Jason and the Argonauts (1963)

Directed by Don Chaffey. Starring Todd Armstrong, Honor Blackman, Nancy Kovack, Niall MacGinnis, Gary Raymond, Laurence Naismith, Jack Gwillim, Nigel Green, Douglas Wilmer, John Cairney, Patrick Troughton, Michael Gwynn.

Rousing retelling of the Greek myth of Jason (Armstrong) and his quest for the legendary Golden Fleece. Dialogue and performances are predictably on the clunky side, but still terrific entertainment all the way; a spectacular showcase for Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion animation effects, bringing vivid life to all sorts of monsters, including the giant bronze statue of Talos, a vicious hydra, and (in the film’s most iconic scene) a group of skeleton warriors. Ends a bit abruptly, but it’s mostly a matter of simply wanting the adventure and thrills to keep right on going. Composer Bernard Herrmann provides the robust heroic fanfare. Finest of all the ancient world mythological fantasy films (Hercules, Sinbad, Atlantis, Ulysses, Clash of the Titans, etc.); remade as a TV miniseries in 2000.

82/100