Clash of the Titans
Giants, fairies, magicians, ghosts, dragons, and monsters of all kinds… Here’s what your Cinémathèque has in store this summer! Since Méliès, filmmakers have embraced the fanstastic potential of cinema, creating infinite phantasmagorias and extraordinary spectacles where the unreal becomes real. Step into a world of fantasy and boundless imagination: whatever your generation, the monsters and wonders that once filled your childhood dreams are back this summer 2025!
Released in 1981, Clash of the Titans is the final work of the great special effects designer Ray Harryhausen. Based on the myth of Perseus, the film depicts the battles between gods and men. While Harryhausen's optical and mechanical effects may seem dated, the old master's skill and creativity remain undeniable. Amidst these effects, legendary actors Maggie Smith, Burgess Meredith, and Laurence Olivier populate a spectacular Olympus.
Desmond Davis
Desmond Davis was a British film and television director, best known for his 1981 film Clash of the Titans. He studied photography and cinematography. After serving his apprenticeship as a second assistant camera in the 1940s and finishing his army service, Davis worked again as a clapper loader on classic movies such as The Happiest Days of Your Life by Frank Launder and The African Queen by John Huston. He worked his way up to first camera operator in low-budget British films of the 1950s, keeping this role in the 1960s while working on internationally acclaimed films such as A Taste of Honey and Tom Jones by Tony Richardson. The latter won four Academy Awards in 1964, including Best Picture. He made his directorial debut in 1964 with Girl with Green Eyes, winning the Golden Globe for Best English-Language Foreign Film in 1965. He also won the Golden Shell at the 1966 San Sebastian International Film Festival for I Was Happy Here.
