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FILM 1205: THE DARK CRYSTAL

TRIVIA: At the time it was made, it was hailed as the only live action film in which a human actor makes no appearance.

Although there are nine of them, the Skeksis were originally based on the seven deadly sins.

From a budget of $15 million, the film made slightly over $40 million, a rather disappointing figure. This was put down to the fact that many parents felt the film was too scary for their children and also because it opened against the box office juggernaut that was E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982).

Conceptual designer Brian Froud was behind the look and feel of virtually every aspect of the film's production, from creatures and landscapes right down to the font of the opening title. In total, it took up five years of his life.

Jim Henson offered 22-year-old puppeteer Kevin Clash a job on the film, but since Clash was busy with both Captain Kangaroo (1955) and The Great Space Coaster (1981), he had to turn it down.