Ladyhawke (1985)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Richard Donner

Writers:

Edward Khmara (story)
Edward Khmara (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

12 April 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

CURSED FOR ETERNITY...No force in Heaven will release them. No power on Earth can save them. [UK Theatrical]

Plot:

Philipe Gastone, a thief, escapes from the dungeon at Aquila, sparking a manhunt. He is nearly captured when Captain Navarre befriends him...

Plot Keywords:

Bishop | Hawk | Curse | Escape | Thief

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Matthew Broderick	...	Phillipe Gaston
Rutger Hauer	...	Captain Etienne Navarre
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Isabeau d'Anjou
Leo McKern	...	Father Imperius the Monk
John Wood	...	Bishop of Aquila
Ken Hutchison	...	Marquet
Alfred Molina	...	Cezar
Giancarlo Prete	...	Fornac
Loris Loddi	...	Jehan
Alessandro Serra	...	Mr. Pitou
Charles Borromel	...	Insane Prisoner
Massimo Sarchielli	...	Innkeeper
Nicolina Papetti	...	Mrs. Pitou
Russel Case	...	Lieutenant (as Russell Kase)
Donald Hodson	...	Guard on Cart (as Don Hudson)

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 (bw) | Netherlands:AL

Filming Locations:

Campo Imperatore, L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The tune that Isabeau and Phillipe dance to in the stable is a genuine Italian 14th Century dance named "Trotto". The film also features a Renaissance piece by John Dowland

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Navarre is approaching the Castle where Imperius lives a hand appears on the right of the screen pushing his horse in the right direction

Quotes:

[first lines]
Phillipe: Impossible. Impossible. Nothing is impossible. Come on, Mouse. Dig! Dig, Mouse. Come on.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Sasquatch Gang (2006)

Do a little dance, make a little love, become a wolf tonight

It's funny - my two clearest memories of this film were off the mark in completely opposite ways. I remembered Matthew Broderick being deeply annoying; as it turns out he's just mildly irritating. And I remembered the soundtrack being bad; but good God, it's *appalling*. Whoever decided that a tragic, touching supernatural romance would be best accompanied by funky 70s synthesisers (I don't think they're fitting enough to even be classed as 80s) should be forced to eat their own afro. Yes, all of it. I can honestly say I have never heard a less appropriate musical score in my entire life. It's not that it's bad, exactly - it'd probably work pretty well if the lead character was, say, Shaft.

Still, when the crazy disco beats aren't violating the atmosphere, there's some good stuff going on. Richard Donner already had serious directing experience under his belt in 1985, and Ladyhawke is beautifully shot and paced with some gorgeous scenery to take in. There's just enough action (they give it some proper welly in those swordfights), John Wood provides a proper boo-hiss malicious villain, the dialogue never quite slips into melodrama despite teetering on the edge occasionally, and it's always a pleasure to watch Rutger Hauer in one of his few good roles before he degenerated into self-parody. (Well, if we're being honest it's a pleasure to watch him in his godawful recent stuff as well, but for different reasons.) Above all the film's got heart, which is more than you can say for 95% of the cack that Hollywood churns out, and it deserves some small credit for that at least.