Don Chaffey’s 1963 film, Jason and The Argonauts is a fantasy adventure film that’s based on Greek mythology. The movie stars Todd Armstrong, Nancy Kovack and others as Greek Mythology figures that we see in “The Argonautica”, the epic poem written by Apollonius Rhodius.
The storyline centers on Jason, the son of King Aristo. After Pelias ends up killing Aristo for the throne, it’s up to a grown-up Jason to avenge his father and get back what was rightfully his. To do this, he plans to get the golden fleece from Colchis, which is under the rule of King Aeëtes. Through his journey, Jason builds a strong army of men, comprising people like Hercules, Hylas, Argus, and Acastus.
Although Jason and The Argonauts initially wasn’t as popular, as time went on, it became nothing less than a cult classic. Critics have appreciated the nostalgia that the movie brings. Aside from its masterful stop-motion animation which wasn’t as explored in the 1960s.
The crew of Jason and The Argonauts consists of Todd Armstrong in the role of Jason, Nancy Kovack as Medea, Gary Raymond plays Acastus, Laurence Naismith stars as Argus, with Zeus being portrayed by Niall MacGinnis and Hera by Honor Blackman.
Jason And The Argonauts: Filming Locations
The major filming location for Jason and The Argonauts was Campania, Italy. Campania is filled with scenic mountains, rivers, and beaches, which is what we see most of in Jason and The Argonauts. Since 1963, Campania has served as a filming spot for other projects as well, the likes of which include Tenet, No Time To Die, Wonder Woman, and Clash of The Titans.
Salerno, Campania, Italy:
Jason is tasked with meeting Phineas, who was stuck at the temple and tormented by Harpies as a curse. This Harpy temple is located at Paestum, Salerno. It’s named the First Temple of Hera as it’s possibly one of the oldest Doric temples in Italy. Asides from being a significant part of history, the Temple of Hera at Paestum is also famous for its intricate and beautiful architecture.
Another important location in Salerno was the Arco Naturale Beach near Capo Palinuro. If you’re in Italy, this beach is a great place to visit as the pristine blue waters and large rock formations make this place seem surreal. This location was included in the movie for the scene involving Talos, the bronze titan. After being warned by Hera, the Argonauts still end up stealing something else from the place, triggering the awakening of Talos.
As we approach the ending of Jason and the Argonauts, we see that King Aeëtes has cornered Jason and his group, and soon he unleashes the children of Hydra. These are skeletons that rise from the ground and fight Jason’s crew. The scene remains iconic to this day and took almost 4 and a half months to complete.
Stop motion was common, but not for such complex scenes. The Skeleton fight scene is one of the reasons Jason and The Argonauts had such a long filming period. This scene took place at Farrachio, Salerno, Campania.
S.A.F.A Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy:
The Italian studio that the cast of Jason and The Argonauts went to was the S.A.F.A Studios located in Rome. While most scenes had to be filmed outside in large scenic locations, shots that were mostly indoors were set up at this studio in Rome.
Temporary sets that resembled palaces, temples, and other places were set up at the S.A.F.A Studios to help complete certain scenes while the crew was still in Italy. Asides from Jason and the Argonauts, the studio was also used for the movies Bicycle Thieves (1948) and Obsession (1943). Not many newer films have taken place at these studios owned by Silvio Berlusconi.
Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England:
Another place that was used for filming other than Italy was the Shepperton Studios located in Surrey, England. This is where the crew of Jason and The Argonauts was able to complete all of the stop-motion scenes. These studios in England have also been the prime filming spot for movies like Guardians of the Galaxy, Batman Begins, Gladiator, and Blade Runner.
At present, Jason and The Argonauts is available to watch on Netflix.
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