Time Bandits (1981)

Country of Origin: UK
Year of Production: 1981
Running Times: 110m (USA)/116m (UK)
Length:
Format: 35mm
Colour Format: Technicolor
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 (negative ratio)/1.66:1 (intended ratio)
Sound: Dolby Stereo

DIRECTION

Directed by: Terry Gilliam

PRODUCTION
Copyright: © Handmade Film Partnership 1981
Production Company: Handmade Films present
Executive Producers: George Harrison & Denis O'Brien
Produced by: Terry Gilliam
Associate Producer: Neville C. Thompson
Production Manager: Graham Ford

SCRIPT
Written by: Michael Palin & Terry Gilliam

DIRECTION
2nd Unit Director: Julian Doyle
1st Assistant Director: Simon Hinkly
2nd Assistant Director: Guy Travers
3rd Assistant Directors: Mark Cooper, Chris Thompson
Continuity: Penny Eyles

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Peter Biziou
Camera Operator: David Garfath
Focus Puller: Bob Stilwell
2nd Unit Focus Puller: Brian Herlihy
Clapper/Loader: Simon Fulford
2nd Unit Clapper/Loader: Simon Haveland
Gaffers: Roy Rodhouse, Reg Parsons
Best Boy: Chuck Finch
Electricians: Stuart Monteith, Tug Wilson
Grip: Freddie Fry
2nd Unit Grip: Tony Andrews
Stills: Clive Coote
Camera Equipment: Joe Dunton Cameras
Lighting Equipment: Lee (Lighting) Lighting

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Julian Doyle
Assistant Editor: Rodney Glenn
2nd Assistant Editor: Adam Unger
Processing by: Technicolor

MUSIC
Music Score Composed and Orchestrated by: Mike Moran
Music Produced by: Ray Cooper
Music Production Sound Effects: Andre Jacquemin
Percussion Sequences by: Ray Cooper
Music Director: Harry Rabinowitz
Sound Engineer: John Richards
Music Recorded at: CTS Studios, Wembley

SONGS AND ADDITIONAL MUSIC
Songs and Additional Material by: George Harrison
Greek Dance Music: Trevor Jones

"Me and My Shadow"
Arranged by Trevor Jones
Composed by Rose Jolson/Dreyer
Published by Francis Day & Hunter

Other Music by: Music De Wolfe, Ready Music

SOUND
Sound Mixer: Garth Marshall
Boom Operator: Bob Doyle
Sound Maintenance: Philip Chubb
Dubbing Mixers: Paul Carr, Brian Paxton
Dubbing Editor: Stanley Fiferman
Dialogue Editor: Mike Hopkins
Footsteps Editor: Dino Di Campo
Sound Re-recorded at: Roger Cherrill Ltd

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Costumes Designed by: Jim Acheson in association with Hazel Côté
Assistant Costume Designer: T. Stephen Miles
Wardrobe Mistress: Dorothea Smylie
Wardrobe Assistants: Gilly Hebden, Tony Williams, Dai Murch
Costumiers: Richard Cattermole, Dorothy Williams
Hairdressing & Make-Up by: Maggie Weston & Elaine Carew
Assistant Make-Up: Sue Frear
Wigs and Beards Made by: Kenneth Lintott

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special FX Senior Technician: John Bunker
Special FX Technician: Ross King
Special FX Consultants: Chris Verner, Andy Thompson
Special FX Modellers: Chris Overs, Lewis Coleman
Special FX Runner: Chris Ostwald
Trolls Made by: Ray Scott

VISUAL EFFECTS
Model Maker: Val Charlton
Assistant Modelmakers: Carol De Jong, Jean Ramsey, Alix Harwood, Behira Thraves
Models Photographed by: Julian Doyle
Matte Paintings: Ray Caple
Fortress of Ultimate Darkness Designed by: Westbridge Studios

TITLES AND OPTICALS
Optical Effects: Kent Houston, Paul Whitbread
Assisted by: Tim Ollive, Dennis De Groot, Peerless Camera Co. Ltd., London

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Milly Burns
Art Director: Norman Garwood
Assistant Art Director: Celia Barnett
Draughtsman: Steve Cooper
Production Buyer: Karen Brookes
Property Master: Peter Grant
Stand By Props: John Cole, Dave Newton
Dressing Props: Ray Perry
Prop Dresser: Steve Wheeler
Storeman: Frank Marks
Drapes: Ron Cowan
Construction Manager: Peter Verard
Sculptors: Geoff Rivers Bland, Laurie Warburton
Supervising Carpenter: Len Day
Carpenters: Micky Fisher, Gary Hedges, Dennis Bovington, Steve Fitzwater, Norman Fletcher, Robert Devine
Stand By Carpenter: Craig Hillier
Painters: John Davey, Bob Mason
Stand By Painters: Graham Bullock, Alan Grenham
Scenic Artist: Graham Menage (uncredited)
Plasterers: Eric Nash, Michael Melia, Bruce Newell, James Taylor
Riggers: Dave Everall, Richard Harris, Les Beaver
Stand By Rigger: Dave Wiggins
Stagehand: John Tregear
Stand By Stagehand: Douglas Cox

OTHER CREW
Accountant: Brian Bailey
Assistant Accountants: Ray Parsons, Michael Yell
Accounts Secretary: Geraldine Dunn
Production Assistant: Linda Bruce
Producer's Assistant: Rachel Neale
Production Runner: Steve Parker
Puppet Show by: John Styles
Unit Drivers: Brian Brookner, Tony Hocking
Greek Dance Choreography: Tom Jobe
Foreign Location Travel: Moving Movies
"Og the Pig" Supplied By: Mike Hearst
"Benson the Dog" Supplied by: Joan Woodgate

LOCATIONS
Filmed at Lee International Studios and on location in England [Haywood, Birch Hill, Bracknell, Berkshire], Wales [Raglan Castle, Gwent, Wales, UK] and Morocco
Location Manager: Patrick Cassavetti

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
With special thanks to: Shirley Draffan, Simon Burridge, Peter Simms, Yvette Warnock
Raglan Castle by kind permission of The Ancient Monuments Branch, Welsh Office

STUNTS
Stunts Arranged by: Peter Brayham, Terry Yorke
Wireman: Bob Harman

CASTING
Casting Director: Irene Lamb

CAST

John Cleese (Robin Hood)
Sean Connery (King Agamemnon)
Shelley Duvall (Pansy)
Katherine Helmond (Mrs. Ogre)
Ian Holm (Napoleon)
Michael Palin (Vincent)
Ralph Richardson (Supreme Being)
Peter Vaughan (Winston the Ogre)
David Warner (Evil Genius)

David Rappaport as Randall
Kenny Baker as Fidgit
Malcolm Dixon as Strutter
Mike Edmonds as Og
Jack Purvis as Wally
Tiny Ross as Vermin

and
Craig Warnock as Kevin

Also Appearing
David Daker (Kevin's Father)
Sheila Fearn (Kevin's Mother)
Jim Broadbent (Compere)
John Young (Reginald)
Myrtle Devenish (Beryl)
Brian Bowes (stunt knight/Hussar)
Leon Lissek (1st refugee)
Terence Bayler (Lucien)
Preston Lockwood (Neguy)
Charles McKeown (theatre manager)
David Leland (puppeteer)
John Hughman (The Great Rumbozo)
Derrick O'Connor (robber leader)
Neil McCarthy (2nd robber)
Declan Mulholland (3rd robber)
Peter Jonfield (arm wrestler)
Derek Deadman (Robert)
Jerold Wells (Benson)
Roger Frost (Cartwright)
Martin Carroll (Baxi Brazilia III)
Marcus Powell (Horseflesh)
Winston Dennis (bull-headed warrior)
Del Baker (Greek fighting warrior)
Juliette James (Clytemnestra)
Ian Muir (giant)
Mark Holmes (troll father)
Andrew MacLachlan (fireman)
Chris Grant (voice of TV announcer)
Tony Jay (voice of Supreme Being)
Edwin Finn (Supreme Being's face)

UNCREDITED CAST

Frances de la Tour (Salvation Army major)

PLOT SUMMARY

Young Kevin's life is turned upside down one night when a knight on horseback appears from his bedroom wardrobe, following by a gang of dwarf thieves on the run from the Supreme Being after stealing his map showing the flaws in His greatest creation. Using these "time holes", the Time Bandits are able to plunder the treasures of history and soon Kevin is on a breathtaking chase through time and space.

Canada
Theatrical Distributor: New World-Mutual

UK
Theatrical Distributor: Handmade Films Ltd

USA
Theatrical Distributor: AVCO Embassy Pictures
Video Distributor: Paramount Home Entertainment
DVD Distributors: Criterion (CC 1552D); Anchor Bay (DV 10685)

Australia
Rating: PG

Finland
Rating: K-12

France
Rating: U

Sweden
Rating: 15

UK
Rating: PG

USA
Rating: PG

West Germany
Rating: 6

1982
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, USA
President's Award - winner

Hugo Awards, USA
Best Dramatic Presentation - nominated

1983
Fantasporto, Portugal
International Fantasy Film Award Best Film (Terry Gilliam) - nominated

1981
July
13: UK - theatrical release

November
13: USA - theatrical release

1982
February
12: Sweden - theatrical release

March
18: West Germany - theatrical release

1983
February
Day Unknown: Portugal - shown at the Fantasporto Film Festival
11: Finland - theatrical release

1999
March
30: USA - DVD release (Criterion (CC 1552D))

May
4: USA - DVD release (Anchor Bay (DV 10685))

2001
December
12: France - theatrical re-release

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

...they didn't make history, they stole it!

Aikavarkaat - Finnish title
Banditi del tempo, I - Italian title
Bandits, bandits - French title
Bandyci czasu - Polish title
Héroes del tiempo, Los - Spanish title
Ladroes do Tempo, Os - Portugese title
Rosvoja, rosvoja! - Finnish title
Varas för banditerna, Det - Swedish title

PERIODICALS

Correio da Manha, TV 21 August 1998 p.30 (Portugal)
review

KEYWORDS

Ancient Greece, bandits, children, cosmic zooms, deities, dwarves, giants, God, knights, magic, Napoleon, Robin Hood, shipwrecks, surrealism, time travel, The Titanic, transformations

Last Updated: 3 October, 2009