Labyrinth (1986)

Director:

Jim Henson

Writers:

Dennis Lee (story) and
Jim Henson (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

27 June 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Musical

Tagline:

Where everything seems possible and nothing is what it seems.

Plot:

15-year-old Sarah accidentally wishes her baby half-brother, Toby, away to the Goblin King Jareth who will keep Toby if Sarah does not complete his Labyrinth in 13 hours.

Plot Keywords:

Goblin | Labyrinth | Baby | Castle | Rescue

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 nominations

Cast

David Bowie	...	Jareth the Goblin King
Jennifer Connelly	...	Sarah
Toby Froud	...	Toby
Shelley Thompson	...	Stepmother
Christopher Malcolm	...	Father
Natalie Finland	...	Fairy
Shari Weiser	...	Hoggle
Brian Henson	...	Hoggle / Goblin (voice)
Ron Mueck	...	Ludo / Firey 2 / Goblin (voice)
Rob Mills	...	Ludo / Firey 3
Dave Goelz	...	Didymus / The Hat / The Four Guards / Left Door Knocker / Firey 3 (voice) (as David Goelz)
David Alan Barclay	...	Didymus / Firey 1
David Shaughnessy	...	Didymus / The Hat / The Four Guards / Goblin (voice) (as David Shaughnessy)
Karen Prell	...	The Worm / The Junk Lady / Firey 2
Timothy Bateson	...	The Worm / The Four Guards / Goblin (voice)
Frank Oz	...	The Wiseman
Michael Hordern	...	The Wiseman (voice)
Denise Bryer	...	The Junk Lady (voice)
Steve Whitmire	...	The Four Guards / Firey 4 / Ambrosius (voice)
Kevin Clash	...	The Four Guards / Firey 1 / Ambrosius (voice)
Anthony Asbury	...	The Four Guards / Right Door Knocker / Firey 5
Anthony Jackson	...	The Four Guards / Goblin (voice)
Douglas Blackwell	...	The Four Guards / Goblin (voice)
David Healy	...	Right Door Knocker (voice)
Robert Beatty	...	Left Door Knocker (voice)
Toby Philpott	...	Firey 1
Ian Thom	...	Firey 2
Charles Augins	...	Firey 2 (voice)
Sherry Amott	...	Firey 3
Danny John-Jules	...	Firey 3 / Firey 4 (voice)
Cheryl Henson	...	Firey 4
Kaefan Shaw	...	Firey 4 (as Kevin Bradshaw)
Alistair Fullarton	...	Firey 5
Rollin Krewson	...	Firey 5
Richard Bodkin	...	Firey 5 (voice)
Percy Edwards	...	Ambrosius (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marc Antona	...	Goblin Corps
John Aron	...	Ballroom Dancer
Elfrida Ashworth	...	Ballroom Dancer
Kenny Baker	...	Goblin Corps
Michael Henbury Ballan	...	Goblin Corps
Danny Blackner	...	Goblin Corps
Peter Burroughs	...	Goblin Corps
Toby Clark	...	Goblin Corps
Tessa Crockett	...	Goblin Corps
Terry Dane	...	Ballroom Dancer
Warwick Davis	...	Goblin Corps
Malcolm Dixon	...	Goblin Corps
Margaret Foyer	...	Ballroom Dancer
Anthony Georghiou	...	Goblin Corps
Elizabeth A. Gilbert	...	Ballroom Dancer
Louise Gold	...	Ballroom Dancer
Moira Grant	...	Ballroom Dancer
Paul Grant	...	Goblin Corps
Derek Hartley	...	Ballroom Dancer
Andrew Herd	...	Goblin Corps
Douglas Howes	...	Ballroom Dancer
Richard Jones	...	Goblin Corps
John Key	...	Goblin Corps
San Lee	...	Ballroom Dancer
Mark Lisle	...	Goblin Corps
Janis Mackintosh	...	Ballroom Dancer
Peter Mandell	...	Goblin Corps
Penny Marsden	...	Ballroom Dancer
Kim Mendez	...	Ballroom Dancer
Wendy Millward	...	Ballroom Dancer
Leonie Palette	...	Ballroom Dancer
Caroline Pope	...	Ballroom Dancer
Christopher Preston	...	Ballroom Dancer
Jack Purvis	...	Goblin Corps
Katie Purvis	...	Goblin Corps
Nicholas Read	...	Goblin Corps
Peter Salmon	...	Ballroom Dancer
Peter Sim	...	Ballroom Dancer
Graeme Sneddon	...	Ballroom Dancer
Linda Spriggs	...	Goblin Corps
Penny Stead	...	Goblin Corps
Graham Tudor-Phillips	...	Ballroom Dancer
David Turner	...	Ballroom Dancer
Sharon White	...	Ballroom Dancer
Albert Wilkinson	...	Goblin Corps
Barrie J. Wilkinson	...	Ballroom Dancer
Michael Attwell	...	Goblin (voice) (uncredited)
Sean Barrett	...	Goblin (voice) (uncredited)
John Bluthal	...	Goblin (voice) (uncredited)
Peter Marinker	...	Goblin (voice) (uncredited)
Kerry Shale	...	Goblin (voice) (uncredited)
Mildred Shay	...	Goblin (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Jim Henson

Writing credits
Dennis Lee		(story) and
Jim Henson		(story)
Terry Jones		(writer)
Elaine May		uncredited

Produced by
Martin G. Baker	....	associate producer
David Lazer	....	executive producer
David Lazer	....	supervising producer
George Lucas	....	executive producer
Eric Rattray	....	producer

Original Music by
Trevor Jones

Cinematography by
Alex Thomson

Film Editing by
John Grover

Casting by
Jane Jenkins

Production Design by
Elliot Scott

Art Direction by
Terry Ackland-Snow
Roger Cain
Peter Howitt
Frank Walsh
Michael White

Costume Design by
Ellis Flyte
Brian Froud

Makeup Department
Nick Dudman	....	makeup artist
Wally Schneiderman	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Douglas Twiddy	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ken Baker	....	assistant director
James Devis	....	assistant director
James Devis	....	third unit director (as Jimmy Devis)
Simon Haveland	....	first assistant director
Nikolas Korda	....	second assistant director: second unit

Art Department
Martin Asbury	....	storyboard artist
Alan Booth	....	construction manager
Tom Brown	....	draughtsman
Paul Cheesman	....	standby props
Alan Cheevers	....	plasterer
Brian Froud	....	conceptual designer
George Giordano	....	sets and props
Peter Mann	....	stand-by carpenter
Tony Marks	....	carpenter
Ted Michell	....	scenic artist (as Ted Michel)
Steven Sallybanks	....	scenic artist
Barry Wilkinson	....	property master
Simon Wilkinson	....	stand-by property master
Dean Coldham	....	plasterer (uncredited)
John Stevenson	....	visual development (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ross Adams	....	assistant sound editor
Colin Miller	....	dialogue editor
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer
Peter Sutton	....	sound mixer
Don Wortham	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Dave Chagouri	....	technical effects (as Dave Chagour)
Valerie Charlton	....	creature costumes project leader
Terence J. Cox	....	special effects technician (as Terry Cox)
Tony Dunsterville	....	special effects supervisor
George Gibbs	....	special effects supervisor
David Giles	....	special effects technician
Steve Hamilton	....	special effects technician
Kevin Herd	....	key animatronic designer
Michael McCormick	....	creature workshop team: Riding Goblins
Martin L. Mercer	....	special effects trainee
Jim Sandys	....	animatronic engineer
Bob Wiesinger	....	chief flying wireman
Andy Williams	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Craig Barron	....	matte photography: ILM
Dennis Bartlett	....	travelling matte lighting technician
Martin Body	....	matte photography: Optical Film Effects
Theo Brown	....	field recorder engineer
Peter Chiang	....	animator: Optical Film Effects
Richard Dimbleby	....	supervising optical printer: Optical Film Effects (as Dick Dimbleby)
Doug Ferris	....	painted matte artist: Optical Film Effects
Peter Field	....	rotoscoping: Optical Film Effects
Roy Field	....	optical effects consultant
Tim Field	....	camera operator: Optical Film Effects
Caroleen Green	....	painted matte artist: ILM
Peter Harman	....	matte photography: Optical Film Effects
Paul Huston	....	matte photography: ILM
Andrew Jackson	....	rotoscoping: Optical Film Effects Ltd.
Randy Jonsson	....	matte photography: ILM (as Randy Johnson)
Sean Joyce	....	painted matte artist: ILM
Wolfgang Lempp	....	field recorder computer specialist
Dennis Lowe	....	special effects consultant: field recorder
Nick Pollock	....	field recorder computer specialist
Peter Swinson	....	optical printer: Optical Film Effects
Zoe Cain	....	motion control camera assistant (uncredited)
Andrew Eio	....	motion control technician (uncredited)
David McCall	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Sherry McKenna	....	visual effects producer (uncredited)
Michael Pangrazio	....	matte artist supervisor: ILM (uncredited)
Paul Wilson	....	cameraman: model unit (uncredited)

Stunts
Tim Condren	....	stunt double: Jareth
Sue Crosland	....	stunt double: Sarah
Tracey Eddon	....	stunt double: Sarah
Nick Gillard	....	stunt double: Jareth
Paul Grant	....	stunt double: Hoggie

Camera and Electrical Department
Colin Corby	....	camera operator
James Devis	....	camera operator: third unit (as Jimmy Devis)
James Devis	....	director of photography: second unit
Kenny Groom	....	clapper loader
Ian Kelly	....	video supervisor
Roy Larner	....	gaffer
Simon Mills	....	clapper loader: second unit
Ian Murray	....	rigger
John Rogers	....	best boy
Stefan Stankowski	....	focus puller
Chyna Thomson	....	camera trainee (uncredited)

Animation Department
Debbie the Roboteer	....	consultant: sculpture, animation and robotics

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Betty Adamson	....	wardrobe supervisor
Deborah Phipps	....	costumer (as Debbie Harkness)

Editorial Department
Matthew Glen	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Robert Hathaway	....	music editor

Other crew
Christopher Alderson	....	support team
Angela Allen	....	script supervisor
Sherry Amott	....	creature workshop artist: "The Chilly Downs", "The Wiseman" and "Junk Lady"
Anthony Asbury	....	puppeteer: "The Four Guards", "Right Door Knocker" and "Firey"
Charles Augins	....	choreographer
Donald Austen	....	puppeteer
David Alan Barclay	....	creature workshop artist: "Didymus" (as David Barclay)
David Alan Barclay	....	puppeteer: "Didymus" and "Firey"
Joy Bayley	....	production coordinator
Michael Bayliss	....	puppeteer
Martin Bridle	....	puppeteer
Judy Britten	....	special effects secretary
Fiona Beynor Brown	....	puppeteer
Simon Buckley	....	puppeteer
David Bulbeck	....	puppeteer
Kevin Clash	....	assistant puppeteer coordinator
Sue Dacre	....	puppeteer
Isobel Deeley	....	action double: second unit, Sarah
M.C. Escher	....	prints (as Escher)
Geoff Felix	....	puppeteer
Trevor Freeborn	....	puppeteer
Christine Glanville	....	puppeteer
Dave Goelz	....	puppeteer: "Didymus", "The Hat", "The Four Guards", "Left Door Knocker" and "Firey"
David Greenaway	....	puppeteer
Victoria Griffiths	....	action double: second unit, Sarah
Brian Henson	....	puppeteer coordinator
Cheryl Henson	....	creature workshop artist: "The Chilly Downs", "Alph", "Ralph" and "Junk Lady"
Mrs. Anne Hodgeson	....	dog handler
Kevin Hudson	....	skin character
Brian James	....	puppeteer
Larry Jameson	....	creature workshop artist: "Nipper Sticks"
Jan King	....	puppeteer
Rollin Krewson	....	creature workshop artist: "The Wiseman", "Alph" and "Ralph"
Ronnie Le Drew	....	puppeteer
Terry Lee	....	puppeteer
Christopher Leith	....	puppeteer
Michael McCormick	....	goblin armor designer
Gates McFadden	....	choreographer (as Cheryl McFadden)
Wendy Midener	....	creature workshop artist: "Junk Lady", "Goblins", "Fairy Lichen" and "Birds" (as Wendy Froud)
Michael Moschen	....	choreographer
Ron Mueck	....	creature workshop artist: "The Chilly Downs" and "The Wiseman"
Ron Mueck	....	puppeteer: "Ludo" and "Firey"
Kathryn Mullen	....	puppeteer
Angie Passmore	....	puppeteer
Mike Petersen	....	puppeteer (as Michael Petersen)
Connie Peterson	....	creature workshop supervisor
Nigel Plaskitt	....	puppeteer
Gary Pollard	....	creature workshop artist: "Worm" and "Nipper Sticks"
Judy Preece	....	puppeteer
Mike Quinn	....	puppeteer (as Michael Quinn)
Gillie Robic	....	puppeteer
Ian Rolph	....	creature workshop artist: "The Wiseman" and "Worm"
Tim Rose	....	creature workshop artist: "Knockers"
David Rudman	....	puppeteer
Neal Scanlan	....	creature workshop artist: "Didymus" (as Neal Scanlon)
Kaefan Shaw	....	puppeteer: "Firey" (as Kevin Bradshaw)
David Showler	....	puppeteer
Polly Smith	....	creature workshop artist: "Hoggle", "Didymus", "Goblins" and "Riding Goblins"
Linda Spriggs	....	mime double: Hoggie (as Linda Springs)
Robin Stevens	....	puppeteer
Ian Tregonning	....	puppeteer
Mary Turner	....	puppeteer
Robert Tygner	....	puppeteer
Steve Whitmire	....	puppeteer: "The Four Guards" and "Firey"
Ian Whittaker	....	creature workshop artist: animated goblin masks
Mak Wilson	....	creature performer
Mak Wilson	....	puppeteer
Francis Wright	....	puppeteer
Albert Alfaro	....	puppet designer (uncredited)
Elaine Schreyeck	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Thanks
Maurice Sendak	....	acknowledgment

Production Companies

• Henson Associates (HA) (presents)
• Lucasfilm (presents)
• Jim Henson Company, The
• Delphi V Productions
• TriStar Pictures

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• Transmundo Films (1986) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Editora Europa (Brazil) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• LK-TEL (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2005) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• Mundial Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Nelson Entertainment (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (Brazil) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (2-disc deluxe edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Transmundo Home Video (THV) (Argentina) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Digital Productions (main title sequence)
• Optical Film Effects (optical effects and painted mattes)
• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (painted mattes)

Other Companies

• Arkadon  field recorder (as Arkadon Motion Control)
• Joe Dunton & Company  anamorphic lenses
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• The Estate of M.C. Escher  thanks

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:L | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/6 | South Korea:12 | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G (original rating) | Australia:PG (cable rating) | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | UK:U | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Elstree, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Henson Associates (HA)

Trivia:

In the scene where Toby is seated on Jareth's lap, the baby has a fixed and hypnotized look off-camera as Jareth murmurs evilly into his ear. In fact, Toby screamed so much during the many takes of this scene, that something had to be done to keep him quiet. Fortunately, a crew member had a glove-puppet Sooty. For the duration of Jareth's speech, David Bowie had the Sooty puppet on one hand (out of shot) gently wiggling to distract Toby. The child was entranced, hence the hypnotic stare, and the perfect silence.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the fight with the guards, the gate leading into the city is open on one side. But when Ludo calls the rocks, the gate is suddenly closed again, and the rocks push on it from the outside.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Sarah: Give me the child. Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great...
[thunder rumbles]
Sarah: For my will is as strong as yours, my kingdom as great... Damn. I can never remember that line.
[Sarah looks up the line from the Labyrinth book]
Sarah: You have no power over me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Venture Bros.: Showdown at Cremation Creek: Part 2 (#2.13)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

UNDERGROUND

I wish someone had handed me over to the Goblin King when I was a kid!

Cool film! Way too good for children. Jim Henson, as ever, is the absolute master of every kind of puppetry known to man or muppet.Particularly adorable is the little punk worm who invites Sarah to "Come inside and meet the missus"... very cute. The plot has all the essential elements of a good fairy tale with the added bonus of a heroine who manages to get through all her trials and tribulations without squealing feebly or fainting into the arms of any poxy bloke. David Bowie is wonderfully sexy (despite the fright wig) and his natural humour shines through although his character does a pretty good job of being spiteful and menacing. I get the feeling the he really enjoyed making this film. The soundtrack is excellent and "As the World Falls Down" is quite hauntingly beautiful ('though I have to agree with an earlier reviewer that the ballroom sequence in which it was played did slow the action down a little - but it was a visual feast).

All in all, a beautiful film with a wonderful cast of creatures and humans. Makes me miss Jim Henson's talents lots but at least we've still got Brian (his son). My friend's three year old now has a crush on the Goblin King (I dread to think how that's gonna shape her life!).