Labyrinth

Dir: Jim Henson

1986

*****

David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, Jim Henson, Puppets, fantasy, written by a Python, what's not to love about 1986's Labyrinth? It's one of my absolute childhood favourites and one of Jim Henson's masterpieces. Written by Monty Python's Terry Jones with additional material added by Elaine May (Tootsie), Laura Phillips (Fraggle Rock) and George Lucas, Labyrinth is a dark and surreal fantasy with plenty of adventure and lots of good humour. Humour was quite important for Jim Henson as he thought that his previous non-Muppet film The Dark Crystal had probably been a bit too dark for the target audience. Terry Jones was asked to write it because of his comedy and also because Henson's daughter had just read Eric the Viking and loved it. The film isn't exactly how Jones wrote it but it certainly benefits from the additional re-writes from the eclectic group of screenwriters. Muppet regulars Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Frank Oz and Kevin Clash are among the puppeteers as is Jim's son Brian Henson who provided lead voice work and Kenny Baker and Warwick Davis of Star Wars fame. Jennifer Connelly beat the likes of Helena Bonham Carter, Yasmine Bleeth, Sarah Jessica Parker, Marisa Tomei and Laura Dern to play Sarah, whose baby brother is captured by the Goblin King, played by David Bowie. Bowie was always first choice to play Jareth The Goblin King although Sting, Mick Jagger, Prince and Michael Jackson were all considered when Bowie was initially uncertain if it was something he wanted to be a part of or indeed would have time for. Jim Henson soon realised that no one would be able to do the character justice and followed Bowie on tour and finally won him over with the finished script. The rest is history. I don't know anyone who doesn't love Labyrinth, it was certainly the talk of my school back in 1986 but the box office takings weren't as positive. Brian Henson has said since that it was the first time he witnessed his father become completely demoralized and close to packing it all in, and it was to become the last film he would ever direct before his death four years later. However, before he died he acknowledged the fact that the film was fast becoming a cult hit and was said to be lifted in realising this. I'm not sure if it counts as a cult hit anymore though, surely it is now a recognised masterpiece, an amazing fantasy film for all ages and one of the best films of the 1980s no?