In addition to Queen Narissa of Andalasia, who was only a dragon part-time (and very briefly), there have been other dragons in the WW4C. Here are the stories of two more:
Pete's Dragon (1977)
Pete is an orphan in the early 20th Century in New England. He was sold to the loathsome Gogan family, who plan to use him basically as a slave. He escapes with the help of his friend Elliott, who is a dragon. Elliott isn't a very fearsome dragon, as dragons go, but he can fly (clumsily), can breathe fire (a little, but mostly smoke), and he can turn invisible. He's also very large and very strong. Pete ventures into the fishing village of Passamaquoddy, where he's taken in by the daughter of Lampie, the lighthouse keeper. Nora, Lampie's daughter, thinks that Elliott is just Pete's imaginary friend, but Lampie has seen Elliott and is terrified of him. Pete lives in the lighthouse, while Elliott takes up residence in the caves below.
Passamaquoddy is also visited by traveling medicine huckster Doc Terminus and his assistant Hoagy. When Lampie and Hoagy get drunk, Lampie takes Hoagy to see Elliott. Doc Terminus realizes that a live dragon would be worth a fortune in parts for his medicines and offers to buy Elliott from Pete. Pete refuses, however, since he doesn't own Elliott. The Gogans arrive in town looking for Pete, and Doc Terminus strikes a deal with them: they'll work together, and the Gogans can get Pete and Doc Terminus will take the dragon.
This plan completely falls apart, of course, and Elliott ends up becoming a hero when he saves the mayor of Passamaquoddy. Nora's fiancee, thought lost at sea, returns (with help from Elliott, who was sent to find him by Pete). Everyone lives happily ever after, except that Elliott tells Pete that he's got to leave and he won't be coming back because there are other kids who need his help.
Fitting it into the WW4C
Elliott is not native to the WW4C, as the last dragon, Vermithrax Pejorative, was slain long ago. He's very likely a refugee from Andalasia or possibly from Monstropolis. Either way, he's not like most dragons: he's kind-hearted, loves children, and is either the "runt" of the litter or he's long past his prime. However, as a dragon, he's probably still alive, and still helping kids in trouble.
Doc Terminus was just a snake oil salesman, but "Dr. Terminus" is too good a name not to use for a supervillain. A modern Dr. Terminus might be an evil alchemist, trying to capture magical creatures for use in his potions, or he might be encased in armor like Dr. Doom. Maybe both.
Dragonslayer (1981)
In the Dark Ages, in the kingdom of Urland, the people live at the sufferance of the dragon Vermithrax Pejorative, the last dragon. Twice a year, King Casiodorus holds a lottery to determine which young girl will be sacrificed to the dragon. A young man from Urland, Valerian, leads a party to find the sorceror Ulrich of Craggenmoor, to convince him to slay the dragon.
Ulrich ends up dying when he invites a soldier to stab him to prove his magical powers, but his apprentice Galen takes up the quest when he finds that Ulrich's pendant gives him magical powers. Along the way, Galen discovers that Valerian is actually a woman whose father, a blacksmith in Urland, disguised her as a boy to keep her out of the lottery.
Galen collapses the cave of the dragon, and it's assumed that the dragon is defeated. Valerian publicly reveals herself to be a woman. King Casiodorus discovers that Galen isn't really a wizard and suspects he only angered the dragon. He takes the amulet from Galen and throws him in a call. Galen informs the King's daughter, Elspeth, that her father has kept her name out of the lottery all these years.
The dragon returns, and Elpseth helps Galen escape in the confusion. King Casiodorus holds a new lottery. Elspeth, however, rigs the lottery so that she will be chosen, to make up for all the girls who died in the past to protect her. Galen goes to steal the amulet back from the King, who catches him but lets him have the amulet so he can use it to save Elspeth.
Galen and Valerian's father craft a magical spear to kill the dragon, and a shield made of dragon scales to protect him from the fire, and Galen sets off to do battle. He and Valerian also confess their feelings for each other. Galen fails to kill the dragon, and Princess Elspeth is killed by the dragon's hatchlings, which Galen kills. Valerian and Galen flee the village together.
As they are leaving, the amulet reveals to Galen that Ulrich's wish was that his ashes be spread over burning water, which is the lake near the dragon's cave. Ulrich knew he could not make the journey, so he had Galen make the journey for him (if Galen had known this sooner, the princess might have lived, but oh, well). Ulrich is returned to life, and fights the dragon. He's caught up in the dragon's claws, but Galen smashes the amulet and Ulrich and the dragon explode.
King Casiodorus arrives on the scene to claim credit for slaying the dragon, while Galen and Valerian leave. Galen is upset that he's not really a sorceror, but when he wishes he and Valerian had a horse, one appears.
Fitting it into the WW4C
Dragonslayer takes place after the fall of Rome, but before Christianity is widespread. It was filmed in the British Isles, so the kingdom of Urland is probably a small kingdom which sprang up after Rome left. It's definitely prior to the rule of King Arthur.
This is also reflected in the tone. Dragonslayer is darker than most Disney movies and, frankly, kind of gruesome.
Historically, then, the WW4C might not have become the generally optimistic place that it is until Arthur pulled the sword from the stone and become King of England. Prior to that, the world was a much darker place.
Pete's Dragon (1977)
Pete is an orphan in the early 20th Century in New England. He was sold to the loathsome Gogan family, who plan to use him basically as a slave. He escapes with the help of his friend Elliott, who is a dragon. Elliott isn't a very fearsome dragon, as dragons go, but he can fly (clumsily), can breathe fire (a little, but mostly smoke), and he can turn invisible. He's also very large and very strong. Pete ventures into the fishing village of Passamaquoddy, where he's taken in by the daughter of Lampie, the lighthouse keeper. Nora, Lampie's daughter, thinks that Elliott is just Pete's imaginary friend, but Lampie has seen Elliott and is terrified of him. Pete lives in the lighthouse, while Elliott takes up residence in the caves below.
Passamaquoddy is also visited by traveling medicine huckster Doc Terminus and his assistant Hoagy. When Lampie and Hoagy get drunk, Lampie takes Hoagy to see Elliott. Doc Terminus realizes that a live dragon would be worth a fortune in parts for his medicines and offers to buy Elliott from Pete. Pete refuses, however, since he doesn't own Elliott. The Gogans arrive in town looking for Pete, and Doc Terminus strikes a deal with them: they'll work together, and the Gogans can get Pete and Doc Terminus will take the dragon.
This plan completely falls apart, of course, and Elliott ends up becoming a hero when he saves the mayor of Passamaquoddy. Nora's fiancee, thought lost at sea, returns (with help from Elliott, who was sent to find him by Pete). Everyone lives happily ever after, except that Elliott tells Pete that he's got to leave and he won't be coming back because there are other kids who need his help.
Fitting it into the WW4C
Elliott is not native to the WW4C, as the last dragon, Vermithrax Pejorative, was slain long ago. He's very likely a refugee from Andalasia or possibly from Monstropolis. Either way, he's not like most dragons: he's kind-hearted, loves children, and is either the "runt" of the litter or he's long past his prime. However, as a dragon, he's probably still alive, and still helping kids in trouble.
Doc Terminus was just a snake oil salesman, but "Dr. Terminus" is too good a name not to use for a supervillain. A modern Dr. Terminus might be an evil alchemist, trying to capture magical creatures for use in his potions, or he might be encased in armor like Dr. Doom. Maybe both.
Dragonslayer (1981)
In the Dark Ages, in the kingdom of Urland, the people live at the sufferance of the dragon Vermithrax Pejorative, the last dragon. Twice a year, King Casiodorus holds a lottery to determine which young girl will be sacrificed to the dragon. A young man from Urland, Valerian, leads a party to find the sorceror Ulrich of Craggenmoor, to convince him to slay the dragon.
Ulrich ends up dying when he invites a soldier to stab him to prove his magical powers, but his apprentice Galen takes up the quest when he finds that Ulrich's pendant gives him magical powers. Along the way, Galen discovers that Valerian is actually a woman whose father, a blacksmith in Urland, disguised her as a boy to keep her out of the lottery.
Galen collapses the cave of the dragon, and it's assumed that the dragon is defeated. Valerian publicly reveals herself to be a woman. King Casiodorus discovers that Galen isn't really a wizard and suspects he only angered the dragon. He takes the amulet from Galen and throws him in a call. Galen informs the King's daughter, Elspeth, that her father has kept her name out of the lottery all these years.
The dragon returns, and Elpseth helps Galen escape in the confusion. King Casiodorus holds a new lottery. Elspeth, however, rigs the lottery so that she will be chosen, to make up for all the girls who died in the past to protect her. Galen goes to steal the amulet back from the King, who catches him but lets him have the amulet so he can use it to save Elspeth.
Galen and Valerian's father craft a magical spear to kill the dragon, and a shield made of dragon scales to protect him from the fire, and Galen sets off to do battle. He and Valerian also confess their feelings for each other. Galen fails to kill the dragon, and Princess Elspeth is killed by the dragon's hatchlings, which Galen kills. Valerian and Galen flee the village together.
As they are leaving, the amulet reveals to Galen that Ulrich's wish was that his ashes be spread over burning water, which is the lake near the dragon's cave. Ulrich knew he could not make the journey, so he had Galen make the journey for him (if Galen had known this sooner, the princess might have lived, but oh, well). Ulrich is returned to life, and fights the dragon. He's caught up in the dragon's claws, but Galen smashes the amulet and Ulrich and the dragon explode.
King Casiodorus arrives on the scene to claim credit for slaying the dragon, while Galen and Valerian leave. Galen is upset that he's not really a sorceror, but when he wishes he and Valerian had a horse, one appears.
Fitting it into the WW4C
Dragonslayer takes place after the fall of Rome, but before Christianity is widespread. It was filmed in the British Isles, so the kingdom of Urland is probably a small kingdom which sprang up after Rome left. It's definitely prior to the rule of King Arthur.
This is also reflected in the tone. Dragonslayer is darker than most Disney movies and, frankly, kind of gruesome.
Historically, then, the WW4C might not have become the generally optimistic place that it is until Arthur pulled the sword from the stone and become King of England. Prior to that, the world was a much darker place.
Perhaps Dr. Terminus is related to the Bloodshy family(HOT LEAD & COLD FEET). Jim Dale played in both movies.
ReplyDeleteHot Lead & Cold Feet is on my list, along with both Apple Dumpling Gang movies. Not sure when I'll get to them, though.
ReplyDelete