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:

Director Cameo: [Russell Mulcahy]The first person hit by the Kurgan's car when he's driving on the sidewalk.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Brenda uses a metal detector to find particles of sword in reinforced concrete. This cannot work as the signal from the metal in the reinforcement bars would swamp the signal generated by the sword particles.

Quotes:

Connor MacLeod:What are you looking at, Rachel?
Rachel:The eyes in the back of your head. People are asking about you. What am I supposed to tell them?
Connor MacLeod:Simple. Tell them I'm immortal.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Shadow Warrior (1997) (VG)

Soundtrack:

A Kind Of Magic

Magical - Don't Miss!

When I first saw this movie, I loved it. Having recently seen it again after several years, I found it to be every bit as good as I remembered – in fact, better. So I thought I would visit IMDB and see what others had to say. I learned four things;

1/ This movie was a flop at the box office. Funny, I had always assumed it was a hit – it was so good, and spawned three (soon to be four) sequels and a television series.

2/ I expected some to be less than entranced with Highlander, but was interested to learn that there are those who think it complete rubbish.

3/ Some people think the sequels are good movies. How could they?

4/ Some people don't like the Queen soundtrack. How could they not?



It is always interesting to see different viewpoints, especially when they are completely contrary to your own. But for me, this movie was perfect. The premise was intriguing, the story was beautifully told, the joy and pathos of an immortal amongst mortals revealed with great skill. There was great action, romance, the tragedy of love lost – and the baddest of bad guys to overcome.

The casting was excellent, as was the acting. Sean Connery's contribution was exactly as it should have been, and no more. Clancy Brown's performance as The Kurgan was joyfully terrifying, Christopher Lambert was spot-on.

The screenplay was excellent, as was the script. I was especially impressed with the way that flashbacks were interwoven with the ongoing story. In fact, this is the only flashback movie I have ever liked.

I was also thoroughly impressed with the action sequences. Unlike so many recent movies, none of the action involved the physically impossible (with the obvious exception of the fact that the immortals were immortal, of course). This added enormously to the appeal, in direct contrast to so many movies made in the last decade. I despair when I watch movies where people perform the impossible. Even the classic scene `Oh, I'm falling – but it's OK, I can just grab this rope/branch/flagpole/whatever, and even though I have fallen 30 feet and am travelling at 20 mph, I can just stretch out my hand and arrest my fall as though I was no heavier than a feather' destroys all credibility in the action. I know, this is a fantasy movie anyway, so what does it matter? Well, realistic action is even more important in fantasy movies; it helps the audience to willingly suspend disbelief. This is very difficult to do when you are busy giggling at the latest fantastical feat you have witnessed. No such concerns in this movie – the action was perfectly judged to reflect the prowess gained from centuries of experience, whilst avoiding the impossible and the ridiculous.

I was intrigued to find one user comment on IMDB criticising the use of `unnecessarily large and heavy weapons'. Anyone who has used (or even picked up) any edged weapon will be aware that they are very heavy. Moving that kind of mass means lots of momentum, and involves very distinctive body movements to counterbalance the weight. Most movies use toy weapons – plastic, fibreglass or wood – and the lack of mass shows in the actor's movements. For the uninitiated, this may make for flashier and faster action – but for those who know, it looks like children playing pretend. The use of weapons with real weight in Highlander adds tremendously to the realism. It was particularly impressive that the actors could use the weapons properly (at least to the extent demanded by the choreographed scenes – and that is all that is required for movies). Clancy Brown (as The Kurgan) deserves special praise here – he had the largest and heaviest weapon, yet wielded it like a veteran. One can only imagine the endless hours he spent perfecting his movements and balance.

I do understand why some would find the soundtrack intrusive, but for me this was another area that was perfectly judged. Queen's songs enhanced the mood of the moment whenever they played. One related fact that some might find interesting – a few years ago I saw a list of the top ten best movies for music as voted for by students. Highlander made the list – the only non-musical to do so. (In fact, I think it came in the top five.) So I would guess that the soundtrack works for most people..

I also understand why the accents in the movie (Christopher Lambert's and Sean Connery's) are a problem for some. However, I was happy with Lambert's accent; it was Scottish enough for the Highland scenes, and suitably indefinable for the modern settings. Sean Connery was, of course, Sean Connery – he never adopts any accent other than his own. But that's OK – it doesn't detract from the film, any more than it detracts from any of his films (such as Red October). I tend to agree with his point that accents don't matter – emotions are the same, regardless of nationality.

Just a quick word about the sequels – disappointing. I am not one to decry all sequels as inferior. In fact, many sequels are very good, and some are better than their progenitors. However, the Highlander sequels were without exception very poor. The original film was obviously conceived as a one-off, and was all the better for it. The story was complete with Highlander, and the sequels were necessarily contrived. However, Highlander II exceeded all expectations in this regard. The plot changed the story of the immortals beyond all recognition. Egregious just isn't a big enough word to describe it.

The sequels are best viewed as being entirely separate from the original. If you haven't already seen them, be prepared for a decidedly tepid experience.

But Highlander itself – ah, there's a real movie. Sit back and enjoy!

9.5/10