Labyrinth (1986)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Jim Henson

Writers:

Dennis Lee (story) and
Jim Henson (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

27 June 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Musical

Tagline:

Where everything seems possible and nothing is what it seems.

Plot:

15-year-old Sarah accidentally wishes her baby half-brother, Toby, away to the Goblin King Jareth who will keep Toby if Sarah does not complete his Labyrinth in 13 hours.

Plot Keywords:

Goblin | Labyrinth | Baby | Castle | Goblin King

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 nominations

Cast

David Bowie	...	Jareth the Goblin King
Jennifer Connelly	...	Sarah
Toby Froud	...	Toby
Shelley Thompson	...	Stepmother
Christopher Malcolm	...	Father
Natalie Finland	...	Fairy
Shari Weiser	...	Hoggle
Brian Henson	...	Hoggle / Goblin (voice)
Ron Mueck	...	Ludo / Firey 2 / Goblin (voice)
Rob Mills	...	Ludo / Firey 3
Dave Goelz	...	Didymus / The Hat / The Four Guards / Left Door Knocker / Firey 3 (voice) (as David Goelz)
David Alan Barclay	...	Didymus / Firey 1
David Shaughnessy	...	Didymus / The Hat / The Four Guards / Goblin (voice) (as David Shaughnessy)
Karen Prell	...	The Worm / The Junk Lady / Firey 2
Timothy Bateson	...	The Worm / The Four Guards / Goblin (voice)
Frank Oz	...	The Wiseman
Michael Hordern	...	The Wiseman (voice)
Denise Bryer	...	The Junk Lady (voice)
Steve Whitmire	...	The Four Guards / Firey 4 / Ambrosius (voice)
Kevin Clash	...	The Four Guards / Firey 1 / Ambrosius (voice)
Anthony Asbury	...	The Four Guards / Right Door Knocker / Firey 5
Anthony Jackson	...	The Four Guards / Goblin (voice)
Douglas Blackwell	...	The Four Guards / Goblin (voice)
David Healy	...	Right Door Knocker (voice)
Robert Beatty	...	Left Door Knocker (voice)
Toby Philpott	...	Firey 1
Ian Thom	...	Firey 2
Charles Augins	...	Firey 2 (voice)
Sherry Amott	...	Firey 3
Danny John-Jules	...	Firey 3 / Firey 4 (voice)
Cheryl Henson	...	Firey 4
Kevin Bradshaw	...	Firey 4
Alistair Fullarton	...	Firey 5
Rollin Krewson	...	Firey 5
Richard Bodkin	...	Firey 5 (voice)
Percy Edwards	...	Ambrosius (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marc Antona	...	Goblin Corps
John Aron	...	Ballroom Dancer
Elfrida Ashworth	...	Ballroom Dancer
Kenny Baker	...	Goblin Corps
Michael Henbury Ballan	...	Goblin Corps
Danny Blackner	...	Goblin Corps
Peter Burroughs	...	Goblin Corps
Toby Clark	...	Goblin Corps
Tessa Crockett	...	Goblin Corps
Terry Dane	...	Ballroom Dancer
Warwick Davis	...	Goblin Corps
Malcolm Dixon	...	Goblin Corps
Margaret Foyer	...	Ballroom Dancer
Anthony Georghiou	...	Goblin Corps
Elizabeth A. Gilbert	...	Ballroom Dancer
Louise Gold	...	Ballroom Dancer
Moira Grant	...	Ballroom Dancer
Paul Grant	...	Goblin Corps
Derek Hartley	...	Ballroom Dancer
Andrew Herd	...	Goblin Corps
Douglas Howes	...	Ballroom Dancer
Richard Jones	...	Goblin Corps
John Key	...	Goblin Corps
San Lee	...	Ballroom Dancer
Mark Lisle	...	Goblin Corps
Janis Mackintosh	...	Ballroom Dancer
Peter Mandell	...	Goblin Corps
Penny Marsden	...	Ballroom Dancer
Kim Mendez	...	Ballroom Dancer
Wendy Millward	...	Ballroom Dancer
Leonie Palette	...	Ballroom Dancer
Caroline Pope	...	Ballroom Dancer
Christopher Preston	...	Ballroom Dancer
Jack Purvis	...	Goblin Corps
Katie Purvis	...	Goblin Corps
Nicholas Read	...	Goblin Corps
Peter Salmon	...	Ballroom Dancer
Peter Sim	...	Ballroom Dancer
Graeme Sneddon	...	Ballroom Dancer
Linda Spriggs	...	Goblin Corps
Penny Stead	...	Goblin Corps
Graham Tudor-Phillips	...	Ballroom Dancer
David Turner	...	Ballroom Dancer
Sharon White	...	Ballroom Dancer
Albert Wilkinson	...	Goblin Corps
Barrie J. Wilkinson	...	Ballroom Dancer
Michael Attwell	...	Goblin (voice) (uncredited)
Sean Barrett	...	Goblin (voice) (uncredited)
John Bluthal	...	Goblin (voice) (uncredited)
Peter Marinker	...	Goblin (voice) (uncredited)
Kerry Shale	...	Goblin (voice) (uncredited)
Mildred Shay	...	Goblin (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Jim Henson

Writing credits
Dennis Lee		(story) and
Jim Henson		(story)
Terry Jones		(writer)
Elaine May		uncredited

Produced by
Martin G. Baker	....	associate producer
David Lazer	....	executive producer
David Lazer	....	supervising producer
George Lucas	....	executive producer
Eric Rattray	....	producer

Original Music by
Trevor Jones

Cinematography by
Alex Thomson

Film Editing by
John Grover

Casting by
Jane Jenkins

Production Design by
Elliot Scott

Art Direction by
Terry Ackland-Snow
Roger Cain
Peter Howitt
Frank Walsh
Michael White

Costume Design by
Ellis Flyte
Brian Froud

Makeup Department
Nick Dudman	....	makeup artist
Wally Schneiderman	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Douglas Twiddy	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ken Baker	....	assistant director
James Devis	....	assistant director
James Devis	....	third unit director (as Jimmy Devis)
Nikolas Korda	....	second assistant director: second unit

Art Department
Martin Asbury	....	storyboard artist
Alan Booth	....	construction manager
Tom Brown	....	draughtsman
Alan Cheevers	....	plasterer
Brian Froud	....	conceptual designer
George Giordano	....	sets and props
Peter Mann	....	stand-by carpenter
Tony Marks	....	carpenter
Ted Michell	....	scenic artist (as Ted Michel)
Steven Sallybanks	....	scenic artist
Barry Wilkinson	....	property master
Simon Wilkinson	....	stand-by property master
Dean Coldham	....	plasterer (uncredited)
John Stevenson	....	visual development (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ross Adams	....	assistant sound editor
Colin Miller	....	dialogue editor
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer
Peter Sutton	....	sound mixer
Don Wortham	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Dave Chagouri	....	technical effects (as Dave Chagour)
Valerie Charlton	....	creature costumes project leader
Terence J. Cox	....	special effects technician (as Terry Cox)
Tony Dunsterville	....	special effects supervisor
George Gibbs	....	special effects supervisor
David Giles	....	special effects technician
Steve Hamilton	....	special effects technician
Kevin Herd	....	key animatronic designer
Michael McCormick	....	creature workshop team: Riding Goblins
Martin L. Mercer	....	special effects trainee
Jim Sandys	....	animatronic engineer
Andy Williams	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Craig Barron	....	matte photography supervisor
Martin Body	....	matte camera operator
Zoe Cain	....	motion control camera assistant
Peter Chiang	....	optical effects animator
Andrew Eio	....	motion control technician
Roy Field	....	optical effects consultant
Tim Field	....	rostrum camera operator
Paul Huston	....	matte photography
David McCall	....	visual effects
Sherry McKenna	....	visual effects producer
Michael Pangrazio	....	matte artist supervisor
Polly Smith	....	creature workshop artist: "Hoggle", "Didymus", "Goblins" and "Riding Goblins"
Bob Wiesinger	....	chief flying wireman
Paul Wilson	....	cameraman: model unit

Stunts
Tim Condren	....	stunt double: Jareth
Sue Crosland	....	stunt double: Sarah
Tracey Eddon	....	stunt double: Sarah
Nick Gillard	....	stunt double: Jareth
Paul Grant	....	stunt double: Hoggie

Camera and Electrical Department
Colin Corby	....	camera operator
James Devis	....	camera operator: third unit (as Jimmy Devis)
James Devis	....	director of photography: second unit
Kenny Groom	....	clapper loader
Ian Kelly	....	video supervisor
Roy Larner	....	gaffer
Simon Mills	....	clapper loader: second unit
Ian Murray	....	rigger
John Rogers	....	best boy
Stefan Stankowski	....	focus puller
Chyna Thomson	....	camera trainee (uncredited)

Animation Department
Debbie the Roboteer	....	consultant: sculpture, animation and robotics

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Betty Adamson	....	wardrobe supervisor
Deborah Phipps	....	costumer (as Debbie Harkness)

Editorial Department
Matthew Glen	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Robert Hathaway	....	music editor

Other crew
Christopher Alderson	....	support team
Angela Allen	....	script supervisor
Sherry Amott	....	creature workshop artist: "The Chilly Downs", "The Wiseman" and "Junk Lady"
Anthony Asbury	....	puppeteer: "The Four Guards", "Right Door Knocker" and "Firey"
Charles Augins	....	choreographer
Donald Austen	....	puppeteer
David Alan Barclay	....	creature workshop artist: "Didymus" (as David Barclay)
David Alan Barclay	....	puppeteer: "Didymus" and "Firey"
Joy Bayley	....	production coordinator
Michael Bayliss	....	puppeteer
Kevin Bradshaw	....	puppeteer: "Firey"
Martin Bridle	....	puppeteer
Judy Britten	....	special effects secretary
Fiona Beynor Brown	....	puppeteer
Simon Buckley	....	puppeteer
David Bulbeck	....	puppeteer
Kevin Clash	....	assistant puppeteer coordinator
Sue Dacre	....	puppeteer
Isobel Deeley	....	action double: second unit, Sarah
M.C. Escher	....	prints (as Escher)
Geoff Felix	....	puppeteer
Trevor Freeborn	....	puppeteer
Christine Glanville	....	puppeteer
Dave Goelz	....	puppeteer: "Didymus", "The Hat", "The Four Guards", "Left Door Knocker" and "Firey"
David Greenaway	....	puppeteer
Victoria Griffiths	....	action double: second unit, Sarah
Brian Henson	....	puppeteer coordinator
Cheryl Henson	....	creature workshop artist: "The Chilly Downs", "Alph", "Ralph" and "Junk Lady"
Mrs. Anne Hodgeson	....	dog handler
Kevin Hudson	....	skin character
Brian James	....	puppeteer
Larry Jameson	....	creature workshop artist: "Nipper Sticks"
Jan King	....	puppeteer
Rollin Krewson	....	creature workshop artist: "The Wiseman", "Alph" and "Ralph"
Ronnie Le Drew	....	puppeteer
Terry Lee	....	puppeteer
Christopher Leith	....	puppeteer
Michael McCormick	....	goblin armor designer
Gates McFadden	....	choreographer (as Cheryl McFadden)
Wendy Midener	....	creature workshop artist: "Junk Lady", "Goblins", "Fairy Lichen" and "Birds" (as Wendy Froud)
Michael Moschen	....	choreographer
Ron Mueck	....	creature workshop artist: "The Chilly Downs" and "The Wiseman"
Ron Mueck	....	puppeteer: "Ludo" and "Firey"
Kathryn Mullen	....	puppeteer
Angie Passmore	....	puppeteer
Michael Petersen	....	puppeteer
Connie Peterson	....	creature workshop supervisor
Nigel Plaskitt	....	puppeteer
Gary Pollard	....	creature workshop artist: "Worm" and "Nipper Sticks"
Judy Preece	....	puppeteer
Mike Quinn	....	puppeteer (as Michael Quinn)
Gillie Robic	....	puppeteer
Ian Rolph	....	creature workshop artist: "The Wiseman" and "Worm"
Tim Rose	....	creature workshop artist: "Knockers"
David Rudman	....	puppeteer
Neal Scanlan	....	creature workshop artist: "Didymus" (as Neal Scanlon)
David Showler	....	puppeteer
Linda Spriggs	....	mime double: Hoggie (as Linda Springs)
Robin Stevens	....	puppeteer
Ian Tregonning	....	puppeteer
Mary Turner	....	puppeteer
Robert Tygner	....	puppeteer
Steve Whitmire	....	puppeteer: "The Four Guards" and "Firey"
Ian Whittaker	....	creature workshop artist: animated goblin masks
Mak Wilson	....	creature performer
Mak Wilson	....	puppeteer
Francis Wright	....	puppeteer
Albert Alfaro	....	puppet designer (uncredited)
Elaine Schreyeck	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Thanks
Maurice Sendak	....	acknowledgment

Production Companies

• Delphi V Productions
• Henson Associates (HA)
• Jim Henson Company, The
• Lucasfilm
• TriStar Pictures

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Editora Europa (Brazil) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2005) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• Mundial Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Transmundo Films (Argentina)
• Transmundo Home Video (THV) (Argentina) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)

Other Companies

• Joe Dunton & Company  anamorphic lenses
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording
• The Estate of M.C. Escher  thanks

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:L | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/6 | South Korea:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G (original rating) | Australia:PG (cable rating) | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | UK:U | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Elstree, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Delphi V Productions

Trivia:

In the scene where Toby is seated on Jareth's lap, the baby has a fixed and hypnotized look off-camera as Jareth murmurs evilly into his ear. In fact, Toby screamed so much during the many takes of this scene, that something had to be done to keep him quiet. Fortunately, a crew member had a glove-puppet Sooty. For the duration of Jareth's speech, 'David Bowie' had the Sooty puppet on one hand (out of shot) gently wiggling to distract Toby. The child was entranced, hence the hypnotic stare, and the perfect silence.

Goofs:

Continuity: In Jareth's first song, he holds Toby, throws him upwards and leaves him for a goblin to catch. When Toby is in Jareth's hands he is with his face towards the camera. When in the air he turns around before being caught by the goblin - but his face remains towards the camera.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Sarah: Give me the child. Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great...
[thunder rumbles]
Sarah: For my will is as strong as yours, my kingdom as great... Damn. I can never remember that line.
[Sarah looks up the line from the Labyrinth book]
Sarah: You have no power over me.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#33.15)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

WITHIN YOU

Viewing it again at the age of 25 just made me appreciate it even more, for all of it's breathtaking imaginative figures, rich scenery and original plot

Growing up as a child in 1980's New York, I remember being inspired by many fantasy and science fiction films, that eventually led me to start writing short stories myself (from there to my current occupation of journalism the road was quite short, BTW). Titles like The Neverending Story, Flight of the Navigator and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? captured my imagination and filled me with aw, and with time found their way to my ever growing DVD collection, as did Jim Henson's Labyrinth, the latest addition to my nostalgic bundle of joy.

The saddest thing about all this is that no one seems to make films like Labyrinth anymore. Viewing it again at the age of 25 just made me appreciate it even more, for all of it's breathtaking imaginative figures, rich scenery and original plot; especially when some of the scenes seem somewhat dated while the essence and heart of the film remain in tact, even twenty years down the road.

In short, Labyrinth is one of Jim Henson's last attempts at creating cross-age entertainment through his world famous puppets, after bringing life to the eternal beloved characters of The Muppets and Sesame Street, and before his sudden and premature death. The story presents us 16 year old Sarah (a very young Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly, A Beautiful Mind), who has an extremely vivid imagination she uses to escape her everyday worries... or so it seems. After asked to take care of her baby stepbrother, Toby, Sarah finds herself dealing with a screaming infant, instead of wondering away in her thoughts to a world filled with Goblins, Yeti-like creatures, and a King Atrhur-ish talking dog. After several lacking attempts at calming the baby down, she wishes Toby to the evil Goblin King Jareth. Fantasy and fiction clash when Jareth (the one and only rock singer David Bowie, who appears on screen with an extravagant 80's outfit and some cute yet unnecessary songs) actually takes Toby away to his evil kingdom, where he threatens to transform the baby into a Goblin, if Sarah won't find a way to cross a tricky and mystical Labyrinth on the way to his kingdom. Determined to save her brother, Sarah makes her way through the Labyrinth, meeting helpful friends along the way, whilst magical fantasy happenings occur around her...

This is a true 1980's gem. Treat it with care, and enjoy!