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 | magician | actor voicing multiple characters | quest | 

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Taglines:

There's Magic in Believing!

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Drama | Family | Fantasy

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK France West Germany Japan USA

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

Author Peter S. Beagle showed up at a recording session during the making of this movie as Sir Christopher Lee recorded King Haggard's monologue about how only unicorns brought him happiness. Lee begged Beagle for his approval of his vocal performance, offering to record it again if the author found it unsatisfactory.

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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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Alternate Versions

The German language version replaced Mia Farrow's singing during "Now that I'm a Woman" with a version sung by the singer who also is featured in the reprise of the song during "That's all I've Got to Say". The soundtrack CD issued in Germany features that version of "Now That I'm a Woman".

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Connections

Referenced in Hewy's Animated Movie Reviews: The Top 10 Characters of the Rankin/Bass Holiday Specials (2010)

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Soundtracks

The Last Unicorn
Written by Jimmy Webb
Performed by America

User Reviews

One of the best Fantasy movies of all time.

The Last Unicorn, a unforgettable 1982 Animation Fantasy classic that enchanted fans of Fantasy and animation since it first came out. It is about a lonely Unicorn who thinks she is the last of her kind and sets out on a quest to find them throughout the dangerous yet magical world that she has never seen before, along the way she meets a cast of colorful characters including my favorite " Schmendrick The Magician", who is a goofy-but-lovable magician that magically transforms Unicorn into a Beautiful Human maiden to fool the bad guys.

This is indeed a beautiful, fabulous and touching animated movie that is one of my faves. It's both appealing to children and their parents, highly recommended.