The Dark Crystal

Synopsis “What was sundered and undone shall be whole… the two made one.”

The Dark Crystal was produced by the same puppetry wizards responsible for the Muppets, but this 1982 fantasy was much more J.R.R. Tolkien than it was Kermit the Frog. Jim Henson, Frank Oz and their army of puppeteers and voice artists put together an entire world of dark, mysterious creatures, casting them in a classic tale of good and evil.

1,000 years before the events in the film, a race of powerful beings called the urSkeks decided to purge all evil from their bodies. At the time of the “Great Conjunction” (when all three of the planet’s suns aligned), the urSkeks focused the united light through their powerful crystal, hoping to burn the evil out. Unfortunately, the evil merely separated from the good, creating two separate races—the peaceful Mystics and the wicked Skeksis. One of the Skeksis smashed the crystal, separating a shard and turning the crystal dark.

According to prophecy, an elf-like Gelfling would return the shard to the crystal at the next Great Convergence, putting an end to the Skeksis’ dark reign. To keep their power (and assure their immortality at the next Great Convergence), the vulture-like Skeksis sent their giant servants, the Garthims, to kill all Gelflings.

In the film’s present day, a Gelfling named Jen thinks he is the last of his race, and he sets out to fulfill his destiny. As his journey continues, the young lad discovers another Gelfling, a female named Kira, who joins his quest to heal the crystal. Kira’s hungry pet Fizzwig signs on as well, as does a gnarled old witch named Aughra. Even this united front, however, faces a daunting task in trying to outwit the dangerous Skeksis and their evil Chamberlain.

The Dark Crystal was indeed dark, but no more so than the average Brothers Grimm fable. That didn’t seem to matter to most audiences, however, who had opened their hearts to E.T. – The Extraterrestrial earlier in the year. A financial disappointment in theaters, The Dark Crystal still managed to build a relatively small, but very loyal base of fans, who continue to treasure this underappreciated puppet fantasy.

Release History 1982 - The Dark Crystal

Sub Categories live-action
sci-fi/fantasy

Studio Henson, Incorporated Television Company, Universal

Cast

Historian (voice)		John Baddeley
Jen (voice)		Stephen Garlick
Slave Master (voice)		David Buck
Chamberlain (voice)		Barry Dennen
Fizzgig (voice)		Percy Edwards
General (voice)		Michael Kilgarrif
Kira (voice)		Lisa Maxwell
Dying Mystic Master (movement)		Brian Muehl
Skeksis Ornamentalist (movement and voice)		Brian Muehl
Urzah		Brian Muehl
High Priest (voice)		Jerry Nelson
Dying Emperor (voice)		Jerry Nelson
Narrator (voice)		Joseph O'Conor
Aughra (voice)		Billie Whitelaw
Scientist (movement and voice)		Steve Whitmire
Gourmand (voice)		Thick Wilson
Jen (movement)		Jim Henson
High Priest (movement)		Jim Henson
Aughra (movement)		Frank Oz
Chamberlain (movement)		Frank Oz
Additional Performer		Kiran Shah
Weaver		Jean-Pierre Amiel
Numerologist		Robbie Barnett
Landstrider		Robbie Barnett
Dying Master		Sean Barrett
Additional Performer		Peter Burroughs
Treasurer (voice)		Charles Collingwood
Additional Performer		Sadie Corre
Additional Performer		Mike Cotterill
Additional Performer		Malcolm Dixon
Additional Performer		Mike Edmonds
Additional Performer		Lisa Esson
Additional Performer		John Ghavan
General		Dave Goelz
Dying Emperor		Dave Goelz
Goumand		Louise Gold
Healer		Dave Greenaway
Podling (voice)		Mike Iveria
Additional Performer		Annie Jones
Additional Performer		Natasha Knight
Scribe		Swim Lee Hus Levant
Podling (voice)		Patrick Monckton
Kira		Kathryn Mullen
Historian		Bob Payne
Alchemist		Toby Philpott
Additional Performer		Jack Purvis
Slave Master		Mike Quinn
Treasurer		Timothy M. Rose
Additional Performer		Deep Roy
Additional Performer		Richard Slaughter
Cook		Hugh Spirit
Landstrider		Hugh Spirit
Additional Performer		Gerald Staddon
Podling (voice)		Sue Wetherby
Charmer		Simon Williamson