Time Bandits (1981)

Director:

Terry Gilliam

Writers:

Michael Palin (written by) &
Terry Gilliam (written by)

Release Date:

6 November 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

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

Plot:

A young boy accidently joins a band of dwarves as they jump from time-period to time-period looking for treasure to steal.

Plot Keywords:

Evil | Map | Fortress | Treasure | Dwarf

Awards:

1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

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
Craig Warnock	...	Kevin
David Daker	...	Kevin's Father
Sheila Fearn	...	Kevin's Mother
Jim Broadbent	...	Compere
John Young	...	Reginald
Myrtle Devenish	...	Beryl
Brian Bowes	...	Knight / Hussar
Leon Lissek	...	1st Refugee
Terence Bayler	...	Lucien
Preston Lockwood	...	Neguy
Charles McKeown	...	Theatre Manager
David Leland	...	Puppeteer
John Hughman	...	The Great Rumbozo
Derrick O'Connor	...	Robber Leader
Neil McCarthy	...	2nd Robber
Declan Mulholland	...	3rd Robber
Peter Jonfield	...	Arm Wrestler
Derek Deadman	...	Robert
Jerold Wells	...	Benson
Roger Frost	...	Cartwright
Martin Carroll	...	Baxi Brazilia III
Marcus Powell	...	Horseflesh
Winston Dennis	...	Bull-headed Warrior
Del Baker	...	Greek Fighting Warrior
Juliette James	...	Greek Queen
Ian Muir	...	Giant
Mark Holmes	...	Troll Father
Andrew MacLachlan	...	Fireman
Chris Grant	...	TV announcer (voice)
Tony Jay	...	Supreme Being (voice)
Edwin Finn	...	Supreme Being's Face

Directed by
Terry Gilliam

Writing credits
Michael Palin		(written by) &
Terry Gilliam		(written by)

Produced by
Terry Gilliam	....	producer
George Harrison	....	executive producer
Denis O'Brien	....	executive producer
Neville C. Thompson	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Mike Moran

Cinematography by
Peter Biziou		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Julian Doyle

Casting by
Irene Lamb

Production Design by
Milly Burns

Art Direction by
Norman Garwood

Costume Design by
James Acheson		(as Jim Acheson)

Makeup Department
Elaine Carew	....	hairdresser
Elaine Carew	....	makeup artist
Sue Ignatius	....	assistant makeup artist (as Sue Frear)
Ken Lintott	....	wigs and beards maker (as Kenneth Lintott)
Maggie Weston	....	hairdresser
Maggie Weston	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Graham Ford	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Cooper	....	third assistant director
Julian Doyle	....	second unit director
Simon Hinkly	....	first assistant director
Chris Thompson	....	third assistant director
Guy Travers	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Celia Barnett	....	assistant art director
Les Beaver	....	rigger
Frank Billington-Marks	....	storeman (as Frank Marks)
Geoff Rivers Bland	....	sculptor
Dennis Bovington	....	carpenter
Karen Brookes	....	production buyer
Graham Bullock	....	stand-by painter
John Cole	....	stand-by props
Steve Cooper	....	draughtsman
Ron Cowan	....	drapes
Douglas Cox	....	stand-by stagehand
John Davey	....	painter
Len Day	....	supervising carpenter
Bob Devine	....	carpenter (as Robert Devine)
Dave Everall	....	rigger
Mick Fisher	....	carpenter (as Micky Fisher)
Steve Fitzwater	....	carpenter
Norman Fletcher	....	carpenter
Peter Grant	....	property master
Alan Grenham	....	stand-by painter
Richard Harris	....	rigger
Gary Hedges	....	carpenter
Craig Hillier	....	stand-by carpenter
Robert Mason	....	painter (as Bob Mason)
Michael Melia	....	plasterer
Eric Nash	....	plasterer
Bruce Newell	....	plasterer
Dave Newton	....	stand-by props
Raymond Perry	....	dressing props (as Ray Perry)
Jim Taylor	....	plasterer (as James Taylor)
Peter Verard	....	construction manager
Laurie Warburton	....	sculptor
Steve Wheeler	....	prop dresser
Dave Wiggins	....	stand-by rigger
Grahame Ménage	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Paul Carr	....	dubbing mixer
Philip Chubb	....	sound maintenance
Dino Di Campo	....	footsteps editor
Bob Doyle	....	boom operator
Stan Fiferman	....	dubbing editor (as Stanley Fiferman)
Mike Hopkins	....	dialogue editor
Garth Marshall	....	sound mixer
Brian Paxton	....	dubbing mixer
John Richards	....	sound engineer
Allen Hurd	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jon Bunker	....	special effects senior technician (as John Bunker)
Lewis Coleman	....	special effects modeller
Robert Harman	....	wireman (as Bob Harman)
Ross King	....	special effects technician
Chris Ostwald	....	special effects runner
Christine Overs	....	special effects modeller (as Chris Overs)
Andrew Thompson	....	special effects consultant (as Andy Thompson)
Chris Verner	....	special effects consultant

Visual Effects by
Ray Caple	....	matte paintings
Valerie Charlton	....	modelmaker (as Val Charlton)
Dennis De Groot	....	assistant optical effects
Carol De Jong	....	assistant modelmaker
Julian Doyle	....	model photography
Alex Harwood	....	assistant modelmaker (as Alix Harwood)
Kent Houston	....	optical effects
Tim Ollive	....	assistant optical effects
Jean Ramsey	....	assistant modelmaker
Behira Thraves	....	assistant modelmaker
Paul Whitbread	....	optical effects
Jon Sorensen	....	visual effects camera (uncredited)

Stunts
Brian Bowes	....	stunts: Knight/Hussar
Peter Brayham	....	stunt arranger
Terry Yorke	....	stunt arranger
Jack Cooper	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Tony Andrews	....	grip: second unit
Clive Coote	....	still photographer
Chuck Finch	....	best boy
Freddy Fry	....	grip (as Freddie Fry)
Simon Fulford	....	clapper loader
David Garfath	....	camera operator
Simon Haveland	....	clapper loader: second unit
Brian Herlihy	....	focus puller: second unit
Stewart Monteith	....	electrician (as Stuart Monteith)
Reg Parsons	....	gaffer
Roy Rodhouse	....	gaffer
Bob Stilwell	....	focus puller
Tug Wilson	....	electrician
Kevin Brookner	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Brian Ellis	....	focus puller: "b" camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Richard Cattermole	....	costumer
Hazel Côté	....	associate costume designer
Gilly Hebden	....	wardrobe assistant
Stephen Miles	....	assistant costume designer (as T. Stephen Miles)
Day Murch	....	wardrobe assistant (as Dai Murch)
Dorothea Smylie	....	wardrobe mistress
Dorothy Williams	....	costumer
Tony Williams	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Rodney Glenn	....	assistant editor
Adam Unger	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Ray Cooper	....	music producer
Ray Cooper	....	musician: percussion sequences
George Harrison	....	composer: additional music
Trevor Jones	....	composer: Greek dance music
Mike Moran	....	orchestrator
Harry Rabinowitz	....	musical director
Ray Cooper	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Brian Brookner	....	unit driver
Tony Hocking	....	unit driver

Other crew
Brian Bailey	....	accountant
Linda Bruce	....	production assistant
Patrick Cassavetti	....	location manager
Geraldine Dunn	....	accounts secretary
Penny Eyles	....	continuity
Mike Hearst	....	supplier: "Og the Pig"
Rachel Neale	....	assistant to producer
Steve Parker	....	production runner
Ray Parsons	....	assistant accountant
Ray Scott	....	troll maker
John Styles	....	puppet show
Joan Woodgate	....	supplier: "Benson the dog"
Michael Yell	....	assistant accountant

Thanks
Simon Burridge	....	special thanks
Shirley Draffan	....	special thanks
Peter Simms	....	special thanks
Yvette Warnock	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• HandMade Films

Distributors

• HandMade Films (1979) (UK) (theatrical)
• AVCO Embassy Pictures (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Star-Marketing (1983) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Video (1983) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1984) (USA) (TV)
• Paramount Pictures (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS) (widescreen)
• Criterion Collection, The (1999) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Sunfilm Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
• New World-Mutual (????) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (????) (UK) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
• VTI Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Peerless Camera Company (optical effects)
• Westbridge Studios

Other Companies

• C.T.S. Studios  music recorded at (as CTS Studios, Wembley)
• De Wolfe Music  additional music supplied by (as De Wolfe Ready Music)
• De Wolfe Music  production music
• Goldcrest Post Production London  sound post-production
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Roger Cherrill  sound re-recorded at

Also Known As:

Runtime:

116 min | USA:110 min | Japan:103 min (original release)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Finland:K-11 (VET id: 90845) | France:U | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:6 | Singapore:PG | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

HandMade Films

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [Terry Gilliam] [cages]This film uses cages identical to the cage Jill is imprisoned in, in Giliam's film Brazil (1985).

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Numerous inaccuracies in the "historical" scenes. The film means to depict history as visualized by a well-read 11-year-old, not a formally trained historian. This is consistent with the theme of whimsical, casual time travel wherein history is deliberately contaminated.

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 had to learn 44 different ways of unarmed combat?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ban the Sadist Videos! (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Me And My Shadow

God's "employees" off for a bit of white collar crime.

A terrific little fantasy that, not surprisingly, has flavors of Monty Python. My children and I first saw it in the early '80s on a night ferry from Harwich to Zeebrugge. I've seen it a few times since, and marvel at the creativity that went into the film. God's "employees" trying to use a map of the universe to track down treasure is the theme; running around through time trying to find the treasure is the game. The cameos by Cleese, Connery and the rest are some amusing highlights, but the Time Bandits themselves really make the story. The climactic scenes with the Evil Genius made me think more than a little of the Sorcerer's Apprentice.

I think it is a well done bit of fantasy for older children and adults; it helps to know a bit of history going into it. I wouldn't let my six-year old granddaughter see it -- at least not yet -- but she and her sister probably will love the adventure in a few years.