Special effects by Ray Harryhausen are the highlight of this epic tale of Jason’s quest to Colchis to find the Golden Fleece, but it proves an exciting adventure film as well. To rid himself of the rightful heir to the throne, the usurper Pelias (Douglas Wilmer) sets the young Jason (Todd Armstrong) an impossible task: retrieving from a distant land the fabled Golden Fleece. To aid him in his quest, Jason has the magnificent vessel Argo built and recruits a crew of powerful heroes, including Hercules (Nigel Green); Acastus (Gary Raymond), the son of Pelias, joins the group as well, to provide insurance that Jason will fail. There follow a series of adventures that whittle down the crew but enable the group to draw ever closer to their goal, including a battle with harpies, vengeance by a bronze automaton after Hercules and his pal break the rules on another island, and near-destruction of the ship and her crew by the Clashing Rocks. This last proves the key to finding the fleece, however, as Jason rescues the Princess Medea of Colchis (Nancy Kovack), and her love for him sets the stage for the concluding adventures.

Harryhausen’s effects are terrific, including the the Hydra that defends the prize and the creepy, skeletal “Children of the Hydra’s Teeth.” A pleasant conceit and useful plot device is the framing of the tale as a game between Zeus (Niall MacGinnis) and Hera (Honor Blackman), who aids Jason from time to time. Excellent set design, colorful costuming, and good music (see in particular Medea’s dance) round things out.

  Highly recommended! Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

Movie 402 for 2021.