Jason and the Argonauts (1963 film)

Jason and the Argonauts
Theatrical release poster by Howard Terpning
Directed by	Don Chaffey
Produced by	Charles H. Schneer
Written by	Apollonios Rhodios
Screenplay by	Beverley Cross Jan Read
Based on	The Argonautica 3rd century BC by Apollonius Rhodius
Starring	Todd Armstrong Nancy Kovack Honor Blackman Gary Raymond
Music by	Bernard Herrmann
Cinematography	Wilkie Cooper
Edited by	Maurice Rootes
Production company	Morningside Productions
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	June 19, 1963
Running time	101 minutes
Country	United States United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	$1 million
Box office	$2,100,000 (US/ Canada)

Jason and the Argonauts (working title Jason and the Golden Fleece) is a 1963 independently made American-British fantasy film, produced by Charles H. Schneer, directed by Don Chaffey, that stars Todd Armstrong, Nancy Kovack, Honor Blackman, and Gary Raymond. It was distributed by Columbia Pictures.

The film was made in collaboration with stop motion animation master Ray Harryhausen and is known for its various fantasy creatures, notably the iconic fight scene featuring multiple skeleton warriors.

The film score was composed by Bernard Herrmann, who also worked with Harryhausen on the fantasy films The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), The Three Worlds of Gulliver (1960), and Mysterious Island (1961).

Pelias (Douglas Wilmer), misinterpreting the prophecy given to him by the god Zeus (Niall MacGinnis), usurps the throne of Thessaly, killing King Aristo and most of his family. The god Hermes (Michael Gwynn), disguised as Pelias' soothsayer, holds back his army long enough for the infant Jason to be spirited away by one of Aristo's soldiers. Pelias slays one of the king's daughters, Briseis (Davina Taylor), as she seeks sanctuary in the temple of the goddess Hera (Honor Blackman). Because the murder has profaned her temple, the angry Hera becomes Jason's protector. She warns Pelias to beware "of a man wearing one sandal".