Clash of the Titans (1981) (Movie Review)

  Movies in general have always been a means of escape, a time to take a break from the familiar, and embark on an experience that you could never have anywhere else. As such, when I was a kid, it was the fantasy and adventure genera’s that appealed to me the most. It was through “The Wizard of Oz” that I discovered my love of fantasy, but I discovered my childhood love for adventure cinema through a little film from 1981 titled “Clash of the Titans”. Before “Indiana Jones”, before “Sinbad” and even before I saw “Star Wars”, “Clash of the Titans” was one of my earliest movie experiences that sparked my imagination, drew my attention to Greek mythology, and helped lay the foundation for my overall love of movies in general. While most would cite “Jason and the Argonauts” as the superior classic of this genera, I’ll always prefer “Clash of the Titans”, as it’s personally one of my favorite movies, and the main reason I have so much fondness for epic “sword and sandal” adventure cinema.

  Inspired by the legends of Greek mythology, “Clash of the Titans” follows the journey of Zeus’s son Perseus, who’s on a quest to liberate the kingdom of Joppa, protect the Princess Andromeda, and fulfill a great destiny prophesized by his father. Rather than re-tell the straight forward legend of Perseus straight out of Greek Mythology, “Clash of the Titans” takes pieces of various legends, as well as other myths, and creates its own original story in the process. 

The film also came out in the wake of “Star Wars”, which was clearly an influence on both the narrative, as well as the creation of some original new characters that were never even a part of Greek mythology. Also, just like with other Myths, “Clash of the Titans” isn’t just a single narrative, but a collection of tales that all come together as a whole. The opening fifteen minutes revolve around the Greek God Zeus, who unleashes his vengeance on a king that tried to drown his mortal wife and his infant son Perseus. This segment alone, with Zeus destroying an entire Kingdom feels like an epic in of itself, and we’re just getting started. Once Perseus grows into a man, we see him fall in love with the Princess Andromeda, how he’s tasked to lift a curse from her home Kingdom of Joppa, and his first confrontation with a villain named Calibos … who will become his arch nemesis. There comes a point when the villain seems beaten, our two lovers are about to get married, and it seems like a happy ending … but it’s here when the real quest begins. Next, the vengeful Goddess Thetis declares that the whole Kingdom will be destroyed unless the Princess is sacrificed to a great sea monster called The Kracan. Thus, Perseus sets off to find a means to defeat one of the most unbeatable of titans. From this point, it’s probably best to highlight the individual characters and creatures one at a time.

Perseus (played by Harry Hamlin)

Perseus fits the archetype of the every-man who discovers he has a great destiny to fulfill, and emerges from his journey as a mighty hero. There’s nothing too deep beneath the surface, so the strength of the character has to rely on the charm of the lead actor Harry Hamlin. He gives a committed performance, and feels self-aware that he shouldn’t overact, but take things just seriously enough to feel genuine. Most of his delivery is very stoic, like someone with personality, but keeps the emotions reserved under a calm demeanor. His obviously 80’s hair style has also stuck with me as the definitive look of Perseus. As a bones, Perseus is given signature weapons by his father Zeus to aid him on his quest. These magical items include an indestructible sword that can slice through solid marble, a shield which allows him to speak with his father Zeus, and a helmet that can turn him invisible … probably what inspired Harry Potters invisibility cloak.

Princes Andromeda (played by Judi Bowker)

It’s my impression that the majority of the cast were experienced stage actors before this picture, as the line deliveries are hit and miss, but the physical and emotional performances are solid all around. This especially applies to the young Judi Bowker, as her portrayal of the Princess Andromeda is “so-so” when it comes to delivering the dialog, but she really shines when she just conveys her emotions or caries herself on screen. There’s so much passion put into her physical performance, and she really sells it even when working off of stop-motion creatures that aren’t physically present on the set. For example, when she’s offered up as a sacrifice to the Kracan, the look on her face has me one-hundred percent convinced that she’s looking upon a giant monster. The character herself is little more than a traditional damsel in distress, but consistently lovable, and is personally one of my all-time favorite movie princesses. She’s also ridiculously attractive, and watching this at a young age made her one of my very first movie crushes, like ... she was the princess of my dreams. Whenever the term “Princess” is dropped, I immediately think of Andromeda first, as she’s always been my staple of the traditional movie Princess.

Calibos (played by Neil McCarthy)

The main threat of the movie comes in the form of a half-man-half-monster named Calibos, who was originally meant to wed the Princess, until he was deformed by the Gods for his cruelty. His transformation scene is brilliant in it's simplicity, as we just see the changing shadow of his statue carving. Something about this transformation always felt very ominous, and it's interesting to get a villains backstory before he physically appears on screen.  

This was a completely original character who never appeared in Greek mythology, but feels like someone who’d fit right in, and has both a unique design and backstory that’s stuck with me. He also makes for a worthy foe to work opposite of Perseus, and it’s even more fitting that they’re both children of the God’s, with Perseus as the son of Zeus, and Calibos the son of the Goddess Thetis. The only thing off-putting about Calibos is his dual portrayal on-screen. Whenever Calibos is seen from a distance, he’s a stop-motion monster, but in the close-ups it’s actor Neil McCarthy with monster-makeup. The transitions between the two are very obvious, but the performance at least adds more layers to the character then any of the other monsters.

Zeus (played by Laurence Olivier)

Now we come to the big guy himself … the Greek father of the Gods … Zeus. This is hands down my favorite portrayal of Zeus to ever be captured on film, and the late Laurence Oliver delivers a towering performance worthy of the characters status. Every single inflection, and line delivery cares a sense of weight and strength. What makes the performance even more credible was that the actor himself was not in good health during the filming, and yet, through his performance, you’d never suspect once that this was an actor dealing with health issues.

Animal Side-kicks

   In the original Greek mythology, Perseus traveled on winged sandals, but this version features him traveling on the winged horse Pegasus, which I feel is superior for both the story and the experience. In my view, there’s a romantic quality to that of a noble hero riding on the back of his trusted steed.

Weather it’s the legends of Greece, the Knights of Europe, the Samurai of Japan, or our own Cowboys of the old West, there’s an adventurous aspect between a champion and their mount that I feel can’t be captured with an artificial mode of transport. While the flight scenes have admittedly lost their wonder over the years, they did still set the template that we’d see with other cinematic hero’s taking flight on their mount, including the likes of Harry Potter on Buckbeak, or Hiccup and Toothless in “How to Train Your Dragon”. I should also note that when I first saw “Clash of the Titans” as a kid, it was around the same time that Disney’s “Hercules” was in theaters, and I had to tell all my friends that Pegasus was the companion to Perseus before Hercules.  

Pegasus, became such a staple that when MGM Studio became Tri-Star, they used Pegasus as their new studio mascot. Also, aiding our hero on his quest is a golden robotic owl named Bubo, who was yet another original character created for the movie, and the most obvious sign that “Clash of the Titans” came out in the wake of “Star Wars”. He basically serves as the cute little silent robot side-kick, just like R2-D2, but has the gold-plated features of C-3PO. Still, he makes for a memorable mascot in his own right.  

The Supporting Players …

The late great Burgess Meredith plays the classic wise mentor named Ammon, who guides Perseus on his quest, and brings some levity to the film through his distinct charisma and charm. While I’ll always remember the actor best for his roles as the Penguin from the 60’s “Batman” series, and as the grouchy trainer Mickey from the “Rocky” movies, this performance has always stuck with me as something special, as it was the role that introduced me to the great talent. Siân Phillips plays the Queen Cassiopeia, who does a good job, but I always felt that the character needed more involvement … especially sense her Image appears in the constellations at the end. There’s also a number of talents playing the Goddess of Olympus, including Ursula Andress … the very first James Bond Girl … as Aphrodite. One of my favorite contributions is Tim Pigott-Smith as Perseus’s best friend Thallo, who could have been a throwaway role, but brought some dignity to the screen. At last, we have the Goddess Thetis, who’s brilliantly portrayed by a younger Maggie Smith. Now days the actress is best known for playing Professor McGonagall in the “Harry Potter” movies, and it’s cool to see that she had a memorable role in the fantasy genera before those films.

  The film is incredibly rich in the visual department, and it fully allows you to submerse yourself into the time and culture. Every shot is brimming with rich landscape, temples, statues, sculpture, and some gorgeous map paintings. There’s a great moment when our hero goes walking through a busy market-place, and it’s one of those special scenes that gives the setting some personality. 

The costumes are all great, and It’s one of those environments that I feel completely submersed in. Mount Olympus itself is likewise stunning to look at, and I love all the details. There’s a room full of wooden sculptures representing every living person on the planet, and it’s through models that Zeus can affect the people on Earth. Also, I love Zeus’s throne, with a big shining blue light behind it, and golden animal statues on either side. At last, I have to mention the music score by Laurence Rosenthal, which is one of my favorites of the whole adventure genera. Right on the same high bar as the theme music from “Pirates of the Carrabin” or “Indiana Jones”, this score invokes a sense of awe-inspiring excitement and wonder. Personally, I’ve always considered it a classic movie score in its own right. The opening credit sequence is likewise one of my favorites ever, as we follow a bird as it travels through the mountains on its way to Olympus. The cinematography on display is breathtaking, and when matched to Laurence Rosenthal triumphant score … it sets the mood perfectly.  

 

  I noted in the intro that “Clash of the Titans” was my gateway into Greek mythology, and it’s something I’ve been a fan of ever sense I was a kid. Looking back, it’s cool to see what characters and elements of the Greek myths were cheery picked to make this original story, and it leads to some memorable highlights. 

There’s a scene when our heroes have to sail across the river of death, also known as the River Styx, and the only way to cross is a ride from the Ferryman named Charon. In mythology, the river leads to the Underworld ruled by Hades, and Charon is depicted as a bearded old man. In the movie, the river separates the human world from the land of monsters, and Charon this time is a clocked figure with a skull for a face … which I think is a lot cooler. Another memorable highlight is when the Goddess Thetis delivers an ultimatum to the Princess, and rather than arrive in human form, she makes her appearance by reanimating a statue of herself, which is highly imaginative. We also have the Three Grey Ones, who in this movie are depicted as blind witch’s that provide our hero with the information needed to complete his journey, which isn’t too different from the Greek legend of Perseus. One of the more imaginative sequences is during the purge of Calibos in the middle act, in which he summons the spirit of the Princess, by having her soul transported in a cage by a giant vulture.

  This brings me to the main appeal of the whole movie, the charmingly archaic stop-motion animation techniques of Ray Harryhausen. Ever sense the early 1940’s, Ray Harryhausen was a special effects pioneer, and will always be associated with the creation of cinemas most iconic stop-motion monsters. While stop-motion has been utilized by a number of effects artists, Ray Harryhausen was the legend who perfected the craft, and had the longest standing carrier in the field. He had previously brought us soldiers dueling with Skeletons in “Jason and the Argonauts”, had sailors encounter a giant Cyclops in "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad", and had cowboys lassoing a T-Rex in "The Valley of Gwangi". 

It was here in “Clash of the Titans” that he arguably delivered his best work. Now, “Clash of the Titans” premiered in 1981, and at this point, the art of stop-motion was seen as a dated craft. As such, this movie marked the last time he’d bring his art to the big screen, and in my view, he couldn’t have chosen a better climax to his mighty carrier. Audiences today seem to prefer CGI effects, and to be fair, CGI can make creatures look more realistic, and make them perform acrobatic feats that couldn’t be accomplished before. While CGI has its place in our current generation, I’m still one of the fans that love classic stop-motion animation. They’re so awesome to look back on, as they come from an age before computers, and it’s really impressive to see how all these different creatures were brought to life. What fascinates me more with Ray Harryhausen, is that he worked on all these effects, by himself in a dark room, which makes the end results all the more impressive. There’s a bit of mystery to this craft, and it still makes me wonder how he accomplished most of this. The monsters in this film are all pretty awesome, including the massive vulture, a two headed wolf and a battle with giant killer Scorpions.  

  My favorite sequence of all is when Perceus and his team have a nail-biting, cat-and mouse encounter with the Greek Gorgon Medusa. Back when I was a little kid, I had an odd obsession with snakes, and Medusa … being a half-woman-half-serpent with snakes for hair, made her my favorite mythical creature, even before I saw this movie. Actually, it was thanks to Medusa that I grew-up with “Clash of the Titans” in the first place. 

Upon seeing her image on the cover of the original VHS, I just had to rent the movie, to see her presence on screen in live-action. While, Medusa has been featured in a number of movies both prior and after this film, I don’t think a singe version has ever surpassed Medusa’s appearance in the original “Clash of the Titans”. This is where Ray Harryhausen’s effects shine the most, as the model of Medusa is a stunning feat of stop-motion, and it’s set in this hellish room full of flickering fire-light. As such, Harryhausen wasn’t just animating a detailed looking creature, he was also working in different shades of lighting. Speaking personally, this is my all-time favorite monster sequence ever but to film, as it not only features my favorite creature of Greek mythology, but the scene from beginning to end is cinematic gold. The build-up to this encounter alone is thrilling, as we enter this hellish room full of soldiers that have been turned to stone by looking into Medusa’s eyes, and the way she slowly reveals herself is brilliant. First, we hear the rattle of her tail, then we see her figure as a shadow silhouetted against a wall, and then finally after taking out an accomplice, she slithers on screen in her full visual glory. Even though she’s stop-motion, there’s still so much expression in her face and eyes, that she feels like a real presence. The whole scene is a hauntingly atmospheric and claustrophobic chase, and it still keeps me on edge to this day. The sequence builds to a satisfying payoff, and the final shot of Perseus triumphantly holding her severed head feels like a legendary moment of Greek mythology brought to life through film.             

  As the adventure draws to a close, Perseus races home to rescue the Princess Andromeda, before she’s sacrificed to a great sea monster. Again, the build-up and details on display surpass what is commonly expected in movies of this sort. First of all, I love that when the Princess is led out to her execution, it’s a slow and calm wake, with her people gathered around grieving her fate, throwing confetti in her path, and showing respect for her sacrifice. Then when we reach the beach, there’s an ominous sense of dread slowly building, which is effectively paired with a gorgeous shot of the rising sun. Another great detail is that Perseus at this point is absolutely beaten and warn out … he’s not showing off like an unstoppable hero, he’s collapsed on the ground and drained of energy. Yet, there’s still hope as his father Zeus secretly gives him the strength to get back up again. It’s a subtle moment, but very effective. I should also note that Andromeda being chained to a stone, and presented as an offering to a sea monster is an iconic moment taken out of Greek mythology … but there’s one major difference. 

     

  In the Greek myth, Andromeda is being sacrificed to a sea monster called Cetus, but the movie switched that monster with another feared creature from the deep … The Krachan. 

It’s a curious change, as The Krachan was never even part of Greek myths … he actual steamed from Norse Mythology. Also, the original image of the Krachan resembled a giant Octopus, while this movie gives the beast a completely original design … resembling a giant, bird-faced, four-armed humanoid with scales and a fishtail. He’s also referred to in this movie as “The Last of the Titans”, which is a new detail that gives the creature more of a legacy. Needless to say, I love his 80’s movie design, and even though it’s a departure from its original source, The Krachan as depicted in “Clash of the Titans” remains one of my all-time favorite giant movie monsters. It is so flipping cool … I never get tired of seeing this. Naturally, all of Ray Harryhausen’s monsters are fun to look at, but the Kracan was the first to truly be presented on a grand scale, with a tremendous presence, and a fool orchestra boasting its size. This was such a spectacle to see as a kid, and still to this day, I think it’s superior to the CGI Kracan’s featured in both the 2010 “Clash of the Titans” remake and in “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” … although the ladder film is closer to the original image.

  The very last highlight I have to mention is a closing narration by Zeus, which is paired with the origin of star constellations that resemble our heroes from the story. This again is inspired by Greek myths who have their stories written in the stars, and when paired with these dazzling visuals, it gives the movie a sense of weight … like we’ve just experienced one of the great mythical legends, and here’s how the memories of these champions will be preserved. Obviously, “Clash of the Titans” is nothing more than cheesy B-movie entertainment … but it’s still one of the absolute greats of its genera. It’s a movie that meant the world to me as a kid, it still brings me joy as an adult, and even though it may not resemble high art … it’s still one of my personal favorite movies. Definitely a movie for viewers with an acquired taste, but if you’re someone who loves Greek Mythology, or have a soft spot for these old-school sword and sandal epics, then do yourself a favor and give this one a watch. 

Thanks for reading my review of the the original 1981 fantasy adventure “Clash of the Titans” … a continue to enjoy the movies you love!