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

Release Year: 1985

Rating: 6.8/10 (19,134 voted)

Director: Richard Donner

Stars: Matthew Broderick, Rutger Hauer, Michelle Pfeiffer

Storyline
Philipe Gastone, a thief, escapes from the dungeon at Aquila, sparking a manhunt. He is nearly captured when Captain Navarre befriends him. Navarre has been hunted by the Bishop's men for two years, ever since he escaped with the Lady Isabeau who the Bishop has lusted after. Navarre and Isabeau have a curse that the Bishop has placed on them that causes Navarre to be a wolf during the night and Isabeau to be a hawk during the day. Navarre insists that Philipe help him re-enter the city to help him kill the heavily guarded Bishop.

Writers: Edward Khmara, Edward Khmara

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)

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

Release Date: 12 April 1985

Filming Locations: Campo Imperatore, L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy

Box Office Details

Budget: $20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: $3,450,536 (USA) (12 April 1985) (1 Screen)

Gross: $18,432,000 (USA)

Runtime: 121 min

Trivia:
Richard Donner originally wanted to cast Rutger Hauer as the evil captain of the guard while casting a younger actor, Kurt Russell, as Navarre. Hauer wasn't interested in that role, but expressed interest in playing Navarre. When Russell dropped out a few days before principal photography began, the part was handed to Hauer.

Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: Bubbles from the divers can be seen as Phillipe escapes from the sewer.

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

One of my favorites of all time.

Rating:

I am not a person who takes the word "favorite" lightly. This is a beautiful movie! It is funny, full of action and Romantic (yes, with a capital 'R'.)

I saw this movie the first time when I was eleven, back in '86. It then took about four years before I saw it again, but I never forgot the feeling it left me with: This is heart-wrenching romance. I only recently bought the video. For some reason I have been unable to track it down sooner. Anyway, I pulled the video tape out of the box and, with mixed feelings, I slid it into the video. Would it be the same? Would it still move me? (Would the music still suck? *grin*) YES!!! It WAS the same! It DID move me! And: NO! The music felt strangely "right."

Yes, I would like to see this movie with a classical score, just to find out... But the "awfulness" of the score (btw, it's not bad all the way) only furthered the porcelain beauty of the visuals (watch the scene with the hawk flying over a still lake -- it's wings dipping into the water -- I get goosebumps), and the pure genius of the characters and dialogue.

Now, the main actors/actress:

Rutger Hauer: This, along with Blade Runner, is your finest work ever! Mr. Hauer delivers a top-notch performance as the brooding, cursed one-man army called Navarre.

Matthew Broderick: This WAS your finest hour. Yes, Mr. Broderick has given us suspense and laughter after Ladyhawke, but nowhere near his performance as Phillipe.

Michelle Pfeiffer: Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this the most beautiful woman in the world? I do not mean "perfect", because that would be predictable. No, Mrs. Pfeiffer (Kelley?)is simply beautiful in an ancient sense. She is sprung out of a myriad of romance stories. There couldn't have been a better choice for this part. That innocence, that beauty. Isabeau comes to life in the incredible acting. Too little screen time makes you appreciate it even MORE when she enters the plot.

The rest of the cast is too good to be true. John Wood's Bishop, who only comes to "life" after he realises what is about to happen in the end. Before that he is only a shell of a man. And a big BRAVO! and a huge round of applause for the wonderful performance of Leo McKern as the massive, drunkard priest Imperius. Also watch for Alfred Molina in an, even for him, nasty role as the hunter Cezàr which he pulls off with his usual finesse. Bravo Mr. Molina.

Finishing up, I would like to mention, in brief, the equestrianship. It is wonderful. I know only a little about horses, but I know that those used in the movie are not your average show jumping ponies. *grin* The riders are incredible. I have not yet seen riding of that kind. They make it look effortless. They are one with the horse.

The comment to tip the scale (which is already tipped almost over to "What-are-you-nuts?-Haven't-you-already-seen-this?": ALL of it is made without computers!!!

Happy viewing!

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