DRAGONSLAYER
US, 1981, 104 minutes, Colour.
Peter Mac Nicol, Caitlin Clark, Ralph Richardson.
Directed by Matthew Robbins.
Dragonslayer comes from the early 1980s, a period when sword and sorcery films were quite popular, the era of Conan the Barbarian. While this was produced by the Disney studios, it is not a film for younger children. It is quite strong in its presentation of a kingdom terrorised by a dragon – where the king has made a pact for peace with the dragon by sacrificing virgins to it. However, the next in line for sacrifice is the king’s own daughter. A young wizard goes on a quest to destroy the dragon.
The film has an interesting cast, a very young Peter MacNicol? (the next year in Sophie’s Choice) is the magician. The cast includes Ralph Richardson and Albert Salmi. The film was written and directed by the team of Matthew Robbins and Hal Barwood who had made the contemporary Corvette Summer and were to make the easier to take fantasy, Batteries Not Included with Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn.
The film is interesting for its special effects and computer work – 1980s style. It received an Oscar nomination for its special effects and also for its music score by Alex North. Perhaps it has been superseded by the films of the 1990s and the 21st century including Dragonheart.
1. The popularity of myths and adventures in the late '70s and early '80s films? The influence on this film of Star Wars, Excalibur, Raiders of the Lost Ark? Audiences enjoying the past. legendary eras, mythological characters and monsters? Heroics, the confrontation of good and evil? An ugly world and its liberation? Romance? The film compared with others of the genre?
2. The production values: the contribution of the Disney Studios? The Welsh locations and atmosphere? The quality of the colour photography? The grim emphasis on darkness and the Dark Ages? The sombre and slow-moving action? The grim decor and costumes? The importance of the special effects - the suggestions of the dragon. the picturing of the entire dragon? The dragon's fire. cave. flying and final confrontation? The score?
3. The adaptation of the St. George story? The young hero, the ambiguous heroine - appearing as a male and becoming a woman? The princess not rescued but dying for the sake of the village? The St. George figure conquering the dragon only with the help of magic and a sorcerer? The clash of pagan traditions with emerging Christianity? Audiences knowing the basic story and enjoying its point and its adaptation? Audience response to the legendary world of figures larger than life, a world view different from our own? The mythic elements to give meaning behind the legends? The belief that this kind of world once existed?
4. The initial focus on Ulrich? His role as famous magician. his potions, his spells, his apprentice and assistance from him, the challenge, the request from the villagers? A man of vision? A man of the old religions? The demonstration and his seeming death? His protecting Galen through his adventures? His coming to life again? Confrontation with the dragon - even though sympathy for him? His predestining Galen to be hero? Using his magic for the people and their salvation? Giving his life? A blend of heroism in a Dark Ages world and superstition?
5. The film's presentation of magic and superstition. religion and belief, myths of good and evil?
6. Galen and his youthfulness, his learning from Ulrich, his not being able to succeed initially, the demonstration and Ulrich's death? The amulet and his power? His decision to travel with the villagers? Withstanding the attack of Tyrian? His being welcomed by the villagers? Their way of life? The treachery of the king and his imprisonment? The princess and her freeing him? His learning the identity of Valerian on the way and falling in love with her? His wanting to confront the dragon, his initial failures, the killing of the dragon's offspring? His bravery? Calling up the spirit of Ulrich? The confrontation with the dragon, the chivalrous fight and the conquering of the monster? The romantic ending with Valerian - but the meaning of their decision to leave the village that had saved? Moving to another future world?
7. Valerian and her strength, disguised as a boy, the petition to Ulrich? Her gruff manner aping masculine ways? The reason for her father's disguising her and protecting her? Galen's discovery during the swimming? Her role at home, her becoming more feminine, ready to sacrifice herself, helping Galen, her father's sword? An inspiration to Galen? Her going off with him at the end?
8. The king and his sacrificing the maidens to the dragon? His powerlessness in his own kingdom? His protecting his daughter? Her discovery of this and arranging her death? The brutality of her death and its impact on the audience? The role of religion and its reliance on the priests? The contrast with Valerian's parents and their being ordinary folk? Their way of life in the kingdom? Their fear? Valerian’s father protecting her? The details of village life, ordinary business, festival? The contrast between emerging Christianity and the old religion?
9. The impact of the dragon - the claw, not seeing the dragon fully, audiences imagining the horror of the dragon? The visual impact of its claws, power, size, shell, flying, capacity for destruction? Its wound? A mythic symbol of evil?
10. The background of the film and its exploration of religion and truth - the claims of the sorcerers, the Christians, the priests? The clashes of old world religion - and the film's comment on religion and myth in the present day?
11. How successful was the film as period adventure, the creation of the atmosphere of another world? Its treatment of the basics of legend throughout the centuries? The conquering of evil and the triumph of good? The ordinary hero and heroine - with assistance from a transcendent more powerful source? How well did the film work as entertainment? As an entertaining fable for today?
