Dragonslayer (1981)
7/10
What is it with dragons and virgins?
25 April 2018
A young apprentice magician played by Peter MacNicol in his film debut is told he's learned all that his master can teach him. Ralph Richardson expects to die soon. But maybe not at the hands of one of the King's men. All for wanting to get rid of a nasty dragon who gets fed a regular diet of virginal women in exchange for leaving his kingdom alone. But when it comes to the royal princess herself, the king thinks we ought to reexamine our policy.

Dragonslayer is a charming fantasy about those things we love in our legends, fierce dragons and the heroes who slay them to save a princess. It deservedly got an Oscar nomination for Best Special Effects and also one for it's original movie score. MacNicol makes a nice debut and wins himself Caitlin Clarke, a lovely catch even if she isn't heir to the realm.

One thing though, what is it about dragons and virgins? Do the women taste sweeter, do they roast better under the dragon's breath if they're virgins? One day someone will do a treatise on that.

Have to give recognition to one of the UK's acting knights. Ralph Richardson is a wonderful sorcerer. A kind of Obi Wan Kenobe to MacNicol's medieval Han Solo. Dragonslayer is worth watching for him alone.

And I hope you see it.
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