The Giants of Thessaly
A king's quest for the Golden Fleece amid betrayal and monsters.
In 1960, the Italian-French fantasy adventure film The Giants of Thessaly, also known as Jason and the Golden Fleece, was directed by Riccardo Freda and loosely adapts Apollonius Rhodius's epic Argonautica.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Riccardo Freda
- Producer
- Virgilio De Blasi
- Screenplay
- Giuseppe Masini
- Mario Rossetti
- Riccardo Freda
- Ennio De Concini
- Starring
- Roland Carey
- Ziva Rodann
- Alberto Farnese
- Massimo Girotti
- Music
- Carlo Rustichelli
- Cinematography
- Václav Vích; Raffaele Masciocchi
- Editing
- Otello Colangeli
- Production companies
- Alexandra Produzioni Cinematografiche; Lyres Societé Cinématographique
Facts from the source article.
Plot
King Jason of Thessaly, whose land is overrun by barbarians and plagued by natural disasters, leads the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece. During his absence, a scheming cohort plots to seize the kingdom and the queen. The film includes subplots reminiscent of Odysseus' odyssey: a trusted lord attempts to usurp the throne and marry the king's wife; Jason encounters a queen on an island of siren witches who transforms seduced men into animals; and the Argonauts struggle against a Cyclops.
Reception
A contemporary review in the Monthly Film Bulletin stated that the script owes little to the legend, instead assembling a series of action highlights and characters with less consistency than a strip-cartoon formula. The review noted the scaling of a colossal statue as moderately spectacular, but found the rest—including filtered colour, indifferent acting, the irrelevant presence of Orpheus, unimpressive trick-work for the island monster, and abysmal dubbing—to be sub-Bava.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in The Giants of Thessaly?
The Giants of Thessaly stars Roland Carey, Ziva Rodann, Alberto Farnese and Massimo Girotti.
Who composed the music for The Giants of Thessaly?
The music for The Giants of Thessaly was composed by Carlo Rustichelli.
Who wrote The Giants of Thessaly?
The Giants of Thessaly was written by Giuseppe Masini, Mario Rossetti, Riccardo Freda and Ennio De Concini.
How long is The Giants of Thessaly?
The Giants of Thessaly has a running time of 87 minutes.
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