LADYHAWKE
US, 1985, 121 minutes, Colour.
Matthew Broderick, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rutger Hauer, Leo Mc Kern, John Wood, Alfred Molina.
Directed by Richard Donner.
Ladyhawke is a beautiful mediaeval legend. Photographed exquisitely on Italian locations, it re-creates a spectacular mediaeval world. The mountains, the mediaeval towns and cities, the great cathedrals are given great prominence. The photography is by veteran Italian photographer, Vittorio Storaro.
The screenplay was written by Ed Khmara, author of Enemy Mine. Rutger Hauer, usually a grim villain, is sombre as the hero. Michelle Pfeiffer is attractive as the heroine.. The show is stolen by Matthew Broderick (Max Dugan Returns, War Games) as the young minstrel thief, Philippe. Leo Mc Kern rumbles a lot as Father Imperius and John Wood is excellent as the villainous Bishop.
The film has the elements of the sword and sorcery features so popular in the early '80s but transcends them with its visual presentation of a mediaeval legend. Direction is by Richard Donner (The Omen, Superman the Movie).
1. An entertaining mediaeval legend? The delight in the plot, the action, the visual beauty, the imagination?
2. The location photography, the beauty of Italy, the landscapes, the towns, castles, the cathedral? The re-creation of the Middle Ages? Battles? Magic? The importance of beauty of day and the darkness of night? Reality and fantasy?
3. The pageantry of the film, the visual equivalent of the film, the visual equivalent of a poetic legend? The mediaeval style score?
4. Philippe as thief and troubadour? His nickname 'The Mouse'? Matthew Broderick and his style (20th century American)? Audience liking for him, sympathy? His imprisonment, his escape, his skills in getting out of dangerous situations? The drama and the humour of his pursuit? The town, the dangers, the help from the people, his survival? The rescue by the Black Knight? His becoming his servant and squire? His fascination with the knight and his hawk? The puzzle of the knight's disappearance? The appearance of the beautiful woman? The appearance of the wolf? The battles, the wounding of the hawk? The visit to Father Imperius? The attack on Aquila? His entering the jail by the way that he escaped? The opening of the gates? The final battles? His going off with Father Imperius? An engaging performance? The audience sharing his adventures and perspective?
5. The events in Aquila: the Bishop and his tyrannical rule? The story of the curse on Isabeau, on Etienne of Navarre? The help of Father Imperius? His leaving Aquila? The Bishop as a hypocritical symbol of evil? The pomp and ceremony of his being Bishop? The final confrontation in the cathedral? the destruction of evil?
6. The eclipse, the lifting of the curse?
7. The hawk and the wolf? Symbols of the curse? The anguish for Isabeau and Navarre? The experiences of night and day? Their secrecy? Philippe and his fascination, fear of the wolf, fascination with the hawk? Discovery of the truth?
8. Navarre as hero, the knightly Captain of the Guard, the mediaeval chivalry, his quest, being accompanied by the hawk? His melancholy and devotion to the hawk? His appearance as the wolf? By Isabeau's side? His encounter with Philippe, saving him, his squire? The visit to Father Imperius? The urgency of healing Isabeau? The battles, the siege of Aquila? The eclipse? The presence of the two at the one moment and the lifting of the curse? The appropriate happy ending?
9. Isabeau and the infatuation of the Bishop, his cruelty and curse? Her becoming the Ladyhawke? Her appearances as Isabeau? Accompanying the wolf? The friendship with Philippe and his treating her as a Madonna? The battles and her being wounded? Imperius and his healing? The lifting of the curse and the happy ending?
10. Imperius and his background, alone, crotchety, nursing Isabeau back to health? His reformation, return? The happy ending and Philippe accompanying him?
11. The presentation of the armies, the dangers, the attacks, the battles, weaponry? Marquet and the hunt, the final duel?
12. The popularity of mediaeval legend and beauty? Exercises in fantasy?
