The Dark Crystal is a 1982 dark fantasy film directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz, produced by Gary Kurtz and Henson, with a screenplay by David Odell based on a story conceived by Henson. The film was produced and financed by ITC Entertainment and The Jim Henson Company and distributed by Universal Pictures. It features the voices of Stephen Garlick, Lisa Maxwell, Billie Whitelaw, Percy Edwards, and Barry Dennen. Set on a fictional planet, the film revolves around Jen and Kira, two Gelflings on a quest to restore balance to the world of Thra and overthrow the evil, ruling Skeksis by restoring a powerful broken Crystal.
The film was promoted as the first major live-action motion picture without any human actors, featuring characters realized through groundbreaking animatronics created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. Many creatures, such as the Gelflings, required as many as four puppeteers to achieve full movement and expression. In addition to directing, Henson and Oz also performed several characters alongside regular Muppets collaborators Kathryn Mullen, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, and Louise Gold. The primary concept artist was fantasy illustrator Brian Froud, famous for his distinctive fairy and dwarf designs; Froud later collaborated with Henson on his subsequent fantasy film Labyrinth (1986). The film score was composed by Trevor Jones.
The Dark Crystal initially received mixed reviews from mainstream critics; while being criticized for its darker, more dramatic tone in contrast to Henson's previous works, it was praised for its narrative, production design, and characters. Over the years, it has been re-evaluated by critics and has garnered a cult following.
An Emmy Award-winning prequel television series, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, premiered on Netflix in 2019 and ran for one season.
Plot
On the blighted planet Thra 1,000 years earlier, a powerful crystal cracked and two new races appeared: the cruel Skeksis, who use the crystal's power to extend their lives, and gentle Mystics, the urRu, who dwell in a secluded valley. Among the Mystics is Jen, a young Gelfling adopted after the Skeksis slaughtered his clan. As the Great Conjunction of the world's three suns draws near, the dying Mystic Master instructs Jen to fulfill a prophecy to heal the crystal by first retrieving a missing shard from the oracle Aughra. If Jen fails to complete his quest before the three suns meet, the Skeksis will rule forever. The Master then dies, and the Skeksis Emperor dies simultaneously. The Skeksis General successfully challenges the Chamberlain for succession in a "trial by stone" and banishes him from the castle. When the Skeksis learn of Jen's existence, they send their army of giant crab-like Garthim to capture him, with the cunning Chamberlain following.
Jen meets Aughra and enters her orrery. Offered several shards, he chooses one that responds when he plays the Mystics' chord on his flute. Before Aughra can explain Jen's mission, the Garthim arrive and destroy the orrery, taking Aughra prisoner as Jen flees. Hearing the crystal's call, the Mystics leave their valley and journey to the castle. On his journey through a forest swamp, Jen meets Kira, a female Gelfling. The two learn more about each other when they accidentally "dreamfast", sharing each other's memories. They stay for a night with the Podlings who raised Kira, only for them and Kira's pet Fizzgig to flee when the Garthim raid the village. They are nearly caught, but the Chamberlain orders the Garthim back.
Jen and Kira discover a ruined Gelfling city where a prophecy is inscribed:
Jen realizes that he must take the shard to the castle. The Chamberlain approaches and begs them to come to the castle with him. The Gelflings flee and reach the castle on Landstriders, intercepting the Garthim that raided Kira's village. They attack to free the Podlings but are cornered. Kira grabs Jen and Fizzgig and reveals wings, an attribute possessed only by female Gelfling, that she uses to glide into the castle's dry moat. They enter the castle through the catacombs while, above, the Skeksis Scientist uses the crystal's rays to extract vital essence from Podlings. The Emperor drinks the essence and finds that it has only temporary restorative effects, unlike Gelfling essence which was more potent. The Chamberlain tries again to seize the Gelflings, and Jen stabs his hand with the shard; elsewhere the Mystic Chanter notices a wound on his hand. Enraged, the Chamberlain buries Jen in a cave-in and takes Kira as a gift to the Emperor. The Emperor reinstates him and orders Kira drained of essence. Aughra, imprisoned in the laboratory, tells Kira to call the captive animals for help. They break free and attack the Scientist, who deflects the draining prism before falling into the fiery crystal shaft; on a rocky plain, the Mystic Alchemist vanishes in flames. Aughra frees herself while Jen, awakened by Kira's call, climbs up the shaft to the laboratory.
The Gelflings make their way to a hall overlooking the crystal chamber, where the Skeksis gather for the conjunction ceremony. When the Skeksis spot them and order the Garthim to attack, Jen leaps onto the crystal but drops the shard. Kira glides down to the chamber, grabs the shard and throws it to Jen before the High Priest stabs her fatally. As the suns align Jen plunges the shard into the crystal, producing a force that throws him aside. The Garthim disintegrate and the drained Podlings regain their vitality while the dark stone covering the castle crumbles to reveal a crystalline structure. The Mystics arrive and use the crystal's light to draw the Skeksis to themselves, merging into angelic urSkeks.
The urSkek leader tells Jen that they sundered themselves and damaged the crystal a thousand years ago, upsetting the world's balance. They revive Kira in gratitude and ascend toward the suns, leaving the crystal to light the rejuvenated world.
Cast
Jim Henson as: Jen, a Gelfling raised by the Mystics and entrusted to restore the Dark Crystal. Stephen Garlick provides the voice of Jen. The High Priest, a Skeksis ritual master. Jerry Nelson provides the voice of the High Priest. The Emperor, the incumbent Skeksis emperor who dies at the beginning of the film. Nelson provides the voice of the Emperor. Kathryn Mullen as Kira, a Gelfling raised by the Podlings who joins Jen's quest. Lisa Maxwell provides the voice of Kira. Frank Oz as: Aughra, the Keeper of Secrets and an astronomer. Billie Whitelaw provides the voice of Aughra. Chamberlain, a conniving Skeksis official who covets the throne. Barry Dennen provides the voice of Chamberlain. Dave Goelz as: Fizzgig, a dog-like animal that is Kira's loyal pet. Percy Edwards provides the voice of Fizzgig. The General, the easily angered Skeksis Garthim-Master who becomes the new Emperor. Michael Kilgarriff provides the voice of the General. Steve Whitmire as the Scientist, a Skeksis researcher of the crystal's power and ways to exploit the world's creatures. Louise Gold as Gourmand, the Skeksis organizer of banquets. Thick Wilson provides the voice of Gourmand. Brian Muehl as: Ornamentalist, the Skeksis designer of garments and decor. urZah, the Mystic Ritual-Guardian. Seán Barrett provides the voice of urZah. The Mystic Master, who dies at the beginning of the film imparting wisdom to Jen. Bob Payne as the Scroll Keeper, the Skeksis castle historian. John Baddeley provides the voice of the Scroll Keeper. Mike Quinn as the Slave-Master, the Skeksis overseer of the drained Podlings. David Buck provides the voice of the Slave-Master. Tim Rose as the Treasurer, a soft-spoken Skeksis who keeps the castle's riches. Charles Collingwood provides the voice of the Treasurer. Jean Pierre Amiel as the Mystic Weaver Hugh Spight as the Mystic Cook Robby Barnett as the Mystic Numerologist Swee Lim as the Mystic Hunter Simon Williamson as the Chanter, Mystic counterpart of the Chamberlain Hus Levant as the Mystic Scribe Toby Philpott as the Mystic Alchemist, counterpart of the Scientist David Greenaway and Richard Slaughter as the Healer Joseph O'Conor as the Narrator and voices of the urSkeks.
Kiran Shah, Mike Edmonds, Peter Burroughs, Malcolm Dixon, Sadie Corré, Deep Roy, Jack Purvis, Gerald Stadden, Mike Cottrell, John Ghavan, Abbie Jones, Natasha Knight, and Lisa Esson are credited as additional performers with Shah providing the stunt body doubles for Jen, Kira, and Aughra. Miki Iveria, Patrick Monckton, Sue Weatherby, and Dennen also provide the voices for the Podlings.
Production Development
Jim Henson's inspiration for the visual aspects of the film came around 1975–76,Fantastic Films #32, February, 1983 after he saw an illustration by Leonard B. Lubin in a 1975 edition of Lewis Carroll's poetry showing crocodiles living in a palace and wearing elaborate robes and jewelry.David Odell (2012), "Reflections on Making The Dark Crystal and Working with Jim Henson". In: Froud, B., Dysart, J., Sheikman, A. & John, L. The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths, Vol. II. Archaia. McAra, Catriona (2013) A Natural History of "The Dark Crystal": The Conceptual Design of Brian Froud. In: The Wider Worlds of Jim Henson. McFarland, Jefferson, pp. 101-116.Brian Froud (2003), "A Journey into The Dark Crystal". In: Froud, B. & Llewellyn, J. J., The World of the Dark Crystal. Pavilion Books. The film's conceptual roots lay in Henson's short-lived The Land of Gorch, which also took place in an alien world with no human characters. According to co-director Frank Oz, Henson's intention was to "get back to the darkness of the original Grimms' Fairy Tales", as he believed that it was unhealthy for children to never be afraid.Peter Hartlaub, Q&A: Frank Oz on Henson, “Dark Crystal” and the Kwik Way , SFGate, (Jun 28, 2007)
Henson formulated his ideas into a 25-page story he entitled "The Crystal", which he wrote whilst snowed in at an airport hotel. Henson's original concept was set in a world called Mithra, a wooded land with talking mountains, walking boulders and animal-plant hybrids. The original plot involved a malevolent race called the Reptus group, which took power in a coup against the peaceful Eunaze, led by Malcolm the Wise. The last survivor of the Eunaze was Malcolm's son Brian, who was adopted by the Bada, Mithra's mystical wizards.Jim Henson, The Mithra Treatment [DVD special Feature]. The Dark Crystal: Collector's Edition, Dir. Jim Henson & Frank Oz. 1982. Colombia Tristar Home Entertainment, 2003. DVD.
This draft contained elements in the final product, including the three races, the two funerals, the quest, a female secondary character, the Crystal, and the reunification of the two races during the Great Conjunction. "Mithra" was later abbreviated to "Thra", due to similarities the original name had with an ancient Persian deity. The character Kira was also at that point called Dee.
Most of the philosophical undertones of the film were inspired by Jane Roberts's collection of writings Seth Material, which Henson found very inspiring. Henson kept multiple copies of Seth Speaks, and insisted that Froud and screenwriter David Odell read it prior to collaborating for the film. Odell later wrote that Aughra's line "He could be anywhere then", upon being told by Jen that his Master was dead, could not have been written without having first read Roberts' material.