Ladyhawke
is a 1985 fantasy film directed by Richard Donner, starring Matthew Broderick, Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer.
In medieval Europe a thief called "The Mouse" escapes the dungeons of Aquila, setting in motion a chain of events that may save or destroy a beautiful woman and a brave captain. The two lovers are doomed to lifelong separation by a demonic curse invoked by the corrupt and jealous Bishop of Aquila: by day Isabeau is transformed into a real hawk (the "Ladyhawke" of the title), while at night Navarre becomes a black wolf. But the monk Imperius has found a way to break the curse, if the Mouse can get them back into Aquila.
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LADYHAWKE TICKETS
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Plot
In twelfth century Europe, Phillipe Gaston, "The Mouse" (
Matthew Broderick), is a thief facing execution who escapes the dungeons of Aquila to flee into the countryside. The Bishop of Aquila (
John Wood) sends his Captain of the Guard Marquet (
Ken Hutchison) to find and kill Phillipe; he and his soldiers corner him, but are foiled by a mysterious black knight known to them as Captain Navarre (
Rutger Hauer), who travels with a beautiful and devoted hawk. Marquet warns the Bishop of Navarre's return, who among other things summons Cezar (
Alfred Molina), the wolf trapper.
Navarre tells Phillipe why he saved him: he needs Phillipe's unique knowledge to enter Aquila and kill the Bishop. As they travel Phillipe becomes aware of mysterious and frightening events surrounding them, including the appearance at night of a black wolf and a stunningly beautiful woman (
Michelle Pfeiffer), who is unafraid of the wolf.
Navarre and the hawk are wounded in another encounter with the Bishop's men; Navarre sends the hawk with Phillipe to the old monk Imperius (
Leo McKern), to heal her. At the ruined castle Phillipe finally realizes the truth, which Imperius confirms: the hawk is a woman named Isabeau of Anjou, who came to live in Aquila after her father died at
Antioch (see
First Crusade). All who saw her fell in love with her, including the powerful and corrupt Bishop. But Isabeau was already in love with his Captain of the Guards, Etienne of Navarre, with whom she secretly exchanged vows.
Accidentally betrayed by their confessor, Imperius, they fled. In his insane jealousy the Bishop made a demonic pact to ensure they would be "Always together; forever apart": by day Isabeau becomes a hawk, by night Navarre becomes a black wolf. Neither has any memory of their half-life in animal form; only at dusk and dawn of each day can they see each other in human form for one fleeting moment, but can never touch.
In despair Navarre plans to kill the Bishop or die in the attempt, making the curse irrevocable. But Imperius has discovered a way to break the curse; he and Phillipe must convince the lovers to try. If they can win through the adventures that befall them (including an encounter with Cezar), in three days' time a solar eclipse at Aquila will create "a day without a night and a night without a day": when the lovers stand together in human form before the Bishop, the curse will be broken.
Cast
- Matthew Broderick
as Phillipe Gaston
- Rutger Hauer
as Captain Etienne Navarre
- Michelle Pfeiffer
as Isabeau d'Anjou
- Leo McKern
as Father Imperius
- John Wood
as Bishop of Aquila
- Ken Hutchison
as Marquet
- Alfred Molina
as Cezar
- Giancarlo Prete
as Fornac
Soundtrack
The film's score was composed by
Andrew Powell. Richard Donner stated that he was listening to
The Alan Parsons Project (on which Powell collaborated) while scouting for locations, and became unable to separate his visual ideas from the music. Powell combined traditional orchestral music and
Gregorian chants with contemporary
progressive rock-infused material, to controversial effect. It has been cited as the most memorable example of the growing trend among 1980s fantasy films of abandoning the lush orchestral scores of composers such as
John Williams and
James Horner in favour of a modern pop/rock sound.
[1]
Filming locations
Ladyhawke
was filmed in
Italy, principally in
L'Aquila, a medieval town in the
Abruzzo region; the alpine meadow of
Campo Imperatore served as a prominent exterior location, while the final scene was filmed at
Rocca Calascio, a ruined fortress atop a mountain. In the region of
Emilia-Romagna, the castles at
Castell'Arquato in
Piacenza and
Torrechiara in
Parma (the castle of the movie) were also featured. Other Italian locations used include
Soncino in the
Lombardia region,
Belluno in the
Veneto region, and the
Lazio region around
Rome.
[2]
Critical reception
Ladyhawke
has a rating of 65% on
Rotten Tomatoes, based on 20 critics' reviews, indicating a fairly positive critical reception.
[3] Vincent Canby in the
New York Times
called the film "divided against itself," and went on to say that "scenes of high adventure or of visual splendor... are spliced between other scenes with dialogue of a banality that recalls the famous
Tony Curtis line, 'Yondah lies my faddah's castle.'"
[4] Time Out
called it "all rather facile sword-and-sorcery stuff, of course, but at times very funny... and always beautifully photographed."
[5] Variety
described the film as a "very likeable, very well-made fairytale... worthwhile for its extremely authentic look alone."
[6]
The
New York Times
singled out Matthew Broderick's skill in coming "very close to transforming contemporary wisecracks – particularly, his asides to God – into a more ageless kind of comedy," and said of Michelle Pfeiffer that her "presence, both ethereal and erotic, is so vivid that even when she's represented as a hawk, she still seems to be on the screen."
Variety
praised the casting of the lead actors, considering Pfeiffer "perfect as the enchanting beauty."
Time Out
called Rutger Hauer "camp" and Pfeiffer "decorative."
Andrew Powell's score has been widely criticised as "dated" in the years since the film's release; Rob Vaux of Flipside Movie Emporium described it as the "worst soundtrack ever composed."
Awards and nominations
Ladyhawke
was nominated for two
Academy Awards, in the categories of
Best Sound Editing and
Best Sound Mixing, winning neither. It won a
Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film, and was nominated in the categories of Best Actress (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Best Music (Andrew Powell).
[7]
References
- ''Ladyhawke'' - Soundtrack
- ''Ladyhawke'' - Filming locations
- ''Ladyhawke'' (1985) at Rotten Tomatoes
- ''Ladyhawke'' (1985), Review by Vincent Canby, April 12 1985
- ''Ladyhawke'' (1985), Review by ''Time Out''
- ''Ladyhawke'' (1985), Review by ''Variety'', January 1 1985
- ''Ladyhawke'' - Awards