Dragonslayer

Director: Matthew Robbins Matthew Robbins

Overview

When Princess Elspeth (Chloe Salaman) is scheduled to be the next sacrificial virgin to a deadly dragon, it is up to an aged wizard, Ulrich (Ralph Richardson) and his young, headstrong apprentice, Galen (Peter MacNicol), to defeat the serpent and save the beautiful princess.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/10/2017
UPC:	0032429284716
Original Release:	1981
Rating:	PG
Source:	PARAMOUNT
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:49:00
Sales rank:	14,907

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Peter MacNicol	Galen
Caitlin Clarke	Valerian
Ralph Richardson	Ulrich
John Hallam	Tyrian
Albert Salmi	Greil
Peter Eyre	Casidorus Rex
Sydney Bromley	Hodge
Chloe Salaman	Princess Elspeth
Emrys James	Simon
Roger Kemp	Horsrik
Ian McDiarmid	Brother Jacopus
Ken Shorter	Henchman
Jason White	Henchman
Yolanda Palfrey	Victim
Douglas Cooper	Urlander
Alf Mangon	Urlander
David Mount	Urlander
James Payne	Urlander
Chris Twinn	Urlander
Deborah Brown	Actor
Debbie McWilliams	Actor
Ian Holm	Actor
Alex North	Composer

Technical Credits

Matthew Robbins

Hal Barwood

Matthew Robbins	Director,Screenwriter
Hal Barwood	Screenwriter,Producer
Brian Johnson	Special Effects
Howard W. Koch Jr.	Executive Producer
Dennis Muren	Special Effects
Industrial Light & Magic	Special Effects
Tony Smart	Stunts

Editorial Reviews

Those who know Peter MacNicol as stuttering John Cage on Ally McBeal will be surprised to learn that he was once considered a logical choice to play the hero in a dragon epic. That isn't the only unusual decision in Matthew Robbins' Dragonslayer, which takes pains to create a lived-in, grubby medieval milieu, smartly free from gloss even with all its visual sophistication. Another intelligent choice was not blowing those visuals early on, and instead giving only ominous hints of the dragon for much of the movie, hence building its mystique. However, noticeably detracting is the intense violence, at least suggested if not always shown, which would have made Dragonslayer a sure candidate for a PG-13 if that rating had existed at the time. The very concept of sacrificing virgins to the hungry creature is enough to give a child nightmares, and Robbins doesn't always leave this entirely up to the imagination. Overall, however, Dragonslayer is a good thinking person's adventure, elevated almost to Masterpiece Theatre territory with the presence of thespian Ralph Richardson, in one of his final roles of an illustrious career. Too dark to be fully appreciated at the time, Dragonslayer has gained some in the passing years. It's doubtful that such an artsy would-be blockbuster would still get green-lighted today.