Time Bandits (1981)

A young boy accidentally joins a band of time traveling dwarves as they jump from era to era looking for treasure to steal.

Director:

Terry Gilliam

Writers:

Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam

Stars:

Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, John Cleese

1 win & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Cleese	...	Robin Hood
Sean Connery	...	King Agamemnon / Fireman
Shelley Duvall	...	Dame Pansy / Pansy
Katherine Helmond	...	Mrs. Ogre
Ian Holm	...	Napoleon
Michael Palin	...	Vincent
Ralph Richardson	...	Supreme Being
Peter Vaughan	...	Winston the Ogre
David Warner	...	Evil
David Rappaport	...	Randall
Kenny Baker	...	Fidgit
Malcolm Dixon	...	Strutter
Mike Edmonds	...	Og
Jack Purvis	...	Wally
Tiny Ross	...	Vermin

Storyline

A young boy's wardrobe contains a time hole. Through this hole an assortment of short people (i.e. dwarfs) come while escaping from their master, the supreme being. They take Kevin with them on their adventures through time from Napoleonic times to the Middle Ages to the early 1900s, to the time of Legends and the Fortress of Ultimate Darkness where they confront Evil.

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Plot Keywords:

treasure | dwarf | satire | robin hood | cult director | 

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Taglines:

All the dreams you've ever had and not just the good ones

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 November 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Aikavarkaat

Filming Locations:

Lee International Studios, Kensal Road, Kensal Town, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$42,365,600 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

HandMade Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min 103 min (original release)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Cleese filmed his part in two days.

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Goofs

Right after Randall breaks the glass separating them from the fortress, he is shown taking the map back. And then the immediate next scene, from overhead, shows him doing the exact same motion again.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Announcer: Yes, folks... Moderna Designs present the latest in kitchen luxury. The Moderna Wonder Major All Automatic Convenience Center-ette gives you all the time in the world to do the things you really want to do... An infrared freezer-oven complex that can make you a meal from packet to plate in 15 1/2 seconds.
Kevin's Mother: Morrisons have got one that can do that in eight seconds.
Kevin's Father: Oh?
Kevin's Mother: Block of ice to Beef Bourguignon in eight seconds. Lucky things.
Kevin: Dad, did you know that the ancient Greek warriors ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

At the end of the credits the scene where the Bandits have their photo taken is replayed.

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Connections

Referenced in Python Night: 30 Years of Monty Python (1999)

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Soundtracks

Showbiz
(uncredited)
Music by Jill Answell
De Wolfe Music Ltd

User Reviews

History By Way of Gilliam

For my money, Terry Gilliam is one of the more innovative, creative, and fantastical directors of the last two decades. His films easily bear his stamp of absurdist humour, witty dialogue, sheer fantasy, dream-like sequences, and always a generous dose of black comedy. Time Bandits is certainly no exception, but rather a stepping stone for greater works such as The Fisher King and the wonderful Brazil. The film tells the story of a group of dwarf-like "crooks" who leave their jobs with God(the Supreme Being) for a life of crime via a map they have "stolen" from their job place. This map holds all the secrets to time holes in the fabric of creation. Thus the bearers of the map can go forward and back in time as they please. They use the map to steal, at which they have little skill, and become rich, at which they miserably fail. Gilliam transports them and us through time to meet such interesting notables as Robin Hood, Napoleon, Agammenon, and the Evil Genius(devil-like entity). The film is grand in its scope and still wanting, for it is tackling a story of epic proportions. Still, Gilliam delivers a pretty good film both visually stunning in certain sequences and brimming with philosophical questions such as the necessity of evil and the election of choice in life. The film is also very funny in many parts, due in large part to a great cast. The protagonists are all quite good. John Cleese plays as likable a Robin Hood to be seen with his almost overly polite manner. The best performances go to Ian Holm, playing a drunken Napoleon obsessed with his size, David Warner, playing the malevolent Evil Genius with relish, and lastly to Sir Ralph Richardson, playing the Supreme Being like a bureaucrat concerned with balancing payroll and the like. Gilliam explores the bureaucratic mentality with even more scope in his Brazil. All in all, Time Bandits is a fun and entertaining picture.