Dragonslayer

Dragonslayer is a 1981 fantasy movie set in a realistically portrayed medieval Britain. It follows a young wizard-in-training as he attempts to defeat a dragon.

Related Topics:
1981 - Fantasy - Movie - Medieval - Britain - Wizard - Dragon

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A co-production between The Walt Disney Company and Paramount Pictures, Dragonslayer was one of the first Disney films mature and realistic enough to entertain adults as well as children. Because of audience expectations for a more child-friendly film from Disney, the movie's violence and adult themes were somewhat controversial at the time. It was a failure at the box office, with an estimated budget of USD$18 million and a gross of approximately $6 million in the U.S., but it later became a minor cult classic on home video.

Related Topics:
The Walt Disney Company - Paramount Pictures - USD - U.S. - Cult classic - Home video

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The film was directed by Matthew Robins from a screenplay he wrote with Hal Barwood. It starred Peter MacNicol.

Related Topics:
Matthew Robins - Hal Barwood - Peter MacNicol

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The special effects were created by Industrial Light and Magic, whose technicians devised a process called go motion for the film. Go motion is a variation on stop-motion animation, and its use in Dragonslayer led to the film's nomination for the Academy Award for Visual Effects, which it lost to Raiders of the Lost Ark. The film was also nominated for the Academy Award for Original Music Score; Chariots of Fire took the award.

Related Topics:
Special effect - Industrial Light and Magic - Go motion - Stop-motion animation - Academy Award for Visual Effects - Raiders of the Lost Ark - Academy Award for Original Music Score - Chariots of Fire

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The film was also nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. Again, it lost to Raiders of the Lost Ark.

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In October 2003, Dragonslayer was released on DVD in the U.S. by Paramount Home Video. This release had no special features.

Related Topics:
October 2003 - DVD - Paramount Home Video

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