The Dragon of the lake of fire

the Dragon of the lake of fire ( Dragonslayer ) is an American film carried out by Matthew Robbins, left in 1981.

Synopsis

Valérik and its companions come to require of powerful but old Ulrich magician to disencumber Urland, their country, of a dragon, also very old, to which king Casiodorus periodically delivers soft young girls designated by lottery to make it hold quiet. Ulrich accepts but at the time of the departure arrives Tyrian, captain of the king. Ulrich then asks Tyrian to stab it so that it can show his capacity with all well: but, in general disappointment, he dies! While Tyrian is turned over from there, Valérik and its companions do not have any more but to place their hopes in Galen, the young disciple of Ulrich, who dreams to succeed the Master and inherited the amulet containing his capacities but whose training is far from being finished.

However, as of its arrival in Urland, Galen puts the dragon out of state to harm by crushing it under a formidable crumbling, which is worth to him to be treated as hero by the people (while Valérik proved to be a girl disguised as a boy not to take part in the lottery) and by the king. But Galen realizes very quickly that the king is upset with him because the fear of the dragon and the lottery ensured its absolute capacity on the people. The king takes in Galen the amulet which had enabled him to overcome the dragon and throws it in prison, without the people finding there much to repeat.

But the dragon reappears and, furious, starts to devastate the region, not without killing a missionary as limited as fanatic come to convert the country with Christianity. The king thus organizes a new lottery of which Valérik, uncovered, will have to form part. At this point in time Elsbeth, the girl of the king, having learned that the lottery was always faked so that it does not risk anything, watch trickery with all at the time of pulling and requires to be delivered to the dragon after having delivered Galen. Rearmed by the villagers, Galen leaves towards the cave the dragon to save Elsbeth but this one benefits from what it is delayed by Tyrian, which it must kill beforehand, to run to the meeting of the monster. Galen will find only the remainders of them being devoured by the small ones of the dragon. It kills them easily but when the dragon itself arrives, it is far from having the advantage and must escape. In fact, the dragon will be overcome by Ulrich (which had made pretense be killed because its age prohibited to him to face tirednesses of the voyage) which besides will finish its career there: disappear thus the last magician and the last dragon because Christianity puts an end to time magicians and dragons. A new missionary and the king allots the victory over the dragon and tyranny will be able to continue. As for Galen, rather than to succeed its Master, he will bourgeoisement marry bourgeoisement Valérik and both will live elsewhere…

Comment

Data sheet

Title: the Dragon of the lake of fire
original Title: Dragonslayer
Realization: Matthew Robbins
Scenario: Hall Barwood and Matthew Robbins
Production: Hall Barwood, Howard W. Koch and Eric Rattray
Production companies: Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney Pictures
Budget: 18 million dollars (13,66 million euros)
Music: Alex North
Photography: Derek Vanlint
Assembly: Tony Lawson
Decorations: Elliot Scott
Costumes: Anthony Mendleson
Country of origin: the United States
Format: Colors - 2,35:1 - Dolby - 35 mm
Kind: medieval fantastic
Lasted: 109 minutes
Comings out date: June 26th 1981 (the United States), October 20th 1982 (France)

Distribution

Peter MacNicol: Galen
Caitlin Clarke : Valérik
Ralph Richardson: Ulrich
John Hallam: Tyrian
Peter Eyre: the king Casiodorus
Albert Salmi: Greil
Sydney Bromley: Hodge
Chloe Salaman : the princess Elspeth
Emrys James: the blacksmith, father of Valérik
Roger Kemp: Horsrik
Ian McDiarmid : brother Jacopus
Ken Shorter: an assistant
Jason White: an assistant
Yolanda Vazquez: the victim
Douglas Cooper: Urlander

Around film

turning was held in Wales of North, Saye Island, Skye, Snowdonia, like with the studios Pinewood.
the whole of film was turned in natural light.
It acts of first film to use the technique of animation go-motion , an alternative of the stop-motion consisting in using a mechanized model whose movements are programmed by computer.
the Dragon of the lake of fire is the first film of the actor Peter MacNicol.

Distinctions

Nomination with the Oscar of the best film music and the best visual effects (Refusals Muren, Phil Tippett, Ken Ralston, Brian Johnson) in 1982.
Nomination at the price of best science fiction film, better costumes, male best supporting role (Ralph Richardson) and better effects special (Brian Johnson, Muren Refusals), by the Academy of science fiction films, fantastic and horror in 1982.
Nomination with the Price Hugo of best dramatic film in 1982.

External bonds

the Dragon of the lake of fire on Internet Movie Database
Critical DevilDead

Random links: