The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)

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

Director:

Terry Gilliam

Writers:

Charles McKeown (screenplay), Terry Gilliam (screenplay)

Stars:

John Neville, Eric Idle, Sarah Polley

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

The fantastic tale of an 18th century aristocrat, his talented henchmen and a little girl in their efforts to save a town from defeat by the Turks. Being swallowed by a giant sea-monster, a trip to the moon, a dance with Venus and an escape from the Grim Reaper are only some of the improbable adventures.

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Plot Keywords:

sea monster | siege | journey to the moon | goddess | floating head | 

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Taglines:

From the director of "Time Bandits" and "Brazil" a new movie full of NOISE...FLYING OBJECTS...SEAFOOD...CELEBRITIES...COMPASSION...TRAVEL...HONOR...GRAVITY...BULL...he was full of it. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK West Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 March 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Abenteuer des Baron Münchhausen

Filming Locations:

Playa de Monsul, Cabo de Gata, Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$46,630,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$597,400, 10 March 1989, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$8,083,123

Company Credits

Production Co:

Prominent Features, Laura Film, Allied Filmmakers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

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

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

By the end of the first week of shooting, the production was already a week behind schedule.

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Goofs

When the Baron and his men are about to escape with the Sultan's treasure, they approach a gate with severed heads hanging from it; these heads are obviously fake.

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Quotes

Desmond: Look at all that underwear. Isn't it beautiful? It's like a dream come true. It's the dawning of the age of lovely, intimate things.

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Crazy Credits

This is a new motion picture. This motion picture is not to be confused with the UFA/Transit/Murnau 1942/43 motion picture bearing the title 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen'.

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Alternate Versions

Recent prints, including home video reissues, have included a new card during the end. It has been inserted between the end title and "The End" and reads: "This is a new motion picture. This motion picture is not to be confused with the UFA/Transit/Murnau 1942/43 motion picture bearing the title 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen'." This refers to the German production of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen that was made during the Nazi era and underwent restoration by the F.W. Murnau Foundation during the 1990s.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Jacknife/The Adventures of Baron Munchausen/Skin Deep/Chocolat (1989)

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Soundtracks

The Torturer's Apprentice
Music & Lyrics by Michael Kamen & Eric Idle
Used by the permission of K Man Corporation & Kay-Gee-Bee Music Limited

User Reviews

Other people have seen it? And liked it?! I thought I was the only one...

I've only known one other person who has even heard of this movie(also the only other one who's heard of and liked Mel Brooks' the Twelve Chairs). This is certainly one of the most bizarre and unique movies I've ever seen but the more times I see it, the more I like it. Robin Williams and Eric Idle are great of course, but Neville does a good job too. The story is truly unique, leaving you wondering where fiction ends and reality begins. In fact, it's much like "Adaptation" in that respect, come to think of it. While not on par with Monty Python and the Holy Grail, this is a good piece of work. My advice: let your brain take a vacation for a couple of hours and just absorb it. You'll appreciate it better if you try not to make too much sense of it. If it really confuses you, read the book. Yes, there is a book and there really was a man who called himself Baron Munchausen. The book is called <u>The Adventures of Baron Munchausen</u> and the edition I had explained his whole story. Terry Gilliam did a great job of bringing this man to screen and I highly recommend it if you're tired of the usual Hollywood fluff.