The Dark Crystal (1982)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Directors:

Jim Henson
Frank Oz
(more)

Writers:

Jim Henson (story)
David Odell (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 December 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Another World, Another Time... In the Age of Wonder.

Plot:

On another planet in the distant past, a Gelfling embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of a magical crystal, and so restore order to his world.

Plot Keywords:

Crystal | Shard | Evil | Quest | Monster

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Jim Henson	...	Jen / High Priest (Ritual Master) / Podling / Additional Characters
Kathryn Mullen	...	Kira, A Gelfling (performer) / Jen, A Gelfling (assistant) / Additional Characters (uncredited)
Frank Oz	...	Aughra - A Keeper Of Secrets / Chamberlain / Podling / Additional Characters
Dave Goelz	...	Fizzgig, A Friendly Monster (performer) / General (Garthin Master) (performer) / Dying Emperor (performer) / Podling (performer)
Steve Whitmire	...	Scientist (performer and voice) / Kira, A Gelfling (assistant) (voice)
Louise Gold	...	Gourmand (performer)
Brian Muehl	...	Ornamentalist (performer and voice) / Urzah (performer) / Dying Master (performer and voice) (voice)
Bob Payne	...	Historian (Scrollkeeper) (performer)
Mike Quinn	...	Slave Master (performer)
Tim Rose	...	Treasurer (performer)
Jean-Pierre Amiel	...	Weaver (performer) (as Jean Pierre Amiel)
Hugh Spight	...	Cook / Landstrider (performer)
Robbie Barnett	...	Numerologist (performer) / Landstrider (performer)
Swee Lim	...	Hunter / Landstrider - Performer
Simon Williamson	...	Chanter (performer)
Hus Levant	...	Scribe (performer)
Toby Philpott	...	Alchemist (performer)
David Greenaway	...	Healer (performer) / Aughra, A Keeper Of Secrets (assistant) (as Dave Greenaway)
Richard Slaughter	...	Healer (performer)
Kiran Shah	...	Additional Performer / Jen (body) / Kira (body) (uncredited) / Aughra (body) (uncredited)
Mike Edmonds	...	Additional Performer
Peter Burroughs	...	Additional Performer
Malcolm Dixon	...	Additional Performer
Sadie Corre	...	Additional Performer
Deep Roy	...	Additional Performer
Jack Purvis	...	Additional Performer
Gerald Staddon	...	Additional Performer (as Gerald Stadden)
Mike Cottrell	...	Additional Performer
John Ghavan	...	Additional Performer
Annie Jones	...	Additional Performer (as Abbie Jones)
Natasha Knight	...	Additional Performer
Lisa Esson	...	Additional Performer
Stephen Garlick	...	Jen (voice)
Lisa Maxwell	...	Kira (voice)
Billie Whitelaw	...	Aughra (voice)
Percy Edwards	...	Fizzgig (voice)
Barry Dennen	...	Chamberlain / Podling (voice)
Michael Kilgarriff	...	General (voice)
Jerry Nelson	...	High Priest / Dying Emperor (voice)
Thick Wilson	...	Gourmand (voice)
John Baddeley	...	Historian (voice)
David Buck	...	Slave Master (voice)
Charles Collingwood	...	Treasurer (voice)
Sean Barrett	...	Urzah (voice)
Mike Iveria	...	Podling (voice) (as Miki Iveria)
Patrick Monckton	...	Podling (voice)
Sue Westerby	...	Podling (voice)
Joseph O'Conor	...	Narrator / Urskeks (voice)

Directed by
Jim Henson
Frank Oz
Gary Kurtz		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Jim Henson		(story)
David Odell		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jim Henson	....	producer
Duncan Kenworthy	....	associate producer
Gary Kurtz	....	producer
David Lazer	....	executive producer
Bruce Sharman	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Trevor Jones

Cinematography by
Oswald Morris

Film Editing by
Ralph Kemplen

Production Design by
Harry Lange

Art Direction by
Brian Ackland-Snow
Terry Ackland-Snow
Charles Bishop
Malcolm Stone

Costume Design by
Val Johnston
Leisja Limmer

Production Management
Bill Benson	....	production supervisor
Philip Koehler	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gary Kurtz	....	second unit director
Christopher Newman	....	second assistant director (as Chris Newman)
Dusty Simmonds	....	assistant director

Art Department
George Ball	....	property manager
Frank Billington-Marks	....	assistant property master
Alan Booth	....	construction manager
Max Bowen	....	construction manager
Ron Burkett	....	supervising painter
Steve Court	....	chargehand
Brian Froud	....	conceptual designer
Richard Holland	....	set designer
Katharina Kubrick	....	assistant art director
Peter Mann	....	constructor
Denis Rich	....	concept artist
Roy Shave	....	set master
Keith Short	....	sculptor
Bill Stallion	....	storyboard artist
Adrian Start	....	chargehand painter
Peter Young	....	set designer
Andy Aitken	....	scenic plasterer/mould maker (uncredited)
Dennis Murray	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Philip Sharpe	....	set constructor (uncredited)
John Stevenson	....	visual development (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ben Burtt	....	sound designer
Ben Burtt	....	special sound effects
Brian Mann	....	dialogue editor
Bill Rowe	....	sound re-recording mixer
Nicholas Stevenson	....	sound editor
Peter Sutton	....	production sound
Don Wortham	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Bob Baldwin	....	special effects
Bob Baldwin	....	special mechanical design
Valerie Charlton	....	creature costumes project leader
John Coppinger	....	puppet designer
Leigh Donaldson	....	special mechanical design
Nick Dudman	....	foam latex technician
Tony Dunsterville	....	special effects
Roy Field	....	special effects supervisor
Robert Harman	....	wire effects: production effects unit
Michael McCormick	....	creature fabricator: 'Skeksis' unit
Brian Smith	....	miniature effects supervisor
John Stephenson	....	special mechanical design (as John Stevenson)
Paul Wilson	....	photography: miniature effects
Ian Wingrove	....	mechanical effects supervisor
Tad Krzanowski	....	special mechanical effects & model effects: Henson Entertainment (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Craig Barron	....	matte camera assistant
Martin Body	....	matte camera operator
Christopher Evans	....	matte paintings
Roy Field	....	special visual effects
Neil Krepela	....	matte department supervisor
Jim Miller	....	other effects supervisor
Michael Pangrazio	....	matte paintings
Brian Smithies	....	special visual effects
Jon Sorensen	....	visual effects
Charles Stoneham	....	matte artist
Jonathan Taylor	....	visual effects: first assistant camera
Janice Body	....	matte art assistant (uncredited)

Stunts
Kiran Shah	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Neil Binney	....	camera operator: second unit
Derek Bowrie	....	camera operator
David Browne	....	camera operator
Derek V. Browne	....	camera operator
Murray Close	....	still photographer
Gary Cross	....	electrician
Tim Dodd	....	clapper loader
Ian Kelly	....	video engineering supervisor
Steve Kitchen	....	electrician
Jason Lehel	....	camera trainee
John Leman	....	gaffer
Vince Goddard	....	electrician (uncredited)
Edward Summer	....	stereoscopic still photographer (uncredited)

Animation Department
Debbie the Roboteer	....	consultant: sculpture, animation and robotics

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Betty Adamson	....	wardrobe supervisor
Sarah Bradpiece	....	associate costume designer: "Skeksis"
Barbara S. Davis	....	associate costume designer: "Gelflings/Podlings" (as Barbara Davis)
Shirley Denny	....	associate costume designer: "Mystics"
Ellis Duncan	....	associate costume designer: "Gelflings/Podlings"
Steven Gregory	....	associate costume designer: "Skeksis"
Diana Moseley	....	associate costume designer: "Mystics"
Patty Smith	....	associate costume designer: "Gelflings/Podlings"

Editorial Department
Marcel Durham	....	assembly editor

Music Department
Michael Clifford	....	music editor
John A. Coleman	....	orchestrator (as John Coleman)
Marcus Dods	....	conductor
Dina Eaton	....	music editor
Peter Knight	....	orchestrator
John Richards	....	music recordist
Eric Tomlinson	....	music recordist
Graham Walker	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Bunny Alsup	....	assistant: Mr. Kurtz
Jean-Pierre Amiel	....	choreographer
Jean-Pierre Amiel	....	mime coach
Jerry Andrews	....	creature fabricator: "Mystic" unit
Martin G. Baker	....	assistant: Mr. Lazer
David Alan Barclay	....	puppet builder
Sidney Barnsley	....	unit accountant
Jill Bennett	....	assistant accountant
Penny Campbell	....	assistant: Mr. Henson
Valerie Charlton	....	landstrider effects supervisor (as Val Charlton)
Tim Clarke	....	mystic effects supervisor
Jill Colley	....	assistant: Mr. Oz
Richard Dimbleby	....	creature crew
Harry Franchetti	....	creature fabricator: "Mystic" unit
Brian Froud	....	creature design
Lew Grade	....	presenter (as Lord Grade)
Rollin Krewson	....	fizzgig effects supervisor
Cheryl Leigh	....	script supervisor
Pamela Mann	....	continuity: second unit
Michael McCormick	....	creature fabricator: "Skeksis" unit
Gates McFadden	....	choreographer
Tom McLaughlin	....	latex foam lab supervisor
Wendy Midener	....	gelfling effects supervisor
Fred Nihda	....	garthim effects supervisor
Brian Smithies	....	special creature effects supervisor
Ann Tasker	....	unit publicist
William Webb	....	optical editorial coordinator
Paul Wilson	....	creature crew
Ian Wingrove	....	creature crew
Craig Miller	....	marketing consultant (uncredited)
Bernard Rose	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Henson Associates (HA)
• Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
• Jim Henson Productions

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1982) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1982) (UK) (theatrical)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Video Ltd. (1986) (UK) (VHS)
• Jim Henson Video (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (UK) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• LW Editora (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Associated Film Distribution (AFD) (1982) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1987) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Buena Vista Home Video
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1983) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• EDKO Film
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Image Entertainment (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Kuk Dong
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Toei Company

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)

Other Companies

• Numenorean Music  score album released by (limited edition)
• Solters & Digney  publicity

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:LH | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Malaysia:(Banned) | Iran:(Banned) | South Korea:All | Japan:G | Hong Kong:I | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Twyecross, Leicestershire, England, UK

Company:

Henson Associates (HA)

Trivia:

Although there are nine of them, the Skeksis were originally based on the seven deadly sins.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When the evil Ritual Master calls for the crystal bats to fly away to watch Jen and Kira you can see thin white strings as the bats fly from the castle ceiling.

Quotes:

Aughra: Where is he?
Jen: He's dead.
Aughra: Could be anywhere, then.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial' (1996) (V)

The beginning of the new and improved Muppets; one of Henson-and-company's best

This sprawling, part-homage-part-totally original fantasy brings us Jen, the last of a group of near extinct creatures who is the only one who can save all existence by bringing a crystal shard back into the balance of the dark crystal, in order to save the world from the evil Skekses. This is quite an enthralling film, and like with the other full-on Muppet films this works on different levels for kids and for adults. Kids may be both scared and enthralled by the scope and details, not to mention the graphic nature of the darker elements portrayed (as a kid I cringed a bit when the 'vital essence' scenes came up). And for adults there's a lot of great craftsmanship that goes into the story, which is with all of the effects and over-the-top creations very well told by directors Henson and Oz. Without the massive usage of CGI or the more controlled visuals from the past fifteen or so years, the mix of the production design (maybe some of the best ever in any fantasy film) and the inventiveness put into the set-pieces and character-creations, is a knockout even by today's standards. It's almost a shame looking back on how a film like this that employs so many people and such time is now spent clicking away on a computer to get it all done. As it is, the Dark Crystal is one of those few examples in post-modern cinema that it does seem something like a sci-fi novel come to life.