Dragonslayer [Includes Digital Copy] [Blu-ray]

Director: Matthew Robbins Matthew Robbins

Overview

A special-effects laden medieval fantasy adventure, Dragonslayer centers on the attempts of a young sorcerer's apprentice to defeat a vicious dragon and save a lovely young maiden. Peter MacNicol stars as the young Galen, an aspiring magician under the tutelage of the aging Ulrich (Ralph Richardson). A nearby village turns to the pair for help when their leader begins proffering sacrifices of young virgins to satisfy a vicious dragon. The two immediately set out for battle, becoming even more determined when a courageous princess offers to sacrifice herself to the creature. Unfortunately, Ulrich's failing abilities force Galen into the center of the conflict, where the uncertain young boy must prove himself under fire. The suitably mythic if somewhat predictable story is told straightforwardly, culminating in a spectacular battle against the beast, featuring Academy Award-nominated visual effects. Despite its visual flair and relatively positive reviews, the film received mediocre response at the box office, as some criticized the film's violence as too intense for its intended younger audiences.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/21/2023
UPC:	0191329240076
Original Release:	1981
Rating:	PG
Source:	Paramount
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:49:00
Sales rank:	8,969

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.

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