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DeepSummary
Rob and Joe discuss the 1981 film Clash of the Titans, focusing on the stellar stop-motion effects by Ray Harryhausen. They provide an overview of the plot, which involves Perseus on a quest to defeat the Kraken by obtaining Medusa's head. They analyze key scenes like Perseus' encounter with the Stygian witches and the memorable battle with Medusa.
The hosts examine the performances, particularly praising Burgess Meredith as Ammon and Lawrence Olivier as Zeus, while acknowledging Harry Hamlin's acting limitations as Perseus. They highlight the film's nostalgic appeal, its integration of Greek mythology with other traditions, and its influence on popular culture's depiction of mythological characters.
Rob and Joe also discuss the making of the film, the involvement of Harryhausen and other crew members, and the challenges of creating the stop-motion creatures. They share their personal connections to the movie and their appreciation for Harryhausen's lasting impact on the art of stop-motion animation.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Ray Harryhausen's stop-motion creature effects in Clash of the Titans are celebrated as iconic and groundbreaking, with the Medusa battle sequence standing out as a high point.
- The film blends Greek mythology with other traditions and pop culture influences like Star Wars in an entertaining nostalgic fashion.
- While lead actor Harry Hamlin's performance is lacking, veteran actors like Burgess Meredith and Lawrence Olivier elevate the material with their gravitas.
- The Medusa design and the build-up to her encounter demonstrate brilliant atmospheric craftsmanship in lighting, sound design, and pacing.
- Despite some flaws, Clash of the Titans captures the sense of adventure and wonderment that made Harryhausen's creature features so beloved.
- The film's portrayal of Greek gods as petty and cruel offers an intriguing revisionist mythological perspective.
- Harryhausen's pioneering dynamation approach integrated live-action and stop-motion in innovative ways for its time.
- Clash of the Titans stands as Ray Harryhausen's beloved fantasy swan song before his retirement from stop-motion animation.
Top Episodes Quotes
“Yeah. I think this is one of the great set pieces in the picture because he has this room with these wonderful shelves. Each one has a mini on it. A mini representing a different mortal, the world. On one level. I've always liked this because this is a prime way to display your miniature collection. But also it's a great set, and it really nicely displays this idea that the mortals are, in this case, literally the playthings of the gods.“ by Peyton Manning
― This quote analyzes a memorable scene where the gods treat mortals like miniature figures, symbolizing their godly control, while also appreciating the creative set design.“There are so many little details. I love. I like how quiet it is, actually. You would have expected the whole thing to be ramping up with loud, intense music but there are parts of it that are actually very quiet and I love that it contributes to the creepy atmosphere.“ by Joe McCormick
― Joe appreciates the subtle atmospheric details in the Medusa lair sequence, noting how the quietness enhances the creepy, tense build-up rather than relying on bombastic scoring.
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Episode Information
Stuff To Blow Your Mind
iHeartPodcasts
7/22/24
In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1981 Ray Harryhausen stop-motion epic “Clash of the Titans,” which also happens to star a bunch of notable human actors as well. (originally published 03/10/2023)
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