Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37235 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-09-07
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 95 minutes

Amazon.com
One of Jim Henson's finest hours was the Storyteller series that aired on HBO in 1987. As with his other non-Muppet creations (Labyrinth), Henson fills the screen with wonderful creatures that have a wisp of a J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy. Half of the eight-part series was adapted from Greek myths by Anthony Minghella, who became an Oscar-winning filmmaker a decade later with The English Patient. Minghella weaves the narration of the storyteller (a sturdy and wonderful Michael Gambon, accompanied by a scene-stealing dog) with dialogue from the stories to beguiling effect.

By nature, the Greek myth episodes are a bit more mature and downbeat (ages 8 and older) than the rest of the series, yet give the audience lasting impressions of oft-quoted tales. In "Perseus and the Gorgon," King Argos locks away his wife when it is foretold his future son will kill him. Soon mother and son (Perseus, fathered by none other than Zeus) are washed ashore and another angry king looks to take away Perseus's mother. How can Perseus win the day? By killing the evil Gorgon whose snake-covered head includes eyes that turn humans into statues. Derek Jacobi stars as the brilliant Greek designer in the second tale, "Daedalus and Icarus." The father goes through many hardships, including the famous episode of his son flying too close to the sun. All is not well and does not end well. John Madden (Shakespeare in Love) directs the tale of "Theseus and the Minotaur." A young man reunites with his father, King Aegeus, but is cursed by his witch of a stepmother (literally). When Theseus tries to stop the regular sacrifice to the half-bull, half-man Minotaur, a new curse awaits the young prince. The magical musician Orpheus (Art Malik) finds his muse in "Orpheus and Eurydice." Unfortunately, she soon dies and goes to Hades where Orpheus follows, attempting to win her soul from the devil himself. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews

Good Way to Introduce Kids to Classic Myths
I remember growing up reading many of the most famous Greek and Roman myths in my Junior Classics set. As a parent I am always leary of how film makers put out stories like this, as to whether my kids are old enough or will be frightened. Because this collection of short films has the puppeteer style technology, instead of computer generated images, it is perfect because my kids aren't overwhelmed by scary, overly done, and too real graphics. And they aren't picky about the perfection of TV images, so they love the characters. They even like the minotaur, who is a little scary. But their favorite story is that of Icarus. This has been a perfect family video and is introducing my kids to the Greek myths.

FUNtastic!
I didn't even know about this half of the Jim Henson's "The Story Teller"!
Glad I found it for it looks like its soon to be gone, what a shame for both "The Storyteller" DVDs are So GOOD!

Excellent!
All four of the myths here are cleverly presented. Like all Greek myths the stories touch on dark and adult themes but the Storyteller's "dog" helps break the tension by speaking the comments we are likely making in our own minds and by providing a bit of comic relief. As others have said this is sad, scary,adult stuff and is not for kids under fourth grade or so but would be a great film to show kids in upper elementary or middle school (or even high school for that matter) who are studying myths. Very well acted and produced and I just wish there were more than the four stories.