is a lot of imagination into what is created. Overall, Chaffey and Harryhausen craft a thrilling and offbeat adventure film of an explorer trying to retrieve an object that brings life.

Cinematographer Wilkie Cooper does excellent work with the film’s cinematography for many of the natural daytime exterior scenes along with some of the scenes at night in some of the interior/exterior settings for scenes in the third act. Editor Maurice Rootes does terrific work with the editing as it has some nice dissolves and rhythmic cuts to play into the action. Production designer Geoffrey Drake, with art directors Jack Maxsted, Antonio Sarzi-Braga, and Herbert Smith, does amazing work with the set design from the look of the statues and ruins to the palace of one of the kings in the third act. Sound editor Alfred Cox does superb work with the sound as its usage of sound effects and sparse sounds in some of the film’s locations add to the air of adventure and action. The film’s music by Bernard Herrmann is incredible for its bombastic orchestral score that help play into the sense of adventure and suspense along with some somber string-based pieces as it is a major highlight of the film.

The film’s wonderful ensemble cast include some notable small roles from Patrick Troughton as the blind prophet Phineus who helps Jason find the land known as Colchis, John Cairney as a young Greek in Hylas whom Hercules is mentoring, Nigel Green as the legendary strongman Hercules who finds himself dealing with doubt and guilt, Doug Robinson as the strong swimmer Eupaemus, Andrew Faulds and Ferdinando Poggi in their respective roles as the swordsmen Phalerus and Castor, Michael Gwynn in the role of Pelias’ priest who reveals him this prophecy when he is really the god Hermes who allows Jason the chance to talk to the gods. Jack Gwillim is terrific as Colchis’ King Aeetes who takes Jason in after a mission where he saved his daughter only to learn of Jason’s motives at his home.

Honor Blackman and Niall MacGinnis are fantastic in their respective roles as Hera and Zeus with Blackman providing charm as the goddess who helps Jason and protects him while MacGinnis brings his own charm to the role of the famed god as he is someone not willing to interfere but knows he’s got plans for some of the characters involved. Douglas Wilmer is superb as Pelias as a king who learns that Jason is the young man who intends to usurp him while knowing that he can’t kill Jason where he tries to befriend him and send his son Acastus to sabotage Jason’s quest. Laurence Naismith is excellent as Argus as the man who created the boat for Jason’s quest as well as being someone who is wise and helps Jason with advice as he is someone the crew looks to for guidance.

Gary Raymond is brilliant as Acastus as Pelias’ son who takes on a different identity to join Jason’s quest in order to sabotage him as he would find himself sparring with Jason over ideas and decisions leading to a lot of tension. Nancy Kovack is amazing as Medea as the princess/high priestess of Colchis whom Jason saves when her ship was attacked as she falls for him while becoming aware of her father’s greed over the Golden Fleece as her voice is dubbed by Eva Haddon. Finally, there’s Todd Armstrong in an incredible performance as the titular character, as he is dubbed by Tim Turner, who is an explorer that is tasked to retrieve the Golden Fleece for its healing powers unaware that he’s giving it to the man who killed his mother where he deals with the journey as well as his own role as a leader where it is a charismatic performance from Armstrong.

Jason and the Argonauts is a phenomenal film from Don Chaffey and Ray Harryhausen. Featuring a great cast, gorgeous visuals, an incredible music score from Bernard Herrmann, and inventive visual effects that play up this air of fantasy in the film. It is a film that is filled with a lot of thrills and adventure as well as being this journey of a man trying to prove his worth to the world with the gods looking from above to see him reach that journey. In the end, Jason and the Argonauts is a sensational film from Don Chaffey and Ray Harryhausen.

© thevoid99 2021

James Bond Marathon: Bond Girls are Forever

Directed by John Watkin, Bond Girls are Forever is a TV documentary about the evolution of the Bond Girls in the James Bond film series. Hosted by its co-author Maryam D’Abo who played Kara Miloy in The Living Daylights, the documentary showcases how the Bond girl was created and how it would evolve throughout the series as it features interviews with many of the women who played these roles. The result is a fascinating TV documentary about the world of the Bond Girls.

To celebrate the franchise’s 40th anniversary as well as the release of its 20th film Die Another Day, Maryam D’Abo travels all over the world to interview several of the women who had played Bond Girls. Throughout the course of the film, many would reveal not just the joy of playing a Bond Girl but also reveal that not everything is great. Starting with Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder and Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore, the two share their ideas about the Bond Girl and how it transformed their careers. Luciana Paluzzi, who played the villainess Fiona Volpe revealed that being in the film caused a backlash in her native Italy where she found herself unemployed in the Italian film production for a while.

As the 60s became the 70s, Jill St. John, Lois Chiles, Maud Adams, and Jane Seymour each express their views about the evolution of the Bond Girls where some like Adams, Chiles, and Seymour express some discontent over the way Bond treats women sometimes though St. John was more kind about how the Bond Girl was treated as she says it’s just part of a fantasy world that was away from reality. D’Abo and Carey Lowell, who participated in the late 80s Timothy Dalton era, each express their fondness over playing the Bond Girls while noting the lack of sexuality in the film. By the time the 90s rolled around, it became clear that Bond Girls had evolved into more empowering women led by Judi Dench as M.

What makes the documentary interesting isn’t about the evolution of the Bond Girl through different decades and different Bonds. It’s about this exclusive club that these women are a part of where they’re recognized all over the world and become part of a phenomenon. While some enjoy it, a few are uneasy about it. Through the editing of Kevin Bourque and Harry Watson and John Watkin’s direction, it explores the different time periods of the Bond Girls. The shortcoming of the documentary are the ones who don’t get interviewed like Barbara Bach, Daniela Bianchi, Carole Bouquet, and several others. Yet, the ones who do participate do provide a lot of insight into the world of the Bond Girls.

Bond Girls are Forever is a wonderful TV documentary that explores the world of the Bond Girls. It’s something that James Bond fans must see just as an accompanying piece to the films. Notably as it gives them a nice view about the evolution of the Bond films and the way women are portrayed throughout its first 40 years. In the end, Bond Girls are Forever is a superb TV documentary from John Watkin.

James Bond Files: The EON Films: Dr. No - From Russia with Love - Goldfinger - Thunderball - You Only Live Twice - On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Diamonds are Forever - Live and Let Die - The Man with the Golden Gun - The Spy Who Loved Me - Moonraker - For Your Eyes Only - Octopussy - A View to a Kill - The Living Daylights - Licence to Kill - GoldenEye - Tomorrow Never Dies - The World is Not Enough - Die Another Day - Casino Royale (2006 film) - Quantum of Solace - Skyfall - SPECTRE - No Time to Die

Non-EON Films: Casino Royale (Climax! TV Episode) - Casino Royale (1967 film) - Never Say Never Again

Bond Documentaries: True Bond - Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007

© thevoid99 2012

007 James Bond Marathon: Goldfinger

Based on Ian Fleming’s novel, Goldfinger is the story of James Bond tackling a gold magnate who plans to attack Fort Knox while smuggling gold. Directed by Guy Hamilton and adapted screenplay by Richard Maimbaum and Paul Dehn, the film has Bond taking on a new foe who is hell-bent on taking over the world on his own terms where he would do dastardly deeds. With Sean Connery playing the role of Agent 007 James Bond. The film also stars Gert Frobe, Honor Blackman, Shirley Eaton, Harold Sakata, Lois Maxwell, Desmond Llewelyn, Tania Mallet, and Bernard Lee as M. Goldfinger is a stylish yet truly suspenseful film from Guy Hamilton.

On holiday in Miami after an assignment, Bond meets CIA agent Felix Leiter (Cec Linder) who asks Bond to watch over a bullion dealer named Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe) who is suspected of smuggling gold. Bond seduces Goldfinger’s assistant Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton) to help Goldfinger lose a game of gin where things eventually go bad when Bond finds Jill dead and covered in gold. After some briefing from M about what to do with Goldfinger, Bond travels to Switzerland to meet Goldfinger to see what he’s doing as the two play golf where Bond meets Goldfinger’s mute henchman Oddjob (Harold Sakata). While scoping out Goldfinger and his hideout, Bond meets a woman named Tally (Tania Mallet) who he sees is carrying a gun where he later learns about her identity.

After looking into his hideout to see what Goldfinger is planning, Bond is eventually captured where Bond nearly dies from a laser as he manages to lie his way to win Goldfinger over. Goldfinger decides to accompany Bond to Baltimore where Bond is on a plane flown by Goldfinger’s personal pilot Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman). At Goldfinger’s ranch, Bond is imprisoned but later escapes to learn what Goldfinger’s plans are which is to rob Fort Knox $15 billion in gold and split the money with several mob factions. Bond is later caught as he learns what Goldfinger really wants to do as Bond is forced to watch. Yet, Bond would create moves to find ways for Goldfinger’s plans to be foiled with some surprising help.

The film is the story of how James Bond meets a gold-obsessed bullion smuggler who plans to do something dastardly forcing Bond to save the world as usual and score with the ladies along the way. It’s a plot that is typical of many Bond films to follow but what makes this film so different from everything else is that Bond finally has a foe that is very powerful. Auric Goldfinger may not be a huge physical force that Bond would have to face but he is however a very cunning man whose motivation is clearly about gold and to profit from it anyway he can. Yet, Goldfinger will do things through his people that are truly disturbing forcing Bond to charm his way into Goldfinger and even outsmart him.

The screenplay that Richard Maimbaum and Paul Dehn create does a lot more in playing with the Bond formula where more good people get killed while the stakes are raised even higher. Especially for someone as professional as Bond where he would face ideas that would challenge his professionalism as it makes him more flawed. Then there’s the character of Pussy Galore who is this very talented and fearless woman who is part of Goldfinger’s gang as she heads a group of flying women who will aid in Goldfinger’s plans. Of course, Bond would find his way to charm her as it would add to a huge plot point for the film. The screenplay also would find ways for Bond to use his wit through some stylish dialogue. Even in the way he interacts with allies such as Miss Moneypenny and Q, the latter of which would start this sort of love-hate relationship over the way Bond uses Q’s equipment.

Guy Hamilton’s direction is extraordinary for the way he opens the film with a prologue to establish Bond’s sense of professionalism where he gets the job done and score with the ladies. It would then move to this main narrative where Bond is relaxed and on holiday but is interrupted where he has to be on the job and deal with Goldfinger from afar. Through the beautiful locations in Switzerland and Miami as well as other settings from Pinewood Studios in England. Hamilton’s direction is broad for the depth of field he creates in these locations while maintain an air of suspense for quieter scenes such as Bond scoping out Goldfinger’s factory.

The direction also has a way to maintain the suspense such as the scene of Bond lying on a table as a laser is getting close to him. The way Hamilton sets up the camera for the laser pointing at the table to cut with Bond’s reaction where the idea of him dying seems very evident. It’s among the many brilliant moments in the film that culminates with this amazing scene where Goldfinger goes to Fort Knox to unveil his big plan only for something to go wrong. There’s also a bit of humor that plays where Hamilton knows how to gel humor with suspense as it fits in very naturally. The overall work is truly phenomenal as Hamilton crafts a very entertaining and engrossing spy thriller that just ups the ante of what a James Bond film should be.

Cinematographer Ted Moore does superb work with the film‘s colorful Technicolor cinematography to capture the beautiful exteriors of Miami and Switzerland as well as the interiors to help set a mood for what Bond is facing. Editor Peter R. Hunt does brilliant work with the editing to create some stylish cuts to play with the film‘s suspense as well to some of the film‘s humor. Production designer Ken Adam and art director Peter Murton do amazing work with the set pieces such as Goldfinger’s huge lab to the meeting room with his huge models to display his plans.

Sound recorders Gordon K. McCallum, Dudley Messenger, and Otto Snell do terrific work with the sound to capture the humming of the planes as well as the sound of gunfire in the film‘s climatic battle scene. The film’s score by John Barry is incredible for its jazz-driven score with lush orchestral arrangements to play up the sense of drama, adventure, and suspense as it is definitely Barry coming into his own as a composer and creating a music score that stands out on its own. The title song by Barry, Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse that is sung by Shirley Bassey is among one of the best songs of the James Bond catalog thanks to her vocal delivery and the snazzy brass section that backs her up.

The film’s ensemble cast is definitely outstanding for the people chosen as it includes some memorable small roles from Burt Kwouk as Goldfinger’s scientist Mr. Ling, Michael Mellinger as Goldfinger’s secondary henchman Kisch, Austin Willis as Goldfinger’s gin rummy opponent in Miami, Margaret Nolan as the woman Bond is with in Miami, Richard Vernon as English bank official who shares Bond information about gold, and Martin Benson as a gangster who is suspicious about Goldfinger’s plans. Other noteworthy small roles include Cec Linder as Bond’s CIA friend Felix Leiter, Lois Maxwell as M’s secretary Miss Moneypenny who always have a witty remark towards Bond, and Desmond Llewelyn as the gadgets inventor Q where he gets a chance to shine in his own funny remarks towards Bond’s treatment of his work.

Tania Mallet is very good as the mysterious woman Tally whom Bond meets in Switzerland while Shirley Eaton is terrific in a very memorable performance as the ill-fated Jill Masterson. Bernard Lee is great as Bond’s superior M where Lee gets more to do in not just briefing Bond but also lecture him about his conduct over what happened in Miami. Harold Sakata is excellent as Goldfinger’s silent henchman Oddjob where he makes a truly memorable impression as a man whose weapon is his physical strength and a deadly hat. Gert Frobe is brilliant as Goldfinger where Frobe displays a sense of intelligence and charisma to a man who is truly despicable but also likeable in some weird way. Honor Blackman is wonderful as Goldfinger’s pilot who can definitely go toe-to-toe with Bond while proving to be someone who is willing to put up with Bond’s charming ways.

Finally, there’s Sean Connery in his third outing as Agent 007 James Bond. Connery shows more humility in his role as Bond by making him more engaging as a man who can mistake but is also willing to rectify it anyway he can. Even if he’s under pressure or willing to talk his way through to get out of a situation. It’s the embodiment of what James Bond should be as Connery definitely delivers in what is probably his best portrayal as Bond.

Goldfinger is a magnificent film from Guy Hamilton that features a glorious performance from Sean Connery as James Bond. The film is definitely among one of the great Bond films thanks to a great villain played by Gert Frobe, sexy Bond girls, cool gadgets, and suspense that manages to be engaging. It’s also a film where it takes its time to uncover the sinister plot while finding ways to create action sequences that is worth watching. In the end, Goldfinger is a phenomenal James Bond film from Guy Hamilton.

James Bond Files: The EON Films: Dr. No - From Russia with Love - Thunderball - You Only Live Twice - On Her Majesty’s Secret Service - Diamonds Are Forever - Live & Let Die - The Man with the Golden Gun - The Spy Who Loved Me - Moonraker - For Your Eyes Only - Octopussy - A View to a Kill - The Living Daylights - Licence to Kill - GoldenEye - Tomorrow Never Dies - The World is Not Enough - Die Another Day - Casino Royale (2006 film) - Quantum of Solace - Skyfall - SPECTRE - No Time to Die

Non-EON Films: Casino Royale (Climax! TV Episode) - Casino Royale (1967 film) - Never Say Never Again

Bond Documentaries: Bond Girls Are Forever - True Bond - Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007

© thevoid99 2012