| Galgameth | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Sean McNamara |
| Written by | Michael Angeli |
| Based on | Pulgasari byShin Sang-ok (uncredited) |
| Produced by | Martha Chang |
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Christian Sebaldt |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Richard Marvin |
Production company | Sheen Communications |
| Distributed by | Galaxy International Releasing Kidmark |
Release date |
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Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $10 million[1] |
Galgameth (also released under the titlesThe Legend of Galgameth andThe Adventures of Galgameth) is a 1996 Americanfantasy film directed bySean McNamara from a screenplay byMichael Angeli. The film stars Devin Neil Oatway, Johna Stewart andStephen Macht.[2][3] It is loosely based on a filmShin Sang-ok directed in 1985 whilebeing held in North Korea,Pulgasari,[4][5] itself supposedly a remake of alost 1962 film.Galgameth was produced through Shin's production company Sheen Communications.[6]
In themedieval kingdom of Donnegold, a young prince named Davin (Devin Oatway) lives with his father, the noble King Henryk (Sean McNamara). This comes to an end when the King's black knight, El El (Stephen Macht), poisons him. As he lays dying, Henryk gives his son a small black statue of a creature. He tells him that it is called "Galgameth", the family guardian oflegend. Davin takes it and while he is away mourning his father, El El secretly shatters the statue and takes command, thrusting the kingdom into turmoil under Davin's name. Davin is given the broken statue by a maidservant and cries. The next morning he finds that the statue has become a living creature which he nicknames "Galgy" (Felix Silla andDoug Jones). Brought to life by the prince's tears, Galgameth becomes his friend and guardian as he finds himself chased by El El and in the company of disgruntled peasants who are planning a revolt in order to dethrone the man they think is the source of all their trouble, Prince Davin.
The production was filmed on locations inRomania,[7] includingBucharest andZărnești.
Original release was in Spain on November 18, 1996, followed by release in Japan on November 21. Its original Romanian title wasGalgameth and had differing titles dependent upon the country and language of later releases. In Germany it was released asGalgameth - Das Ungeheuer des Prinzen. In Spain its video title was asLa leyenda de Galgameth and its television release title wasGalgameth - El guerrero invencible. In France it was released asGalgameth: L'apprenti dragon. English release titles included bothThe Legend of Galgameth and the laterThe Adventures of Galgameth,[8] which was released byTrimark Home Video on July 29, 1997.[9]