Highlander (1986)

Director:

Russell Mulcahy

Writers:

Gregory Widen (story)
Gregory Widen (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

7 March 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy

Tagline:

He fought his first battle on the Scottish Highlands in 1536. He will fight his greatest battle on the streets of New York City in 1986. His name is Connor MacLeod. He is immortal.

Plot:

An immortal Scottish swordsman must confront the last of his immortal opponent, a murderously brutal barbarian who lusts for the fabled "Prize".

Plot Keywords:

Immortal | Swordsman | Battle | New York City | Village

Cast

Christopher Lambert	...	Connor 'The Highlander' MacLeod / Russell Edwin Nash
Roxanne Hart	...	Brenda J. Wyatt
Clancy Brown	...	Victor Kruger / The Kurgan
Sean Connery	...	Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez
Beatie Edney	...	Heather MacLeod
Alan North	...	Lieutenant Frank Moran
Jon Polito	...	Det. Walter Bedsoe
Sheila Gish	...	Rachel Ellenstein
Hugh Quarshie	...	Sunda Kastagir
Christopher Malcolm	...	Kirk Matunas
Peter Diamond	...	Aman Fasil
Billy Hartman	...	Dugal MacLeod
James Cosmo	...	Angus MacLeod
Celia Imrie	...	Kate MacLeod
Alistair Findlay	...	Chief Murdoch
Edward Wiley	...	Garfield
James McKenna	...	Father Rainey
John Cassady	...	Kenny
Ian Reddington	...	Bassett
Sion Tudor Owen	...	Hotchkiss
Damien Leake	...	Tony the Hotdog Vendor
Gordon Sterne	...	Dr. Willis Kenderly
Ron Berglas	...	Erik Powell
Louis Guss	...	Newsvendor
Peter Banks	...	Priest
Ted Maynard	...	Newscaster
Waldo Roeg	...	German soldier
Anthony Mannino	...	Boisterous Drunk
Helena Stevens	...	Old Woman in Car
Frank Dux	...	Old Man in Car
Prince Howell	...	Drunk in Hotel
Anthony Fusco	...	Barman
Ian Tyler	...	Lab Technician
Corinne Russell	...	Candy
Buckley Norris	...	Derelict
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Bonehill	...	Extras (uncredited)
Jim Brunzell	...	Himself (uncredited)
Sam Fatu	...	Professional Wrestler (uncredited)
Harry Fielder	...	Hospital Guard (uncredited)
Greg Gagne	...	Himself (uncredited)
Terry 'Bam Bam' Gordy	...	Professional Wrestler (uncredited)
Ed Montalvo	...	Street Tough (uncredited)
Buddy Roberts	...	Professional Wrestler (uncredited)
Michael Seitz	...	Professional Wrestler (uncredited)

Directed by
Russell Mulcahy

Writing credits
Gregory Widen		(story)
Gregory Widen		(screenplay) and
Peter Bellwood		(screenplay) &
Larry Ferguson		(screenplay)

Produced by
Peter S. Davis	....	producer
E.C. Monell	....	executive producer
Eva Monley	....	associate producer
Harold Moskovitz	....	associate producer
William N. Panzer	....	producer
John H. Starke	....	associate producer (as John Starke)

Original Music by
Michael Kamen

Cinematography by
Gerry Fisher

Film Editing by
Peter Honess

Casting by
Diane Dimeo
Michael McLean

Production Design by
Allan Cameron

Art Direction by
Martin Atkinson
Tim Hutchinson

Set Decoration by
Ian Whittaker

Costume Design by
James Acheson

Makeup Department
Tony Beesley	....	special makeup effects storyboards (as Tony Beasley)
Lois Burwell	....	makeup supervisor
Sandra Exelby	....	makeup artist
Graham Freeborn	....	makeup artist
Jeanette Freeman	....	hair stylist
Robert Verner Gresty	....	makeup effects mechanical design
Alex Harwood	....	makeup effects artwork
Ilona Herman	....	makeup artist
Denise Horsham	....	makeup effects technician
Geoffrey Portass	....	makeup effects technician
John Schoonraad	....	makeup effects mold designer
Bobbie Smith	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stephen Hopkins	....	assistant director
John Lawlor	....	third assistant director
Michael Stevenson	....	second assistant director
Jane Studd	....	third assistant director
David Tringham	....	assistant director
Andy Armstrong	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
George Djurkovic	....	model designer
Mark Raggett	....	assistant art director
Joe Haidar	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Raymond M. Samitz	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)
Keith Short	....	sculptor (uncredited)
John Wells	....	stand-by prop (uncredited)

Sound Department
Don J. Bassman	....	sound re-recordist
Stefna Borges	....	assistant sound editor (as Stefna Smal)
Peter Brennan	....	assistant sound editor
Kevin F. Cleary	....	sound re-recordist
Tony Dawe	....	production sound mixer
Richard Overton	....	sound re-recordist
Clive Pendry	....	sound re-recordist
Peter Pennell	....	sound editor
Bob Risk	....	dialog editor
Hugh Strain	....	sound re-recordist
Kevin Phelan	....	dubbing theatre projectionist: De Lane Lea (uncredited)
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Dave Chagouri	....	special effects technician
Martin Gutteridge	....	special effects supervisor
Garth Inns	....	special effects technician
Bob Keen	....	special effects makeup co-designer
Graham Longhurst	....	special effects technician
Bert Luxford	....	special effects technician
Nick Maley	....	special effects makeup co-designer

Visual Effects by
Chris Blunden	....	optical effects editor
Ray Caple	....	matte paintings
Peter Chiang	....	animator
Claude Chiasson	....	animator (as Claude Chaisson)
Roger Chiasson	....	animator (as Roger Chaisson)
Dave Docwra	....	optical printer
Tim Field	....	rostrum camera operator
Matt Forrest	....	animator
Chuck Gammage	....	animator
Colin Hughes	....	animator
Nina Robbins	....	animator
Mike Smith	....	animator
Paul Sparrow	....	production manager: second unit effects
Don Spencer	....	animator
John Swinnerton	....	animator
Tim Walton	....	animator
Alan White	....	photobackings

Stunts
Peter Brace	....	stunts
Andy Bradford	....	stunts
Peter Diamond	....	stunt coordinator
Victor Magnotta	....	stunt coordinator: New York Unit (as Vic Magnotta)
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Bonehill	....	fight double (uncredited)
Lisa Cain	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Peter Diamond	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nick Hobbs	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Bill Little	....	stunt fighter (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jean Marc Bringuier	....	steadicam operator
Paul Kenward	....	clapper loader
Ronnie Maasz	....	lighting cameraman: second unit effects
Simon Mills	....	clapper loader: second unit
Douglas Milsome	....	camera operator
Ralph Perri	....	rigging grip: New York
Mike Rutter	....	camera operator
Peter Versey	....	camera operator: second unit effects
Peter Warrilow	....	aerial camera operator
James Gordon Cooper	....	key grip: New York (uncredited)
David James	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Darryl Walthall	....	camera production assistant (uncredited)
John Ward	....	camera operator: "b" camera (uncredited)
John Ward	....	key Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Stephen Williams	....	camera operator: rostrum camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Helen P. Butler	....	costume supervisor: New York (uncredited)
Ken Lewington	....	costume supervisor (uncredited)
Pauline Lewington	....	wardrobe mistress (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Stephen Bearman	....	colorist
Catherine Hodgson	....	assistant editor
Paul Hodgson	....	assistant editor
Martyn Robinson	....	assistant editor
Annabel Ware	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Roger Evan	....	assistant to composer
Vic Fraser	....	copyist
Derek Power	....	music supervisor
Eric Tomlinson	....	music engineer
Michael Kamen	....	conductor (uncredited)
Michael Kamen	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Sidney Sax	....	orchestra contractor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Mark White	....	transportation

Other crew
Bob Anderson	....	sword master
David Balfour	....	stand-by: second unit
Marilyn Clarke	....	script supervisor
Keith Hodgson	....	title designer
Tony Riley	....	rock face climbing operator
Babs Scarlett	....	nurse
Roy Street	....	horse master
Roy Street	....	wrangler
Brett Botula	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Nick Daubeny	....	location manager (uncredited)
Gus Maclean	....	location unit manager (uncredited)
Adam Samuelson	....	louma crane technician (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment
• Highlander Productions Limited

Distributors

• 20th Century Fox (1986) (Canada) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (1986) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Europa Vision (1986) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Thorn EMI (1986) (UK) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Cannon Screen Entertainment (1987) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Ekaterinburg Art Home Video (EAHV) (Russia) (VHS)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2009) (United Arab Emirates) (DVD) (Middle East)
• Future Film (2001) (Finland) (DVD) (1-disc edition)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (laserdisc)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (video) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Lumiere Home Video
• Lumière Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• MTC Video (1987) (Greece) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1997) (Finland) (TV)
• Showtime (1987) (Finland) (VHS)
• StudioCanal
• TV3 (1992) (Finland) (TV)
• TV5 (2011) (Finland) (TV)
• Thorn EMI Video Australia
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Pictures Finland (2007) (Finland) (DVD) (2-disc edition)
• Warner Home Video
• Warner Home Video (1995) (UK) (VHS)

Special Effects

• ReelEye Company (special effects contact lenses)
• Snapper Films (special visual effects and animation)

Other Companies

• Abbey Road Studios  music recorded at
• First Unit Caterers  catering
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording
• McLean/Dimeo and Associates  casting (as Michael McLean, Diane Dimeo and Associates)
• National Philharmonic Orchestra  orchestra
• National Screen  titles
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Videosonics Studios  music recorded at
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong action violence, a scene of sexuality and some language

Runtime:

116 min | USA:110 min (theatrical version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | 70 mm 6-Track

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1986) | Norway:18 (cut) | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R (Certificate #28002) | West Germany:18 | Netherlands:16 | Germany:12 (cut) | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2007) | Germany:18 | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Italy:T | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (director's cut) (1996) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:M | Brazil:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1998)

Filming Locations:

The Storr, Isle of Skye, Highland, Scotland, UK

Company:

Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment

Trivia:

The priest in the church scene was actually an orthodox rabbi.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the church scene, the plastic cap worn by Kurgan seems to have come off around the ears.

Quotes:

Connor MacLeod:I don't like boats, I don't like water. I'm a man, not a fish.
Ramirez:So you complain endlessly.
Connor MacLeod:You look like a woman you stupid haggis.
Ramirez:Haggis? What is haggis?
Connor MacLeod:Sheep's stomach stuffed with meat and barley
Ramirez:And what do you do with it?
Connor MacLeod:You eat it!
Ramirez:How revolting!
[Ramirez sneezes]
Connor MacLeod:Be still for God's sake! You'll tip us over.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "NCIS: Escaped (#4.2)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Gimme the Prize (Kurgan's Theme)

Largely panned by the critics, but surprisingly a good, ingenious sci-fi offering.

Highlander is an ingenious and very entertaining science fiction film which has come in for rather a lot of (unwarranted) scathing criticism. Although the plot jumps around with reckless abandon, the scripters Gregory Widen, Larry Ferguson and Peter Bellwood manage to pull in all the loose ends by the climax. The word "confusing" has been used to describe the film quite often as well, but if you stick with it the confusing moments are explained quite cleverly towards the closing reels. This is, in fact, not a bad film at all. I'd venture to say it's a pretty good one.

The opening sequence has Russell Nash (Christopher Lambert) at a wrestling match in New York's Madison Square Gardens. He leaves early, and while walking through the underground car park is confronted by a man with a sword. Nash is not perturbed by this - he merely brandishes a sword of his own, and the pair of them fight to the death, resulting in the decapitation of Nash's opponent. Slowly, we learn (via flashbacks) that Nash is an immortal swordsman who has spent centuries duelling with like immortals. The only way they can die is by decapitation at the hands of one of their counterparts. Each swordsman has spent the whole of history pursuing the others, hoping to be the last one alive whereupon he will gain mortality, virility and vast knowledge.

The film is very energetic (what would you expect from a former music video director?) with dazzling camera work and a pounding, Flash Gordon-style soundtrack by Queen. Sean Connery has a pleasant supporting role as an immortal who teaches Lambert the art of swordplay, and Alan North has a funny part as a bewildered cop who can't figure out why headless corpses keep turning up in his city. The film's intentionally muddled structure is slightly irritating on the first viewing, but with repeated viewings it becomes more comprehensible, even clever. Highlander is a good, inventive piece of hokum.... and it's a real shame that those very same critics who are always grumbling about the lack of cinematic imagination these days didn't give it some merit when it was first released.