The Princess and the Cobbler (1993)

Director:

Richard Williams

Writers:

Richard Williams (screenplay) &
Margaret French (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 August 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy

Plot:

The film tells a story which takes place in an oriental city from the tales of thousand and one night...

Plot Keywords:

Obsessed Love | Unfinished Film | Kleptomaniac | Dream Like | Independent Film

Cast

Vincent Price	...	Zig-Zag the Grand Vizier (voice)
Anthony Quayle	...	King Nod (original version) (voice)
Hilary Pritchard	...	Princess Yum-Yum (original version) (voice)
Windsor Davies	...	Chief Roofless (voice)
Paul Matthews	...	Mighty One-Eye (original version) (voice)
Joan Sims	...	Nurse / Mad Holy Old Witch (original version) (voice)
Clinton Sundberg	...	Dying Soldier (voice)
Donald Pleasence	...	Phido the Vulture (voice)
Sean Connery	...	Tack the Cobbler (voice) (unconfirmed)
Felix Aylmer	...	Narrator (original version) (voice)
Kenneth Williams	...	Goblet / Tickle (voice)
Stanley Baxter	...	Gofer / Slap (voice)
George Melly	...	Dwarf (voice)
Eddie Byrne	...	Hoof (voice)
Thick Wilson	...	Hook (voice)

Also Known As:

Arabian Knight (USA) (recut version)
Once... (UK) (working title)
The Amazing Nasruddin (UK) (working title)
The Majestic Fool (UK) (working title)
The Thief Who Never Gave Up (UK) (working title)
The Thief and the Cobbler (USA) (recut version)

Runtime:

72 min | 91 min (working print) | Australia:77 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:G | Australia:G | South Korea:All | Spain:T | USA:G

Company:

Richard Williams Productions

Trivia:

The American video version reinstates the original title of "The Thief and the Cobbler" but is in all other respects the edit released by Miramax under the title "Arabian Knight". This edit strips the original soundtrack, adds three song sequences, removes many scenes (including an expanding view of One-Eye's palace, the king in torment, and the clever Thief using Yum-Yum's stolen hand-shaped back-scratchers to survive a hand-chopping sentence) and adds lengthy narration by Matthew Broderick and Jonathan Winters (the title characters were originally almost silent). It also replaces the original Witch with a large Eye, thanks to new dialog by Jennifer Beals and Clive Revill. None of this was in the 1968 voice recording session, starring Vincent Price (there is a rumor Sean Connery also sat in on the session, but his part is lost). The version released in Australia was titled "The Princess and the Cobbler" and was much closer to Williams' original cut, albeit still with the songs. In this version, as in the original, Phido and the Thief never speak, and the Thief survives a hand-chopping sentence. Williams' legendary near-finished wide-screen "workprint" of the film survives on bootleg video, although many scenes are still in pencil-test form.

Quotes:

Mighty One-Eye: [shouting] ONE-EYES... WIN AGAIN!

Movie Connections:

References Gee Whiz-z-z-z-z-z-z (1956)

Probably the most bold feat in animation history.

I can't stand this film being so obscure. It was a 30-year-old labor of love that Richard Williams promised to be the greatest animated film ever, before it was taken away by his creditors. All he cared about was the perfection of the art, rather than the restrictions of schedules and budgets. What happened to the movie was awful, but the remaining animation shines through, greatly. I, for one, was very upset with the release of the Miramax version on DVD, with only pan and scan, and a lack of extras. It was an insult to the original version. I really hope the restoration project is revived soon. A fully restored Director's cut is my on and only "Dream DVD". That film really changed my life and outlook on animation. It deserves more recognition and it's a great learning exercise for animators. Stay away from the Miramax version.