The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Terry Gilliam

Writers:

Charles McKeown (screenplay) &
Terry Gilliam (screenplay)
(more)

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 | Girl | Sea Monster | Moon | Escape

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
Robin Williams	...	King of the Moon (as Ray D. Tutto)
Sting	...	Heroic Officer
Andrew MacLachlan	...	Colonel
Mohamed Badrsalem	...	Executioner
Kiran Shah	...	Executioner's Assistant
Franco Adducci	...	Treasurer
José Lifante	...	Dr. Death (as Jose Lifante)
Ettore Martini	...	First General
Antonio Pistillo	...	Second General
Michael Polley	...	Gunner
Tony Smart	...	Gunner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Balbino Lacosta
Laura D'Arista	...	Theater-goer (uncredited)
Terry Gilliam	...	Irritating Singer Inside Fish (uncredited)

Directed by
Terry Gilliam

Writing credits
Rudolph Erich Raspe		(novel) uncredited
Gottfried August Bürger		(novel) uncredited
Charles McKeown		(screenplay) &
Terry Gilliam		(screenplay)

Produced by
Ray Cooper	....	co-producer
Jake Eberts	....	executive producer
Stratton Leopold	....	supervising producer
Thomas Schühly	....	producer
David Tomblin	....	line producer

Original Music by
Eric Idle
Michael Kamen

Cinematography by
Giuseppe Rotunno

Film Editing by
Peter Hollywood

Casting by
Francesco Cinieri
Irene Lamb
Margery Simkin

Production Design by
Dante Ferretti

Art Direction by
Maria-Teresa Barbasso		(as Teresa Barbasso)
Giorgio Giovannini
Nazzareno Piana
Massimo Razzi		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Francesca Lo Schiavo

Costume Design by
Gabriella Pescucci

Makeup Department
Iole Cecchini	....	hair stylist supervisor: Italy
Elisabetta De Leonardis	....	hair stylist
Cristina De Rossi	....	makeup artist
Carla Indoni	....	hair stylist
Enrico Jacoponi	....	makeup artist (as Enrico Iacoponi)
Antonio Maltempo	....	makeup artist
Giancarlo Marin	....	hair stylist
Manuel Martín	....	makeup artist: second unit: Spain (as Manuel Martín Gonzalez)
Pam Meager	....	hair stylist
Pam Meager	....	makeup artist
Fernando Pérez Sobrino	....	chief makeup artist: second unit: Spain (as Fernando Perez)
Alicia Regueiro	....	hair stylist: Spain second unit
Fabrizio Sforza	....	makeup artist
Gino Tamagnini	....	makeup artist
Alfredo Tiberi	....	makeup artist
Maggie Weston	....	hair designer
Maggie Weston	....	makeup designer
Franco Giannini	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
José Luis Pérez	....	makeup artist: second unit, Spain (uncredited)

Production Management
Pino Butti	....	production manager: Italy
Vittorio Fornasiero	....	unit manager: Italy
Fernando Marqueríe	....	unit manager: Spain
Francisco Molero	....	production manager: Spain
Mario Pisani	....	production supervisor
Giorgio Russo	....	production manager: second unit

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Javier Balaguer	....	second assistant director: Spain second unit
Javier Chinchilla	....	first assistant director: Spain second unit
Lee Cleary	....	first assistant director
John Cozzo	....	first assistant director
José Luis Escolar	....	assistant director: Spain (as Jose Luis Escolar)
Luca Lachin	....	assistant director: Italy
Michele Soavi	....	second unit director
Catherine Ventura	....	assistant director: Italy second unit
Manuel Zarzo	....	third assistant director: Spain second unit
Manuel L. Cañizares	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Sante Barelli	....	supervising painter
Domenico Caponecchi	....	constructor
Osvaldo Caruso	....	constructor
Bruno Colanzi	....	constructor
Sergio Conti	....	constructor
Ken Court	....	art director: model unit
Roberto Diamanti	....	constructor
Gianni Fiumi	....	property master (as Gianni Fiume)
Gianni Gianese	....	sculptor
Tony Graysmark	....	construction manager: model unit
Giampaolo Majorama	....	constructor (as Gianpaolo Majorana)
Atos Mastrogirolamo	....	assistant set decorator
Ramón Moya	....	construction manager: Spain
Giovanni Passanisi	....	assistant set decorator
Mario Pezzotti	....	constructor
Salvatore Placenti	....	sculptor
Pietro Santarelli	....	constructor
Luigi Sergianni	....	construction manager: Italy
Bruno Tempera	....	property buyer
Angelo Tiberti	....	constructor
Charles Torbett	....	property master
Bob Walker	....	decor artist: model unit (as Robert Walker)
Peter Williams	....	construction supervisor: model unit
Mauro Borrelli	....	illustrator (uncredited)
Gianni Fivino	....	property manager (uncredited)
Tadeo Villalba hijo	....	production buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Michael A. Carter	....	dubbing mixer
Rusty Coppleman	....	sound editor
Graham V. Hartstone	....	chief dubbing mixer
Peter Horrocks	....	sound editor
Frank Jahn	....	production sound mixer
Nicolas Le Messurier	....	dubbing mixer
Raymond Meyer	....	boom operator
Colin Miller	....	sound editor
Peter Pennell	....	supervising sound editor
Bob Risk	....	sound editor
Günther Ruckdeschel	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Norman Baillie	....	special effects technician: UK
Fausto Baldinelli	....	special effects technician: Italy
Luigi Battestelli	....	special effects technician: Italy
Michele Borea	....	special effects technician: Italy
Beniamino Carozza	....	special effects technician: Italy
Marcello Coccia	....	special effects technician: Italy
Richard Conway	....	special effects
Chris Corbould	....	special effects technician: UK (as Chris Cobould)
Jamie Courtier	....	special effects technician: UK
Allan Croucher	....	special effects plasterer
Peter Davey	....	special effects technician: UK
Marino Erca	....	special effects technician: Italy
Martin Gant	....	special effects technician: UK
Manolo Gómez	....	special effects technician: second unit: Spain (as Manolo Gomez)
Steve Hamilton	....	special effects technician: UK
Bob Hollow	....	special effects technician: UK
Billy Howe	....	special effects wireman
Gianni Indovino	....	special effects technician: Italy
Brian Lince	....	special effects technician: UK
Giancarlo Mancini	....	special effects technician: Italy
Brian Mann	....	special effects editor
Kevin Mathews	....	special effects wireman
David McCall	....	special effects technician: UK (as Dave McCall)
Massimo Nespoli	....	special effects technician: Italy
Duilio Olmi	....	special effects technician: Italy
Antonio Parra	....	special effects supervisor
Adriano Pischiutta	....	special effects supervisor
Claudio Savassi	....	special effects technician: Italy
Simon Weisse	....	special effects technician: Italy
Bob Wiesinger	....	special effects wireman
Tim Willis	....	special effects technician: UK
Dave Chagouri	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Dennis Bartlett	....	matte photography consultant
John Blakeley	....	sculptor: model unit
Janice Body	....	rotoscope artist
Martin Body	....	optical effects coordinator
Dennis Bosher	....	draughtsman: model unit
Les Broughton	....	optical camera
Peter Butler	....	camera grip: model unit
Valerie Charlton	....	special effects modeller
Brian Cole	....	model maker: model unit
Vernon Connolly	....	electrician: model unit
Gilly Noyes Court	....	set decorator: model unit (as Gillian Noyes-Court)
Jamie Courtier	....	animatronics model designer: model unit
Bob Cuff	....	matte painter
Joy Cuff	....	matte painter
Steve Cutmore	....	optical camera
Nick Dunlop	....	optical camera
Doug Ferris	....	matte painter
Michael Ferriter	....	optical camera (as Mike Ferriter)
Doug Forrest	....	optical camera
Simon Fulford	....	camera assistant: model unit
Martin Gant	....	model supervisor: model unit
John Grant	....	matte camera
Kenneth Gray	....	motion control
Frank Guiney	....	special effects engineer: model unit
Mark Harris	....	assistant art director: model unit
John Hollywood	....	unit driver: model unit
Keith Horsley	....	art department assistant: model unit
Kent Houston	....	optical effects supervisor
Andrew Jeffery	....	optical camera (as Andy Jeffery)
Rashid Khares	....	rotoscope artist
Stuart King	....	electrician: model unit
Peter Lamb	....	best boy: model unit
Michael Lamont	....	art director: model unit
Neil Lamont	....	draughtsman: model unit
Simon Lamont	....	art department runner: model unit
Jim Machin	....	model maker: model unit
Graham Martyr	....	clapper loader: model unit
Tim Ollive	....	optical camera
Stephen Onions	....	animatronics model designer: model unit
Christine Overs	....	special effects modeller
Roger Pratt	....	director of photography: model unit
Barry Read	....	electrician: model unit
Ted Read	....	gaffer: model unit
Stanley W. Sayer	....	matte photographer consultant
Keith Short	....	sculptor: model unit
Leigh Took	....	matte painter
Peter Tyler	....	motion control
Leslie Wheeler	....	special effects engineer: model unit
Ian Whittaker	....	animatronics model designer: model unit
Kim Aldis	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Andrew Coates	....	assistant optical camera (uncredited)
Sheila Dunn	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Barnaby Edwards	....	colour balancing assistant (uncredited)
Ben Hayden	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Alec Knox	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Giles Parker	....	CG technical director (uncredited)

Stunts
Ricardo Cruz	....	stunts (as Riccardo Cruz Moral)
Eduardo García	....	stunts: second unit, Spain
José Garcia	....	stunts: second unit, Spain (as Jose Garcia)
Paquito Gomez	....	stunts: second unit, Spain
Luis M. Gutiérrez Santos	....	stunts: second unit, Spain (as Luis Gutiérrez)
Billy Horrigan	....	stunts
Salvador Martos Manson	....	stunts: second unit, Spain (as Salvador Marios)
Les Maryon	....	stunts (as Leslie Maryon)
Riccardo Mioni	....	stunt coordinator: Italy
Dinny Powell	....	stunts
Angelo Ragusa	....	stunts
Kiran Shah	....	stunts
Tony Smart	....	stunt coordinator
Jesus Riaran Torres	....	stunts
Camilo Vila Novoa	....	stunts: second unit, Spain
Stefano Maria Mioni	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Francesco Bellomo	....	still photographer (as Franco Bellomo)
Giuseppe Bertucci	....	electrician
Massimo Bertucci	....	electrician
Elio Bosi	....	chief grip: second unit
Mario Bramucci	....	electrician
Franco Bruni	....	camera operator
Daniele Cimini	....	second assistant camera
Aldo Colanzi	....	key grip
Giuseppe Fabrizi	....	electrician
Giovanni Fiore Coltellacci	....	director of photography: second unit
Claudio Frollano	....	electrician
Gianni Gentili	....	electrician
Ian Kelly	....	video operator
Umberto Lucignano	....	assistant camera: second unit
Ignazio Maccarone	....	electrician
Gianmaria Majorana	....	first assistant camera
Luciano Marrocchi	....	electrician (as Luciano Marocchi)
Roberto Marsigli	....	assistant camera: second unit
Giorgio Pasqualini	....	electrician
Giovanni Piperno	....	second assistant camera
Giovanni Piperno	....	video operator: second unit
Francesco Quattrone	....	electrician
Renato Sardini	....	supervising gaffer
Spartaco Sardini	....	gaffer: second unit
Sergio Strizzi	....	still photographer
Francesco Belfiore	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Stefano Falivene	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Paolo Tiberti	....	grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Martín Díaz	....	wardrobe supervisor: Spain second unit
Gianni Doddi	....	wardrobe master: Spain second unit
Celeste Franzi	....	wardrobe assistant
Alfonsa Lettieri	....	assistant to costume designer
Carlo Poggioli	....	assistant to costume designer
Irene Santarelli	....	wardrobe mistress
Gregorio Simili	....	wardrobe master
Alberto Spiazzi	....	assistant to costume designer

Editorial Department
Natalie Baker	....	assistant editor
Bill Barringer	....	assistant editor
Chris Blunden	....	associate editor
Steve Maguire	....	assistant editor
Mick Monks	....	assistant editor
Christine Newell	....	assistant editor
Ben Palmer	....	assistant editor
Martyn Robinson	....	assistant editor
Stefna Smal	....	assistant editor
Emanuela Lucidi	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Alan Arnold	....	additional orchestrator
Christopher Brooks	....	music editor (as Chris Brooks)
Ray Cooper	....	music producer
John Fiddy	....	additional orchestrator
Vic Fraser	....	music preparation
Michael Kamen	....	conductor
Michael Kamen	....	music producer
Michael Kamen	....	orchestrator
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music mixer
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music recordist
Ed Shearmur	....	additional orchestrator
Paul Talkington	....	orchestra manager
Eric Tomlinson	....	orchestral engineer
Fiachra Trench	....	additional orchestrator
Rick Wentworth	....	additional orchestrator

Transportation Department
Francisco Ardura	....	transportation manager: Spain
Remo Ubertini	....	transportation manager: Italy

Other crew
Chris Allies	....	graphic artist: titles
David Alan Barclay	....	puppeteer (as David Barclay)
Yuyi Beringola	....	script supervisor: second unit
Doriana Bonora	....	production secretary: Spain second unit
Ludy Camacho	....	assistant accountant (as Luidi Camacho)
Nikki Clapp	....	script supervisor
Grady Clarkson	....	unit publicist
Claudio Corbucci	....	production assistant: Italy
Filomeno Crisara	....	sculpture supervisor
Lisa Dasteel	....	production secretary
Santiago DeBenito	....	accountant: Spain (as Santiago De Benito)
Alberto De Stefani	....	assistant accountant
Margarita Doyle	....	production assistant to Terry Gilliam: UK
Daniella Edelburg	....	assistant to producer (as Daniela Edelburg)
Robert Gordon Edwards	....	production executive
Geoff Felix	....	puppeteer (as Jeff Felix)
Maria Fiorito	....	assistant accountant
Manolo García	....	production assistant: Spain
Raffaela Giordani	....	assistant choreographer
Pauline Granby	....	assistant accountant
Jan Green	....	dialogue coach
Joyce Herlihy	....	production executive
Gonzalo Jiménez	....	production assistant: Spain
Nancy Rubin Levin	....	production coordinator
Yolanda Marqueríe	....	production secretary: Spain
Massimiliano Mazzini	....	production runner: Italy
Paolo Merosi	....	production assistant: Italy second unit
Janice Munro	....	assistant: Stratton Leopold
Salvatore Mureddu	....	production assistant to Terry Gilliam: Spain (as Salvatore Murredu)
Leandro Muslera	....	assistant accountant
Pepe Panero	....	location manager: Spain second unit
Pino Pennesi	....	choreographer (as Pino Penesse)
Susana Prieto	....	production coordinator
Eugene Rizzo	....	unit publicist
Giorgio Rossi	....	choreographer
Gail Samuelson	....	production coordinator
Klaus Schühly	....	unit publicist
Enzo Sisti	....	accountant: Italy
Tony Smart	....	horse master
Riccardo Spada	....	production assistant: Italy
Artur Tarry	....	production controller (as Arthur Tarry)
Tino Torrescusa	....	production runner: Spain
Nyla Van Ingen	....	assistant: Mr. Gilliam
Carla Zacchia	....	assistant accountant
Andrea Costantini	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Daniela Merlo	....	pre-production coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Allied Filmmakers
• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Laura Film
• Prominent Features

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1989) (France) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (1988) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1995) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (1992) (USA) (laserdisc)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (video)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1989) (USA) (laserdisc)

Special Effects

• Digital Pictures Ltd.
• Magic Camera Company, The
• Peerless Camera Company (optical effects)

Other Companies

• Pinewood Studios  movie studio
• Bavaria Musik-Studios  music recorded at
• Nino Lembo  jewels
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Symphonie-Orchester Graunke  music played by
• Tirelli Costumi  costumes

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-12/9 | 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 crew member is visible in the lower right hand corner during the pull back from the underwear balloon just moments before one of the guards says, "We'd better tell someone about this." He is a man wearing a blue satin jacket, which clearly reads "King Kong Lives" in red lettering.

Quotes:

Sally: Are you all right?
Baron Munchausen: Am I dead?
Sally: No.
Baron Munchausen: Blast!
Sally: Who are you really?
Baron Munchausen: [groans]
Sally: Baron Munchausen isn't real, he's only in stories.
Baron Munchausen: Go away! I'm trying to die!
Sally: Why?
Baron Munchausen: Because I'm tired of the world and the world is evidently tired of me.
[...]

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

The Torturer's Apprentice

Give me flights of imagination over drama anyday!

Wasn't feeling the very best today, but had to get on with it anyway, as you do, you know, and, when I finally got a chance to sit down in my own living room this afternoon who should come bursting thru the door but my 6 year old son and about 7 of his friends... JUST as this movie, which I've always adored, came on one of The SKY movie channels. I closed the living room curtains for cinematic effect and we all sat down and watched it. They were all entranced by it, even tho' some of them had seen it already.

I've seen "The Adventures of Baron von Munchausen" myself many times and it never fails to fascinate me. It goes a very long way to explain many things that are omnipresent in life (war, sex romance, childhood innocence, adult disillusionment) by illustrating, and somehow making real, well-known classical myths and fairy tales. Oliver Reed deserved some sort of award for his portrayal of the god Vulcan. I read that Sean Connery was slated for the part of King of The Moon but it HAD to be Robin Williams. Mork calling Orson indeed....

This is my first review in this forum and, therefore, I will not go on at great length except to say that viewing this movie again made me determined to state that my favourite movies are movies like "The Adventures of Baron von Munchausen", "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Yellow Submarine". May you all develop a talent for living happily ever after!