The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)

Director:

Terry Gilliam

Writers:

Charles McKeown (screenplay) &
Terry Gilliam (screenplay)

Release Date:

10 March 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

Remarkable. Unbelievable. Impossible. And true.

Plot:

An account of Baron Munchausen's supposed travels and fantastical experiences with his band of misfits.

Plot Keywords:

Baron | Grim Reaper | Sea Monster | Escape | Moon

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

John Neville	...	Hieronymus Karl Frederick Baron von Munchausen
Eric Idle	...	Desmond / Berthold
Sarah Polley	...	Sally Salt
Oliver Reed	...	Vulcan
Charles McKeown	...	Rupert / Adolphus
Winston Dennis	...	Bill / Albrecht
Jack Purvis	...	Jeremy / Gustavus
Valentina Cortese	...	Queen Ariadne / Violet
Jonathan Pryce	...	The Right Ordinary Horatio Jackson
Bill Paterson	...	Henry Salt
Peter Jeffrey	...	Sultan
Uma Thurman	...	Venus / Rose
Alison Steadman	...	Daisy
Ray Cooper	...	Functionary
Don Henderson	...	Commander

Also Known As:

Die Abenteuer des Baron Münchhausen (West Germany)

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

UK | West Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR

Certification:

Australia:PG | Singapore:NC-16 | Brazil:12 | Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Peru:14 | South Korea:12 (DVD rating) | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:6 | Iceland:10 (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company:

Allied Filmmakers

Trivia:

Jon Pertwee was a strong contender for the role of Munchausen.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: A man can be seen wearing a satin stadium jacket in the lower right hand corner as the camera pulls back from the making of the petticoat balloon.

Quotes:

[the group sees a large sea monster ahead]
Berthold: I spy with my little eye something beginning with "M".
Adolphus: It's a demon of the deep!
Berthold: That begins with "D" you klutz!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

Soundtrack:

The Torturer's Apprentice

Wonderful Nonsense (a forgotten classic?)

A young Sarah Polly is swept on a grand storybook adventure when her father's theater is visited by the source of its drama; the real Baron himself (perfectly played by John Neville). The town is under siege by the Turks and only Munchausen and his band of curious adventurers can save it, so long as Death or a doctor doesn't catch him.

Terry Gilliam, having hit his stride with the 1984-and-a-half classic Brazil, went on to fulfill his ultimate fantasy film with a great cast of actors (Jonathan Price included), beautifully detailed sets and costumes, and a very strange yarn of a tale indeed. Bit parts are filled out by Robin Williams, the late Oliver Reed (seen most recently as Proximo in Gladiator) serving up a fiery Vulcan - husband to a young (not to mention stunning) Uma Thurman as Venus.

A great deal of the magic that sparkled in Brazil seems to have been rekindled here, and while it may have been panned at the time of its release, time has treated it well. The effects have that pre-cg feeling that makes me warm and fuzzy inside, and while its a little slow to get started, it surprises around every turn.

Fans of Gilliam's work (and those who still possess that curious inner child) will find much to enjoy here - even if it is nothing more than wonderful nonsense.