The score was written by Alex North, the film veteran with no fewer than 14 Academy Award nominations to his credit, and the production designer was Elliot Scott.

"We have always been fascinated by science fiction, fantasy and horror," explain creators Barwood and Robbins about Dragonslayer "It's a wonderful story: high adventure, feats of magic, a terrifying dragon, mystery, thrills."

All of which brings us to Vermithrax Perjorative. . . the most temperamental star on the lot. A 40-foot dragon with a 90-foot wingspan, it was designed by David

Bunnett and Phil Tippett of George Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic, Inc., in conjunction with director Robbins and built by the special effects department at Disney's Burbank Studios under the supervision of Danny Lee.

Created in sections, the dragon was installed in a fantastic lair, the exterior of which took up the whole of the mammoth 007 Stage at Pinewood with additional stages contributing much of its vaulted and misty interior as well as housing the spectacular Lake of Fire which the apprentice sorcerer must cross to confront it in its own domain. Vermithrax also produced three dragonlets who were designed by David Bunnett and Ken Ralston.

Special effects wizard Brian Johnson, who brought with him his team from "Alien," had to magically create the complicated business of: making the dragon fly, caress its young, consume Brother Jacopus in a 30-foot burst of flame from its mighty jaws, grab a young Urland virgin with its huge claws, cause a minor earthquake as it struggles to dislodge the lance Galen manages to thrust into its neck.

Other minor miracles that were called upon to perform were the earthquake that brings the walls of the King's castle tumbling down and causes Valerian's village to erupt in explosion and fire.

With the live action sequences completed in Britain, Barwood, Robbins and Brian Johnson returned to California to shoot the elaborate miniature and optical effects at I.L.M. with the aid of Phil Tippett and Denis Muren and a camera computerized to capture the performance of the monstrous Vermithrax. When the picture was looped and cut, Barwood and Robbins returned to England to score the movie.