Willow (film)
| Willow | |
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Theatrical release poster by John Alvin
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| Directed by | Ron Howard |
| Produced by |
George Lucas Joe Johnston Nigel Wooll |
| Screenplay by | Bob Dolman |
| Story by | George Lucas |
| Starring | |
| Music by | James Horner |
| Cinematography | Adrian Biddle |
| Edited by |
Daniel P. Hanley Mike Hill Richard Hiscott |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
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Release date
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Running time
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126 minutes |
| Country | United States United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $35 million |
| Box office | $57.3 million |
| Willow | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by James Horner | |
| Released | 1988 |
| Genre | Film music |
| Length | 69:23 |
| Label | Virgin |
| Producer | James Horner, Shawn Murphy |
Willow is a 1988 British-American high fantasy film directed by Ron Howard, produced and with a story by George Lucas, and starring Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Jean Marsh, and Billy Barty. Davis plays the eponymous lead character and hero: a reluctant farmer who plays a critical role in protecting a special baby from a tyrannical queen who vows to destroy her and take over the world in a high fantasy setting.
Lucas conceived the idea for the film in 1972, approaching Howard to direct during the post-production phase of Cocoon in 1985. Bob Dolman was brought in to write the screenplay, coming up with seven drafts before finishing in late 1986. It was then set up at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and principal photography began in April 1987, finishing the following October.
The majority of filming took place at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, England, as well as Wales and New Zealand. Industrial Light & Magic created the visual effects sequences, which led to a revolutionary breakthrough with digital morphing technology. The film was released in 1988 to mixed reviews from critics, but was a modest financial success, received two Academy Award nominations, and has developed a cult following amongst fantasy fans.
A prophecy states that a female child with a special birthmark will herald the downfall of the evil sorceress Queen Bavmorda. Bavmorda imprisons all pregnant women in her realm to prevent fulfilment of the prophecy. When the prophesied child Elora Danan is born, the mother begs the midwife to hide the infant and smuggle her to safety. The midwife reluctantly accepts and leaves Nockmaar castle unnoticed. The mother is executed, the midwife is hunted down and eventually found. Knowing she cannot escape, she sets the baby on a makeshift raft of grass and sends her down the river hoping for fate to run its course. The midwife is killed by Nockmaar hounds. Bavmorda, furious about the escape, summons her daughter Sorsha and her army's commander, General Kael to find the baby.
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Wikipedia