The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Terry Gilliam

Writers:

Charles McKeown (screenplay) &
Terry Gilliam (screenplay)

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 | Grim Reaper | Sea Monster | Escape | Moon

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

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 | 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:

The role of the King of the Moon was intended for Sean Connery until the role was largely cut. Sean Connery didn't think it was "kingly" enough, thus the role was played by Robin Williams.

Goofs:

Continuity: The lenses on Adolphus' glasses swap position just after the Baron manages to save them from the giant fish. Once they're ashore again, the lenses are back in their original position.

Quotes:

Baron Munchausen: You do believe me, don't you?
Sally: I'm doing my best.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Directors: The Films of Terry Gilliam (#1.2)" (????)

Soundtrack:

The Torturer's Apprentice

The King Of The Moon, and other wild things

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is one of those films that you either love or hate. You may hate it because the inner child in you has not been released. You may love it because the inner child in you have full reign and want a wonderful fairy tale. This film has all the elements, flying ships (A balloon made of ladies knickers), monsters (A gigantic whale that looks like an island), and a little girl observing all the fantastical adventures. A city is under siege and a theater troupe is trying to perform a play during all of this. In comes an elderly man (The wonderful John Neville)who claims that the troupe has it all wrong and that he, himself, is the real Baron and wants to tell the story straight. From there, his adventure really takes off. He and Sally (The cute as a button Sarah Polley)go off in search of his friends to help save the city: Berthold (Clever Eric Idle), the fastest man around; Albrecht, the strongest man in the world; Adolphus, the man with the sharpest sight around and Gustavus, the man with the keen hearing and breath that can blow elephants off their feet. The gangs adventures bring them to the Moon, where the King (Wild as ever Robin Williams)has trouble holding on to his head, to the Underworld, where Venus (Beautiful Uma Thurman)drives her hubby Vulcan (The wonderful Oliver Reed) insane with jealousy. The story and the visuals (Especially the Moon) are beautiful and the ending is interesting. You get so caught up in the story that the viewer gets lost in what is real and what is not. Great for teens and up. Kids may get scared at some of the scenes.