Time Bandits

Time Bandits (first released on July 13, 1981) is a fantasy film, produced and directed by Terry Gilliam (who created animations for Monty Python's Flying Circus), and is the most famous of the more than 30 theatrical features produced by Handmade Films, the London-based independent company backed in part by former BeatleGeorge Harrison. Gilliam wrote the screenplay with fellow Python alumnus Michael Palin, who appears in the film in multiple roles.

Related Topics:
July 13 - 1981 - Fantasy film - Terry Gilliam - Animation - Monty Python's Flying Circus - Handmade Films - George Harrison - Michael Palin

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The story begins with a young boy named Kevin being kidnapped from his bedroom by a group of dwarves who have just stolen a map. The map is no ordinary map: it is a map of time portals, holes in the fabric of space/time. The map allows the holder extraordinary powers by allowing him or her to jump from time to time through the portals. The dwarves stole the map from the Supreme Being, apparently a title for God. Initially they worked for him, creating the world and universe. After being demoted to the Supreme Being's Repairs Department, the dwarves decided to use the map, entrusted to them for use in repairing the space/time fabric, to get "stinkin' rich". However, the Source of all Evil (personified by David Warner) is also after the map to gain control of the universe from the Supreme Being.

Related Topics:
Dwarves - God - World - Universe - David Warner

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The band of thieves roams history stealing all that they can, from Mycenaean Greece to the early twentieth century. With the unsolicited assistance of Evil, they are transferred to the Time of Legends and journey to the Fortress of Ultimate Darkness where they confront Evil. The bandits get much the worse of the encounter until the appearance of the Supreme Being, in the person of a middle-aged gentleman in a rumpled business suit played by Ralph Richardson.

Related Topics:
Mycenaean Greece - Twentieth century - Ralph Richardson

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Tagline: All the dreams you've ever had - and not just the good ones..

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Kevin is played by Craig Warnock, who has since gone on to play keyboards for New Wave of New Wave/ Britpop band These Animal Men and lately Mo Solid Gold. Kenny Baker of R2-D2 fame plays one of the dwarves, whose leader, Randall, is played by David Rappaport. Sean Connery (as King Agamemnon), Ian Holm (as Napoleon) and fellow Python John Cleese (as Robin Hood) also appear.

Related Topics:
Craig Warnock - New Wave of New Wave - Britpop - These Animal Men - Mo Solid Gold - Kenny Baker - R2-D2 - David Rappaport - Sean Connery - Agamemnon - Ian Holm - Napoleon - John Cleese - Robin Hood

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The names of the dwarves are Randall, Fidgit, Strutter, Og, Wally and Vermin. The characters make reference to a dwarf named "Horseflesh" who has apparently died sometime previously. In a preface to the published screenplay, the writers note that an early draft of the script included a part in the film for the Horseflesh character. However, during the revision process, the writers realized that releasing a film with seven dwarf characters might get them in legal trouble, hence the need to kill off Horseflesh prior to the beginning of the story. Despite this, it seems as though the role of Horseflesh was cast, as Marcus Powell is credited with the role in the closing credits.

Related Topics:
Screenplay - Legal trouble - Marcus Powell

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As might be expected given the participation of half of the Monty Python troupe, the film was much remarked on for its dark sense of humor. It also was the first film in which Gilliam's unique visual style was fully extant: he would go on to develop the style further in his subsequent fantasy films Brazil and The Adventures of Baron Munchhausen. Students of Gilliam's films have dubbed these three movies the so-called "Trilogy of the Imagination," in that the connecting link shared by each film is the fact that each celebrates the spirit of imagination, and is anchored by a central character whose imagination is suppressed by forces not of his own choosing or design (in this case, Kevin). In each film, the character must undergo a fantastic journey that will allow his imagination to be given its freedom as God (here called the Supreme Being) had originally intended.

Related Topics:
Brazil - The Adventures of Baron Munchhausen

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The computer game Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress is loosely based on this film.

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A sequel to Time Bandits has been the subject of rumors, and Terry Gilliam once expressed his intentions of making a sequel. However, with three of the six "Bandits" now dead (David Rappaport, Jack Purvis and Tiny Ross) a sequel seems unlikely.

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In addition, those who peruse the film's complete credit sequence may notice that executive producer George Harrison is credited with "songs and additional material"; whereas, the musical underscoring and orchestrations are credited to Mike Moran, with Ray Cooper, Elton John's longtime percussionist, serving as producer of the musical material. Harrison did in fact write songs for the film at the request of co-executive producer Denis O'Brien; but the song score was apparently developed without the participation of Terry Gilliam. As a result, the only song attributed to Harrison, "Dream Away," which the former Beatle performs, is heard over the aforementioned credits. Sometime following the release of "Time Bandits," "Dream Away" was included on Harrison's album "Gone Troppo," on his own Dark Horse record label. The recording of "Dream Away" was produced by George Harrison and Ray Cooper in collaboration with Phil MacDonald; Mike Moran appeared on keyboards and synthesizers; and Billy Preston, Syreeta and Sarah Ricor joined Harrison as backing vocalists.

Related Topics:
George Harrison - Elton John - Billy Preston

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"Time Bandits" was filmed at Lee International Studios, Shepperton, Middlesex, England, and on location in England, Wales and Morocco.

Related Topics:
England - Wales - Morocco

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