Willow (1988)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

George Lucas (story)
Bob Dolman (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 May 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

Adventure doesn't come any bigger than this.

Plot:

A reluctant dwarf must play a critical role in protecting a special baby from an evil queen.

Plot Keywords:

Queen | Baby | Evil Queen | Village | Prophecy

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 9 nominations

Cast

Val Kilmer	...	Madmartigan
Joanne Whalley	...	Sorsha
Warwick Davis	...	Willow Ufgood
Jean Marsh	...	Queen Bavmorda
Patricia Hayes	...	Fin Raziel
Billy Barty	...	High Aldwin
Pat Roach	...	Gen. Kael
Gavan O'Herlihy	...	Airk Thaughbaer
David Steinberg	...	Meegosh
Phil Fondacaro	...	Vohnkar
Tony Cox	...	Vohnkar warrior
Robert Gillibrand	...	Vohnkar warrior
Mark Northover	...	Burglekutt
Kevin Pollak	...	Rool
Rick Overton	...	Franjean
Maria Holvoe	...	Cherlindrea (as Maria Holvöe)
Julie Peters	...	Kaiya Ufgood
Mark Vande Brake	...	Ranon Ufgood
Dawn Downing	...	Mims Ufgood
Michael Cotterill	...	Druid
Zulema Dene	...	Ethna
Joanna Dickens	...	Barmaid
Jennifer Guy	...	The Wench
Ron Tarr	...	Llug
Sallyanne Law	...	Mother
Ruth Greenfield	...	Elora Danan
Kate Greenfield	...	Elora Danan
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kenny Baker	...	Nelwyn band member (uncredited)
Peter Burroughs	...	Nelwyn villager (uncredited)
Gerry Crampton	...	Lieutenant in snow village (uncredited)
Kim Davis	...	Mountain villager (uncredited)
Samantha Davis	...	Nelwyn villager (uncredited)
Malcolm Dixon	...	Nelwyn band member (uncredited)
Valerie Gale	...	Villager (uncredited)
Rusty Goffe	...	Nelwyn villager (uncredited)
Cheryl Howard	...	Mountain villager (uncredited)
Greg Powell	...	Nockmaar lieutenant (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	...	(uncredited)
Jack Purvis	...	Nelwyn band member (uncredited)
Craig Salisbury	...	Nelwyn Jester (uncredited)
David Sibley	...	Galladoorn warrior (uncredited)
Ashley C. Williams	...	Villager (uncredited)

Directed by
Ron Howard

Writing credits
George Lucas		(story)
Bob Dolman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Joe Johnston	....	associate producer
George Lucas	....	executive producer
Nigel Wooll	....	producer

Original Music by
James Horner

Cinematography by
Adrian Biddle		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Daniel P. Hanley		(as Daniel Hanley)
Mike Hill		(as Michael Hill)
Richard Hiscott

Casting by
Janet Hirshenson
Jane Jenkins

Production Design by
Allan Cameron

Art Direction by
Tim Hutchinson
Jim Pohl
Tony Reading
Kim Sinclair
Malcolm Stone

Costume Design by
Barbara Lane

Makeup Department
Steven E. Anderson	....	makeup artist
Robyn Austin	....	makeup artist: New Zealand
Alan Boyle	....	chief makeup artist
Joan Carpenter	....	hair stylist
Trish Cohen	....	makeup artist: New Zealand
Nick Dudman	....	makeup designer
Eithne Fennel	....	hair stylist (as Eithne Fennell)
Amanda Knight	....	makeup artist
Eddie Knight	....	makeup artist
Tommie Manderson	....	makeup artist
Daphne Martin	....	key hairdresser: second unit
Dickie Mills	....	makeup artist: second unit
Shayne Radford	....	hairdresser: New Zealand
Suzanne Reynolds	....	prosthetic makeup supervisor
Barbara Ritchie	....	chief hair stylist
Rita Lynch	....	assistant hair stylist (uncredited)
Rita Lynch	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Vicki Deason	....	production manager (as Vicki Manning)
Murray Newey	....	production manager: New Zealand

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ken Baker	....	assistant director
Richard A. Barker	....	first assistant director: New Zealand
Lee Cleary	....	second assistant director
Deuel Droogan	....	second assistant director: New Zealand
Nikki Long	....	third assistant director
Michael D. Moore	....	second unit director (as Micky Moore)
Terry Pearce	....	second assistant director
Gareth Tandy	....	assistant director: third unit
Gerry Toomey	....	second assistant director
Michael Zimbrich	....	first assistant director: second unit
Asad Qureshi	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Christos Achilleos	....	conceptual artist
John Allenby	....	property master
Martin Asbury	....	storyboard artist
Jeanelle Aston	....	buyer: New Zealand
David Balfour	....	chargehand stand-by propman: second unit
John Bell	....	conceptual artist
Tom Brown	....	draughtsman
Jill Cormack	....	set dresser
Jean Giraud	....	conceptual artist
David Lowery	....	storyboard artist
John Miles	....	construction manager: New Zealand
Michael Murchan	....	construction manager (as Micky Murchan)
Roy O'Connor	....	supervising propman
Paul Purdy	....	set dresser
Peter Rutherford	....	production buyer
Keith Short	....	head sculptor
Kirsten Shouler	....	assistant art director: New Zealand
Raymond Tricker	....	supervising plasterer
Richard Vander Wende	....	conceptual artist (as Richard Van Der Wende)
Keith Vowles	....	property storeman
John Wells	....	stand-by prop
Dean Coldham	....	plasterer (uncredited)

Sound Department
C.J. Appel	....	supervising adr editor
Sandina Bailo-Lape	....	sound effects editor
Stephen Balliet	....	boom operator
Don Banks	....	boom operator
Ben Burtt	....	sound designer
Ben Burtt	....	sound re-recording mixer
Luis Colina	....	assistant foley editor
Gloria D'Alessandro	....	assistant sound editor
Teresa Eckton	....	sound effects editor
Rob Fruchtman	....	dialogue editor
Ruth Hasty	....	assistant sound editor
Richard Hymns	....	supervising sound editor
Tom Johnson	....	adr recordist
Robin Lee	....	assistant sound editor
Robert Marty	....	assistant sound editor
David Motta	....	sound maintenance
Shawn Murphy	....	sound re-recording mixer
Larry Oatfield	....	dialogue editor
Gary Rydstrom	....	foley artist
Ivan Sharrock	....	production sound mixer
Michael Silvers	....	dialogue editor
David Slusser	....	assistant sound editor
Greg Smith	....	adr recordist
Karen Spangenberg	....	dialogue editor
Gary Summers	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ewa Sztompke	....	assistant sound editor
Dennie Thorpe	....	foley artist
Gwendolyn Yates Whittle	....	assistant sound editor (as Gwendolyn Yates)
Dan Gleich	....	boom operator: ILM (uncredited)
Dennis Leonard	....	post-production sound engineer (uncredited)
David E. Stone	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Clive Beard	....	special effects technician
John Brown	....	senior special effects technician
Kevin Chisnall	....	special effects coordinator: New Zealand
Simon Cockren	....	special effects assistant
Chris Corbould	....	senior special effects technician
Neil Corbould	....	special effects technician
Daniel Dark	....	special effects technician
Michael Dunleavy	....	senior special effects technician
Nick Finlayson	....	senior special effects technician
Matthew Harlow	....	special effects technician
Jez Harris	....	prosthetics supervisor
David L. Hewitt	....	special effects
Graham High	....	prosthetics supervisor
Clint Ingram	....	special effects
Steve Ingram	....	special effects technician: New Zealand
Stephen Lloyd	....	special effects buyer
John Morris	....	senior special effects technician
Kenneth Morris	....	special effects workshop supervisor (as Ken Morris)
Peter Pickering	....	senior special effects technician
John Richardson	....	special effects supervisor
Nigel Trevessey	....	prosthetics supervisor
Andy Williams	....	special effects technician
Joss Williams	....	senior special effects technician: second unit

Visual Effects by
Barbara Affonso	....	model maker: ILM
Peter Albrecht	....	rotoscoper: ILM
Jon Alexander	....	optical camera operator: ILM
Dave Allen	....	chief puppeteer (as David Allen)
Rick Anderson	....	model maker: ILM
William L. Arance	....	lip sync
John Allan Armstrong	....	animator: ILM (as John Armstrong)
Gordon Baker	....	animator: ILM
Bill Barr	....	stage technician (as William Barr)
Craig Barron	....	director of matte photography
Tom Bertino	....	rotoscope supervisor: ILM
Timothy Björklund	....	animator: ILM (as Tim Berglund)
Patricia Blau	....	post-production supervisor: ILM
Jean Bolte	....	model maker: ILM
Barbara Brennan	....	rotoscoper: ILM
Kim Bromley	....	visual effects coordinator: ILM
Monique Brown	....	animatronics technician
Dave Carson	....	visual effects art director: ILM
Jo Carson	....	visual effects camera assistant: ILM
Sean M. Casey	....	still photographer: ILM (as Sean Casey)
Wade Childress	....	matte painting photography: ILM
Terry Chostner	....	camera operator: visual effects, ILM
Eric Christensen	....	model maker: ILM
Blair Clark	....	stop-motion model maker
Donald Clark	....	optical camera operator: ILM
Charlie Clavadetscher	....	animation camera operator: ILM (as Charles Clavadetscher)
Catherine Craig	....	matte painting photography
Peter Daulton	....	camera operator: visual effects, ILM
Craig Davies	....	stop-motion model maker
Les Dittert	....	computer graphics
Dick Dova	....	stage technician (as Dick Dova Spah)
Sheila Duignan	....	stop-motion model maker
Randy Dutra	....	stop-motion model maker
Selwyn Eddy	....	optical camera operator: ILM
John Ellis	....	optical supervisor: ILM
Christopher Evans	....	matte painting supervisor: ILM
Scott Farrar	....	camera operator: visual effects, ILM
Ellen Ferguson	....	rotoscoper: ILM
Bob Fernley	....	optical lab technician
Bob Finley III	....	stage technician (as Robert Finley III)
Robert Finley Jr.	....	pyrotechnician
Pat Fitzsimmons	....	supervising stage technician: ILM
Jammie Friday	....	rotoscope: VCE, Inc.
Tim Geideman	....	optical lab technician: ILM
Brian Gernand	....	model maker: ILM
Ray Gilberti	....	assistant visual effects editor
Michael Gleason	....	chief visual effects editor: ILM
Ralph Gordon	....	optical line-up: ILM
Ned Gorman	....	visual effects coordinator
Caroleen Green	....	matte artist: ILM
Margot Hale	....	rotoscoper: ILM
David Hanks	....	visual effects camera assistant: ILM (as Dave Hanks)
David R. Hardberger	....	visual effects camera assistant: ILM (as David Hardberger)
Craig Hayes	....	stop-motion model maker
Janet Healy	....	visual effects producer
Rebecca Heskes	....	rotoscoper: ILM (as Rebecca Petrulli)
Robert Hill	....	visual effects camera assistant: ILM
Edward Hirsh	....	stage manager: ILM (as Ed Hirsh)
Sandy Houston	....	rotoscoper: ILM
Tony Hudson	....	chief puppeteer: ILM
Tony Hudson	....	model maker: ILM
Lincoln Hu	....	computer graphics
Peg Hunter	....	optical line-up: ILM
Paul Huston	....	chief model maker: ILM
George H. Joblove	....	computer graphics: ILM (as George Joblove)
Keith Johnson	....	optical camera operator: ILM
Randy Jonsson	....	matte painting photography: ILM (as Randy Johnson)
Marti Julian	....	lip sync animator: ILM
David Karpman	....	optical line-up: ILM
Sandra Ford Karpman	....	animation camera operator: ILM (as Sandy Ford)
Douglas S. Kay	....	computer graphics: ILM (as Douglas Scott Kay)
Katherine Kean	....	lip sync animator: ILM
John Knoll	....	animation camera operator: ILM
Pete Kozachik	....	camera operator: visual effects, ILM
Paul Kraus	....	model maker: ILM
Tad Krzanowski	....	chief model maker: ILM
Brad Kuehn	....	optical lineup
Michael Lessa	....	lip sync animator: ILM
James Lim	....	optical camera operator: ILM
David Lowery	....	storyboard artist: ILM
Paula Lucchesi	....	stop-motion model maker
Jonathan Luskin	....	computer graphics: ILM
Jeff Mann	....	model shop supervisor: ILM
Tamia Marg	....	stop-motion model maker
Kim Marks	....	visual effects camera: ILM
Michael J. McAlister	....	visual effects: ILM (as Michael McAlister)
Mickey McGovern	....	assistant visual effects editor (as Michael McGovern)
Roberto McGrath	....	assistant visual effects editor
Richard Miller	....	sculptor
Janet Mohler	....	unit production supervisor: ILM
Terry Molatore	....	rotoscoper: ILM (as Terry Sittig)
Michael Moore	....	visual effects editor: ILM
Steve R. Moore	....	visual effects editor
Tim Morgan	....	stage technician (as Timothy Morgan)
Claudia Mullaly	....	model maker: ILM
Dennis Muren	....	visual effects: ILM
Lori J. Nelson	....	optical line-up: ILM (as Lori Nelson)
Bruce Nicholson	....	optical supervisor: ILM
January Nordman	....	animator: ILM
Kerry Nordquist	....	still photographer: ILM
Buck O'Hare	....	stage technician
Michael Olague	....	stage technician
Jeff Olson	....	chief model maker: ILM
Randy Ottenberg	....	model maker: ILM
Ease Owyeung	....	model maker: ILM
Michael Pangrazio	....	matte artist
Terrence Peck	....	assistant visual effects editor (as Terry Peck)
Krist-Ann Pehrson	....	rotoscoper: ILM
Lorne Peterson	....	chief model maker: ILM
Anne Polland	....	model maker: ILM
John Reed	....	stop-motion model maker (as John Reed III)
Carolyn Ensle Rendu	....	rotoscoper: ILM (as Carolyn Rendu)
Pat Repola	....	optical camera operator: ILM (as Patrick Repola)
Kevin Richardson	....	rotoscoper: ILM
Louis Rivera	....	assistant visual effects editor
Martin Rosenberg	....	camera operator: visual effects, ILM (as Marty Rosenberg)
Thomas Rosseter	....	optical line-up: ILM (as Tom Rosseter)
Wesley Seeds	....	model maker: ILM
Kenneth Smith	....	optical supervisor: ILM
Thomas J. Smith	....	optical lab technician: ILM
Douglas Smythe	....	computer graphics: ILM (as Doug Smythe)
Scott Squires	....	visual effects tech director
Tom St. Amand	....	stop-motion animator: ILM
Nick Stern	....	animator: ILM
Sean Stolz	....	pyrotechnician
Michael Sweeney	....	optical line-up: ILM
Pat Sweeney	....	camera operator: visual effects, ILM
Paul Swendsen	....	matte artist: ILM
Wes Takahashi	....	animation supervisor: ILM
Larry Tan	....	model maker: ILM
Joseph Thomas	....	lip sync animator: ILM
Phil Tippett	....	visual effects: ILM
Sean Turner	....	animator: ILM
John T. Van Vliet	....	lip sync animator: ILM
Bruce Vecchitto	....	optical line-up: ILM
Mary E. Walter	....	optical line-up: ILM (as Mary Walter)
Bruce Walters	....	animation camera operator: ILM
Harry Walton	....	visual effects camera: ILM
Byron Werner	....	lip sync animator: ILM
Jeffrey Wilkins	....	model maker: ILM (as Jeff Wilkins)
Timothy Eaton	....	assistant visual effects editor (uncredited)
Demetre Lagios	....	optical processing: ILM (uncredited)
Julian Parry	....	process unit: ILM (uncredited)
Jay Patterson	....	visual effects video assist: ILM (uncredited)
Kathleen Quaife-Hodge	....	special effects animator (uncredited)
Scott Ross	....	general manager: ILM (uncredited)

Stunts
Roy Alon	....	stunts
Del Baker	....	stunts
Ken Barker	....	stunts
Michael Baxter-Lax	....	stunts: New Zealand
Peter Bell	....	stunts: New Zealand
Ellie Bertram	....	stunts
Peter Bonner	....	stunts
Brian Bowes	....	stunts
Peter Brace	....	stunts
Shaughan Bruce	....	stunts: New Zealand
Ken Buckle	....	stunts
Tim Condren	....	stunts
Jack Cooper	....	stunts
Gerry Crampton	....	stunt coordinator
Gerry Crampton	....	stunts
Graeme Crowther	....	stunts
Billy Dean	....	stunts
Steve Dent	....	stunts
Eddie Eddon	....	stunts
Sadie Eden	....	stunts
Steve Emerson	....	stunts
Max Faulkner	....	stunts
Stuart Fell	....	stunts
Dorothy Ford	....	stunts
Terry Forestal	....	stunts
Tex Fuller	....	stunts
Nick Gillard	....	stunts
Romo Gorrara	....	stunts
Martin Grace	....	stunts
Paul Grant	....	stunts
Richard Graydon	....	stunts
Fred Haggerty	....	stunts
Richard Hammatt	....	stunts
Mark Harris	....	stunts: New Zealand
Karam Hau	....	stunts: New Zealand
Paul Heasman	....	stunts
Frank Henson	....	stunts
Nick Hobbs	....	stunts
Dave Holland	....	stunts
Billy Horrigan	....	stunts
Jazzer Jeyes	....	stunts
Barry Johnson	....	stunts: New Zealand
Vincent Keane	....	stunts
Timothy Lee	....	stunts: New Zealand (as Tim Lee)
Tom Lucy	....	stunts
Jo Lumsden	....	stunts: New Zealand
Tina Maskell	....	stunts
Mark McBride	....	stunts
Sean McCabe	....	stunts
Bronco McLoughlin	....	stunts
Wayne Michaels	....	stunts
Chrissy Monk	....	stunts
Peter Munt	....	stunts
Valentino Musetti	....	stunts
Gerard Naprous	....	stunts
Terence Plummer	....	stunts
Mike Potter	....	stunts
Dinny Powell	....	stunts
Eddie Powell	....	stunts
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (as Fred Powell)
Bill Reed	....	stunts
Terry Richards	....	stunts
Doug Robinson	....	stunts
Roy Scammell	....	stunts
Ka Segerberg	....	stunts: New Zealand
Lee Sheward	....	stunts
Tony Smart	....	stunts
Eddie Stacey	....	stunts
Roy Street	....	stunts
Alan Stuart	....	stunts
Philip Tan	....	stunts
Rocky Taylor	....	stunts
Tip Tipping	....	stunts
Terry Walsh	....	stunts
Derek Ware	....	stunts
Jason White	....	stunts
Les White	....	stunts
Steve Whyment	....	stunts
Nick Wilkinson	....	stunts
Ellie Bertram	....	fencing double: Joanne Whalley (uncredited)
Ellie Bertram	....	stunt double: Patricia Hayes (uncredited)
Peter Bonner	....	stunt double: Warwick Davis (uncredited)
Peter Burroughs	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rocky Capella	....	stunt double: ILM (uncredited)
Simon Crane	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gabe Cronnelly	....	stunts (uncredited)
Graeme Crowther	....	stunt double: Val Kilmer (uncredited)
Bill Cummings	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sadie Eden	....	stunt double: Patricia Hayes (uncredited)
Dorothy Ford	....	stunt double: Jean Marsh (uncredited)
Dorothy Ford	....	stunt double: Joanne Whalley (uncredited)
Mike Martinez	....	stunts (uncredited)
Johnny Martin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Greg Powell	....	stunt double: Gavan O'Herlihy (uncredited)
Greg Powell	....	stunt double: Pat Roach (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Rick Allender	....	camera operator: New Zealand
Paul Beeson	....	director of photography: second unit
Keith Blake	....	focus puller
Bob Bridges	....	clapper loader: second unit
Wally Byatt	....	camera operator: second unit
Neil Cervin	....	assistant camera
Gary Cross	....	electrician
Kevin Day	....	gaffer
John Deaton	....	focus puller: second unit
Mark Ellis	....	grip: third unit
John Flemming	....	camera grip
Mike Fuller	....	camera operator
Pat Garrett	....	grip
Keith Hamshere	....	still photographer
David R. Hardberger	....	camera operator
Martin Hume	....	camera operator
W.C. 'Chunky' Huse	....	camera grip (as Chunky Huse)
Geoff Jamieson	....	grip: New Zealand
Jim Kane	....	camera grip: second unit
Brian Kemp	....	gaffer: third unit
Martin Kenzie	....	first assistant camera
John Mahaffie	....	camera operator: New Zealand
Graham Martyr	....	clapper loader
Shaun O'Dell	....	camera operator
Shane O'Neill	....	focus puller
Larry Randall	....	best boy
Nigel Seal	....	assistant camera
Nigel Seal	....	clapper loader: second unit
Mark Sullivan	....	camera focus: New Zealand
Jonathan Taylor	....	camera operator: third unit
Keith Thomas	....	camera operator: third unit
John Wheeler	....	grip: New Zealand
Randy Jonsson	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Beverley Keogh	....	crowd casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rosemary Burrows	....	costume supervisor
Barbara Darragh	....	wardrobe mistress: New Zealand
Amelia Davies	....	wardrobe assistant
Norman Dickens	....	wardrobe assistant
Cynthea Dowling	....	wardrobe assistant (as Cynthia Dowling)
Andrés Fernández	....	wardrobe supervisor: New Zealand (as Andres Fernandez)
Aggie Guerard Rodgers	....	costumer
Margaret Lewin	....	wardrobe assistant
Julia Mansford	....	wardrobe mistress: New Zealand
Patrick Sharkey	....	wardrobe master
James Smith	....	wardrobe assistant (as Jimmy Smith)
Terry Smith	....	wardrobe assistant
Colin Wilson	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Jeremy Child	....	second assistant editor
T.M. Christopher	....	assistant editor
Robin Clark	....	second assistant editor
Jeremy Gibbs	....	first assistant editor
Kathleen Korth	....	assistant editor
Andrew MacRitchie	....	assistant editor
Jenny Oznowicz	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Jim Henrikson	....	music editor
Greig McRitchie	....	orchestrator
Shawn Murphy	....	score mixer
Ian Underwood	....	musician
James Horner	....	conductor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Roy Clarke	....	driver: Joanne Walley Kilmer
Paul Keily	....	transportation coordinator: New Zealand

Other crew
John Algar	....	assistant accountant: New Zealand
David Balfour	....	stand-by: second unit
John Bernard	....	location manager: New Zealand
Ian Bryce	....	production executive: USA
Bundy Chanock	....	set medic
Blair Clark	....	armature machinist
Nick Dudman	....	creature supervisor
Rory Enke	....	location manager
Lorely Farley	....	script supervisor: second unit
Eleanor Fazan	....	choreographer
Geoff Freeman	....	unit publicist
Kevin Freemantle	....	location accountant
Danny Graber	....	animal trainer
Jilly Gutteridge	....	location manager: UK
William Hobbs	....	fight arranger
Sally Jones	....	script supervisor
Jak King	....	production accountant
Catherine Madigan	....	production coordinator: New Zealand
Barbara Margerrison	....	assistant: Nigel Wooll
Louisa Marie	....	assistant: Ron Howard
Rachel Neale	....	location manager: Wales
Russell Olds	....	horse coordinator: New Zealand
Greg Powell	....	horse master
Sarah Purdy	....	bird handler: New Zealand
Julie Robinson	....	script supervisor: third unit
Matthew Sharp	....	set runner
David Sibley	....	dialogue coach
Kathy Sykes	....	production coordinator
Nicky Tilson	....	production secretary: New Zealand
Chris Warren	....	video coordinator
Michael Yell	....	production accountant (as Mike Yell)
Stefan Zürcher	....	snow unit coordinator
Camille Cellucci	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Mitchell Nyberg	....	stand in: Rick Overton (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Imagine Films Entertainment (in association with)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents)
• Lucasfilm

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Italia (1988) (Italy) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1988) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1988) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Fox Network (1991) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Encore Entertainment (1994) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1988) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (France)

Special Effects

• Available Light Productions
• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)
• Ray Mercer & Company (optical effects)
• Tippett Studio
• Visual Concept Engineering (VCE)

Other Companies

• Lee Lighting  lighting
• Sprocket Systems  post-production sound services

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Ireland:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:12 | South Korea:All | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Norway:15 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Brocket Hall, Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Imagine Films Entertainment

Trivia:

According to the press kits and subsequent novels, the two-headed dragon was named "Eborsisk", a reference to the movie critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. The word does not occur in the film but made it into some reviews.

Goofs:

Continuity: Just before the village scene fades out during the end credits, the villagers milling around in the distance disappear.

Quotes:

Willow: Meegosh... did we do the right thing?
Meegosh: Absolutely. There's nothing to worry about.
[They hear Elora crying overhead, and look up to see her being carried by a hawk ridden by a brownie]
Franjean: Yaaah, ha-ha! I stole the baby, I stole the baby, ha-ha! Yah!
Willow: That's my baby! Stop, wait, come back!
Franjean: [flying off] Left, you stupid bird, left! Ha-ha!

Movie Connections:

Featured in From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic (1999) (TV)

Lucas, Howard Make Magic

When Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon in 1969, the whole world paused; now such things are second nature to everyone, veritably taken for granted as more and more science fiction becomes reality every day. In 1977, when George Lucas made `Star Wars,' it turned the cinematic universe on it's ear with it's scope and vision, offering things neither seen nor experienced by anyone before; now his accomplishments are virtually taken for granted, his vision dismissed by many with a shrug. But in this original story by Lucas, that vision is captured once again and proffered to the world via the magic of the movies, in `Willow,' directed by Ron Howard.

A long time ago, in a galaxy perhaps far, far away, a baby comes into the care of the elvish Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) and his wife, Kaiya (Julie Peters). The infant bears the birthmark of the one prophesied to come who will put an end to the tyrannical rule of the evil Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh). But the Queen, too, knows of the prophecy and is seeking the baby bearing the telltale mark. For the sake of his village, as well as the safety of the child, it falls to Willow to transport the baby to a safe haven beyond the boundaries of his land and the reach of Queen Bavmorda. So Willow sets out upon his journey, and along the way finds an ally-- maybe-- in the person of the self-proclaimed `World's greatest swordsman,' Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), and together (sort of) they embark upon an adventure that will ultimately lead them to a final confrontation with the evil Queen herself.

With some help from George Lucas, Ron Howard delivers this highly imaginative tale-- which bears that unmistakable Lucas touch-- with a touch of magic of his own. A showcase of special F/X-- it pioneered the `morphing' technique so vital to the success of films like `The Abyss' (filmed one year after this one) and `Terminator 2: Judgment Day' (1991)-- it is nevertheless decidedly not a `special F/X' movie. The F/X, though a big part of the film, to be sure, do not supersede the story. And because of that, it makes that necessary emotional connection with the characters possible, and takes the whole film to a higher level. A big part of what has made Lucas and Howard so successful, in fact, is that innate ability of being able to tap into the humanity of any given story (With Lucas, for example, his `American Graffiti' and even `THX-1138,' and Howard's `Parenthood,' `Night Shift' and `Apollo 13') and knowing how to convey it to their audience. It's the difference between being a true filmmaker, and just someone to whom an opportunity is handed who simply hasn't the insight or sense of human nature to know what to do with it (Like Adam Shankman with `The Wedding Planner,' Jeff Franklin's `Love Stinks,' Nick Gomez with `Drowning Mona' or Peter Ho-sun Chan's `The Love Letter.' All movies that suffered greatly because of their director's inability to do what Lucas and Howard do so proficiently and seemingly with facility).

In the title role, Warwick Davis does a good job of bringing Willow to life, as does Val Kilmer in the flashier role of Madmartigan. Joanne Whalley does a decent turn as Sorsha, daughter of the evil Queen, but is overshadowed by the deliciously sinister rendering of Bavmorda by Jean Marsh, whose wickedness is shamefully delightful.

In a supporting role, however-- and with extremely limited screen time-- it is Julie Peters who really captures the attention with a sincere and affecting performance as Kaiya. She has such a pure and natural manner that it's hard to believe this is an actor playing a part; the realism she achieves, in fact, can be compared to that of Harriet Andersson in any one of a number of Ingmar Bergman's films. Her ability is a true gift that endows her with a quality and a presence that would make her an asset to any film, as she certainly is here. And it's a shame she has apparently never been afforded the opportunity of plying her craft more-- `Willow' is her only feature film. It's a singular success, however, and one of which she can be proud. Her portrayal of Kaiya goes far in demonstrating the positive effect a supporting role can have on a film, especially when it's this well acted.

The supporting cast includes Patricia Hayes (Fin Raziel), Billy Barty (High Aldwin), Pat Roach (General Kael), Gavan O'Herlihy (Airk), David Steinberg (Meegosh), Mark Northover (Burglekutt), Kevin Pollak (Rool), Rick Overton (Franjean) and Maria Holvoe (Cherlindrea). With an intelligent screenplay by Bob Dolman and original music by James Horner, `Willow' is an entertaining, enlightening film, rich in characterization and metaphor, with a subtle message and a moral that unobtrusively makes a statement about diversity and the value of an individual's contributions to the society of which he is a part; as well as the fact that one person can, indeed, make a difference. Visually stunning, too, it's a transporting experience truly filled with magic, and a journey definitely worth taking. I rate this one 9/10.