Given the recent loss of David Bowie it only seemed fair to sit down on Sunday, duvet in hand and throw on Labyrinth.
Released in 1986 this fantasy musical directed by Jim Henson and George Lucas, starring David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly is exactly what you would expect when these minds, along with Brian Froud as the conceptual designer, come together.
The film focuses on Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), a selfish 15-year-old played by who has accidentally wished for her baby brother Toby to be whisked away by Jareth the Goblin King (David Bowie). She is given just 13 hours to reach Jareth’s castle at the centre of an enormous labyrinth to rescue her little brother who will turn into a goblin if not rescued.
When released it was considered a flop having only grossed $12.7 million during its theatrical run but those figures really don’t reflect the wonders that this movie offers.
As I mentioned before the three people pushing this film were great minds in their own right and having some amazing works behind their belt at this stage they were able to balance this movie perfectly. The plot was just right, the music added an eerie ’80s fantasy charm and the muppets added great character with some joy and a bit of creepiness in equal measure.
Henson was able to create these magical looking puppets through his company Henson‘s Creature Shop. You can tell that they all shared the same vision allowing Henson to use the puppets in the right way that would not lead to some cheesy disaster. Lucas obviously was a great storyteller and believed that this mattered. And where do I even start with the music! Bowie’s tones and his unique voice fitted perfectly with the subject and fantastical nature of the film. The writers were able to add to the balance making for a great background on which to place the music and the scenery
This film really stuck with me throughout my childhood for many reasons. The muppets were a huge deal for me, as prior to that I had only really been into cartoons and animations but these fluffy little guys provided something otherworldly and new for my imagination. Particularly the red cat like creatures that sang “Chilly Down”… definitely gave me chills and straight up freaked me out. To this day the fact that they still freak me out is a testament to the lifespan of this film.
I return to the film every so often and new reasons to love it all over again would come up. The “You Remind Me Of The Babe” song was an awakening for many a teenager at that time I’m sure; Sarah was the moody adolescent that every teen could identify with at the time. Sarah showed us teenagers that you can always come back from your mistakes (even catastrophic ones like wishing your brother away). She realises her error and becomes the strong hero that is determined to defeat Jareth..
Re-watching it as an adult you are a bit more honed in to the subtle darkness of characters and the sheer intelligence of the symbolism of the film and the guys behind it. In one scene you can really identify that Jareth isn’t above jealously despite his lack of competition with Hoggle as he punishes the dwarf after Sarah gives him a kiss. The darkness of Jareth’s character is delved in a little deeper during the scene “You Remind Me Of The Babe”.
As mentioned earlier if Sarah had failed, Toby would have turned into a goblin. Now as a child this didn’t phase me but watching it again I was shaken instantly with the question of how all the other goblins come to be. Had he been stealing children for a very long time? Not only that but what would have happened if Sarah had decided to stay with Jareth. He begged her to stay with him and love him forever. What age was Jareth? How strange that he would have fallen in love with her while she was so young. I’m still asking these questions, years after first having watched it.
It truly is a unique film, loved by children and adults for its magic, music and puppets telling two stories within one narrative one for the younger audience while affording adults a borderline thriller characteristics particularly down to Bowie‘s unforgettable performance.
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This is a very under-rated 80’s movie. And I can’t understand why! It’s David Bowie with puppets. What more do you want?! But in all seriousness, this was an amazing film. Hen sons puppet work was very creative and still holds up to this day. Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie deliver superb performances and on the subject of Bowie, his music was incredible. Magic Dance, As The World Falls Down, Underground and the song he sings while screwing with Sarah in the staircase scene are, to this day, some of his best works