History Film / ClashOfTheTitans1981

* WaistDeepOcean: This is initially averted, as the Kraken is shown propping itself up on rocks with one set of arms to keep its upper body above the surface of the ocean. After it's petrified and its arms break off, however, this is played straight as its body crumbles to pieces instead of sinking.
* WalkingShirtlessScene: Harry Hamlin as Perseus.

* AdaptationalVillainy: In the film, King Acrisius threw his daughter and grandson into the sea out of pure spite and outrage Danae had dared to become pregnant. In the original myth, Arcisius was a lot more sympathetic; after being told by an oracle he would be killed by his grandson, Acrisius locked Danae in a tower to try and prevent this: when Zeus impregnated her regardless, Acrisius threw his daugher and her newborn baby into the sea in a locked chest because he felt it was the only way he could save himself from the prophecy without provoking Zeus by killing his offspring, leaving their fate in the hands of Poseidon. Tragically, [[YouCantFightFate Acrisius's efforts were in vain]]; years later, while attending an athletics competition, Acrisius died when Perseus, who was competing, threw a discus that inadvertantly struck his grandfather in the crowd.

* CharacterAsHimself: This is how "The Mythologicals" (Pegasus, Medusa, The Kraken, and Bubo) are billed in the credits.

* EvilSoundsDeep: Though he only has about ten lines at the most, Calibos speaks in an anguished baritone that sells him as a TragicMonster. Thetis adopts a minor ContraltoOfDanger when she speaks through her marble statue.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: The hell hound (clearly inspired by Cerberus, the guard dog of the Grecian Underworld) has only two heads rather than three, because it would have taken Ray Harryhaussen too much work to animate a third.

** [[{{Hellhound}} Orthrus]] ([[AdaptationalNameChange renamed Dioskylos in this film]]) was the guardian of Medusa's grandson Geryon, rather than Medusa herself. He was slain by Hercules, not Perseus.
* SandalPunk: The film is set in a version of Ancient Greece where fantasy monsters are real.

%%* RentAZilla: The Kraken.

->''"Let loose the Kraken!"''

[[caption-width-right:350:''Destroy Argos! And to make certain no stone stands, that no creature crawls. I command you to let loose the last of the Titans. Let loose the Kraken!'']]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fa1c58a3_5bf7_4b9e_9321_3d5088fdf6e4.jpeg]]

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/clash_of_the_titans_4524.jpg]]

* DisproportionateRetribution:

* IntelligibleUnintelligible: Bubo, the mechanical owl. What sounds like clicks and whistles to everyone else is perfectly understandable by Perseus. Justified by the fact that it is a gift from the goddess Athena.

* MinorlyMentionedMythsAndMonsters: Before 1981 Medusa and the Gorgons were an obscure monster in Greek mythology. ''After'' this film they appeared everywhere, often in the form of half snake people seen here which isn't accurate to the myth.

** Ammon, certainly. 98% of what he says is an explanation. He not only drops knowledge about characters and histories specific to this film, but also serves as a living "Cliff Notes" to classic Greek Mythology on the whole.

* OffstageVillainy: Calibos's crimes that were the cause of his transformation are only described but not shown.

* OrganicBra: Medusa.

* PapaWolf: Zeus destroys Argos out of retribution for his lover and son's sentence.

* RealityChangingMiniature: There is a small chamber in Olympus containing several clay figurines, each one representing a real person. The gods can resculpt the model to invoke a PainfulTransformation, or just smash the thing to kill the person outright. Zeus even at one point sets Perseus's model back upright after he collapses from exhaustion.

** There was only one Pegasus, not a herd, who sprang forth from Medusa's neck after she was killed. (Indeed, "Pegasus" actually means "he who sprang".) Pegasus was also not ridden by Perseus, but an unrelated hero named Bellorophon.

* {{Stellification}}: The movie ends with Perseus, Andromeda, the Hydra and other characters becoming constellations.
* StopMotion: Stop-motion animation was used for the monsters.

* SummonBiggerFish: Using Medusa on the Kraken.
* SupernaturalAid: Perseus's helmet, sword, shield, and Bubo.
* SwordAndSandal: The fantasy subtype thereof.

* TheHerosJourney

* ColdSniper: Medusa, with a bow and arrows. As if the [[TakenForGranite petrifying gaze]] wasn't enough...
* {{Constellations}}: The film ends with Perseus, Andromeda, Pegasus, and other characters becoming constellations in the future. Fitting too, as the movies are based on [[Myth/GreekMythology the myths of Perseus]].
* CoolOldGuy: Ammon, as portrayed by the ''very'' cool Creator/BurgessMeredith.

* DullSurprise: Harry Hamlin's performance as Perseus.

->''"Release the Kraken!"''

* RuleOfCool: After being turned into stone, the Kraken breaks into pieces for no reason but this[[note]]It's own weight would likely have brought it down - you can excuse the Kraken's size when it's alive, as it's a magical monster, but once it turns to stone, the laws of physics take over again[[/note]].

** Bubo fills the [[CuteMachines plucky droid companion]] role popularized by [[Franchise/StarWars R2-D2]]

* {{Hellhound}}: Dioskilos, the two-headed wolf who guards Medusa's chambers.

** [[{{Hellhound}} Orthrus]] ([[AdaptationalNameChange renamed Dioskilos in this film]]) was the guardian of Medusa's grandson Geryon, rather than Medusa herself. He was slain by Hercules, not Perseus.

* EngagementChallenge: Part of the curse placed on Joppa by Calibos requires any potential suitor to Andromeda solve a riddle; failing to answer correctly meant death by fire. Unfortunately, the incredibly hard-to-answer riddle is chosen by Calibos himself and changes each time. Perseus not only answers correctly after learning the current one, he fights and grievously wounds the villain, sparing him only when he lifts the curse.

* {{Expy}}: Calibos = Caliban from Creator/WilliamShakespeare's ''Theatre/TheTempest''.

* MinorlyMentionedMythsAndMonsters: Before 1981 Medusa and the Gorgons were an obscure monster in greek mythology. ''After'' this film they appeared everywhere, often in the form of half snake people seen here which isn't accurate to the myth.

* AdvertisedExtra: Creator/UrsulaAndress was given top billing, but has only one line in the whole movie.

''Clash of the Titans'' is the 1981 film adaptation of the [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Greek myth]] of Perseus (played by Creator/HarryHamlin). StopMotion animation was used extensively in many special effects, and the monsters were created by Creator/RayHarryhausen, who retired from filmmaking shortly after ''Clash'' was released. Stephen R. Wilk wrote in 2000 that "most people today who are aware of the story of Perseus and Medusa [[PopCulturalOsmosis owe their knowledge to the 1981 film]] ''Clash of the Titans''."

** The Kraken is from Myth/NorseMythology.

** The original myth has Perseus seeking Medusa's head for reasons completely unrelated to Andromeda's plight. In the original myth, , Polydectes, king of Seriphus (the island where Danae and Perseus landed), lusted after Danae, and compelled the young adult Perseus to obtain Medusa's head to get him out of the way. Perseus saves Andromeda because he happened to be flying home (on Hermes's winged sandals) and came across this poor VirginSacrifice strapped to a rock.

* AdaptationalModesty: In the myth, Andromeda was sent out naked to be eaten by the sea monster. The film's original intention was to follow this, but due to ExectiveMeddling, she gets some clothes.

* AdaptationalModesty: In the myth, Andromeda was sent out naked to be eaten by the sea monster. In the film, she gets some clothes.

** The original myth has Perseus seeking Medusa's head for a completely unrelated reasons to Andromeda's plight. He saves her because he happens to be flying home on Hermes's winged sandals and comes across this poor VirginSacrifice strapped to a rock.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: The hell hound has only two heads rather than three, because it would have taken Ray Harryhaussen too much work to animate a third.

* MosesInTheBulrushes: Baby Perseus, being an illegitimate demigod, is locked into a coffin with his young mother and thrown into the sea, but Zeus has Poseidon make certain the waters will gently take Perseus and his mother to safety. Perseus is then raised on an island paradise.

** At the beginning of the movie, the Kraken utterly annihilates Argos within three minutes of screentime.