The Last Unicorn (1982)

A brave unicorn and a magician fight an evil king who is obsessed with attempting to capture the world's unicorns.

Directors:

Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.

Writers:

Peter S. Beagle (screenplay), Peter S. Beagle (novel)

Stars:

Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alan Arkin	...	Schmendrick (voice)
Jeff Bridges	...	Prince Lir (voice)
Mia Farrow	...	Unicorn / Amalthea (voice)
Tammy Grimes	...	Molly Grue (voice)
Robert Klein	...	The Butterfly (voice)
Angela Lansbury	...	Mommy Fortuna (voice)
Christopher Lee	...	King Haggard (voice)
Keenan Wynn	...	Captain Cully / Harpy (voice)
Paul Frees	...	Mabruk / The Tree / The Cat (voice)
Rene Auberjonois	...	The Skull (voice)
Brother Theodore	...	Ruhk (voice)
Don Messick	...	The Cat (voice)
Jack Lester	...	Hunter #1 / Old Farmer / Cully's Men (voice)
Nellie Bellflower	...	(voice) (scenes deleted)
Ed Peck	...	Jack Jingley / Cully's Men (voice) (as Edward Peck)

Storyline

From a riddle-speaking butterfly, a unicorn learns that she is supposedly the last of her kind, all the others having been herded away by the Red Bull. The unicorn sets out to discover the truth behind the butterfly's words. She is eventually joined on her quest by Schmendrick, a second-rate magician, and Molly Grue, a now middle-aged woman who dreamed all her life of seeing a unicorn. Their journey leads them far from home, all the way to the castle of King Haggard...

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Plot Keywords:

unicorn | bull | actor voicing multiple characters | magician | quest | 

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Taglines:

The Magical Fantasy Adventure Based on the Bestselling Book.

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Drama | Family | Fantasy

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA UK Japan West Germany France

Language:

English German

Release Date:

19 November 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

El último unicornio

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,250,000, 21 November 1982, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$6,455,530

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rankin/Bass Productions,Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A cover of the theme performed by Dan Avidan (of Game Grumps and Ninja Sex Party fame) was released in 2015 bringing a whole new audience to the film.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Hunter #2: I dislike the feel of this woods. Creatures that live in a unicorn's forest learn a little magic of their own in time. Mainly concerned with disappearing.

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Connections

Referenced in AniMat's Classic Reviews: The Flight of Dragons (2015)

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Soundtracks

In The Sea
(uncredited)
Written by Jimmy Webb
Performed by America

User Reviews

A story more in the spirit of Miyazaki than any Disney film ever was.

The first time I saw this movie was when I was very young. So young, in fact, that the only things I can remember about this movie are subtle images; I couldn't even remember if I liked it or not. Now, more than twelve years later and after reading the book, I can honestly say that this is a truly great film.

I have seen very few films that have actually brought me close to tears, and most of those movies are ones I didn't like. The Last Unicorn is an especially good film not just because it stays true to the book, which animated films are rarely good at, but also because it breaks away from the Disney formula for telling the story. All the characters in this film are sympathetic in one way or another, including the villains King Haggard and Mommy Fortuna. Many people would ask why a villain would need to be sympathetic? The simple answer is they don't. The villains are sympathetic though because they are human. The unicorn herself doesn't truly become sympathetic until she is transformed.

I say this film is in the spirit of the great filmmaker and master animator Hayao Miyazaki, a Japanese director, because even though this film is a fantasy, it is not a fairy tale. Miyazaki has become famous for making animated films that are enjoyable for children, but are also sophisticated and deep enough for adults. What makes this movie great is its story.

One of the things that makes this movie so special for me is because it has become one of my favorite love stories. More specifically, it is a story about hopeless love. There are only four love stories, this one included, that I regard as my favorites. One them being Princess Mononoke, one of the many great films by Miyazaki. It is also a unique love story because it is about true eternal love. How is it eternal? I will not say because I don't want to spoil the movie.

My only real complaint about this movie is that the animation isn't very fluid, but I am willing to let that slide because the film was obviously low budget. I only hope that the live-action version will be as good and hopefully even better than the animated version, because even though this movie was well paced there were certain things from the book I hope they mention in the new version that they didn't have time to put into the animated version. I also hope the live-action version is as truthful to the book as this movie was, and leans more to the adult side of the story so more emotion and character development can come out of it.

You're never to old to believe in the impossible.