The Last Unicorn

Shawn · Feb 9, 2014

[CONTAINER][POSTER]

[/POSTER][MOVIE]Title: The Last Unicorn

Tagline: There's Magic in Believing!

Genre: [GENRE]Animation[/GENRE], [GENRE]Fantasy[/GENRE], [GENRE]Family[/GENRE]

Director: [DIRECTOR]Jules Bass[/DIRECTOR], [DIRECTOR]Arthur Rankin Jr.[/DIRECTOR]

Cast: [ACTOR]Alan Arkin[/ACTOR], [ACTOR]Jeff Bridges[/ACTOR], [ACTOR]Mia Farrow[/ACTOR], [ACTOR]Tammy Grimes[/ACTOR], [ACTOR]Angela Lansbury[/ACTOR], [ACTOR]Christopher Lee[/ACTOR], [ACTOR]Nellie Bellflower[/ACTOR], [ACTOR]Don Messick[/ACTOR], [ACTOR]Keenan Wynn[/ACTOR], [ACTOR]Robert Klein[/ACTOR], [ACTOR]Paul Frees[/ACTOR], [ACTOR]Rene Auberjonois[/ACTOR], [ACTOR]Brother Theodore[/ACTOR], [ACTOR]Jack Lester[/ACTOR], [ACTOR]Ed Peck[/ACTOR], [ACTOR]Kenneth Jennings[/ACTOR], [ACTOR]Gerry Beckley[/ACTOR]

Release Date: [RELEASE]1982-11-19[/RELEASE]

Runtime: [RUNTIME]92[/RUNTIME]

Plot: [PLOT]From a riddle-speaking butterfly, a unicorn learns that she is supposedly the last of her kind, all the others having been herded away by the Red Bull. The unicorn sets out to discover the truth behind the butterfly's words. She is eventually joined on her quest by Schmendrick, a second-rate magician, and Molly Grue, a now middle-aged woman who dreamed all her life of seeing a unicorn. Their journey leads them far from home, all the way to the castle of King Haggard.[/PLOT][/MOVIE][/CONTAINER]

Shawn · Feb 9, 2014

I've always meant to read the source material on this one. It's such a sweet-and-sour fairy tale where not everything is a happy ending. It's brutally honest in how reality should play out even in a fantasy setting. Nothing happens as you would think it would. For example:

Molly Grue is a an older and jadded woman who ran away with bandits to live a fantasy life of song and adventure, only to find herself cooking and doing the laundry for a bunch of thugs. When she meets the unicorn she is not overjoyed, but is angry and in tears because the Unicorn didn't come to her when she was young and innocent like it was supposed to. "Where were you when I needed you?" It's an amazingly heartbreaking moment from an animated film.

Frank · Feb 9, 2014

To this day, to some friends, I will still randomly point and screech, "UUUUUUNICOOOOORN! HAGGARD, HAGGARD, UUUUUUUUUUUUUNICOOOORN!"

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Just Me · Feb 9, 2014

"She will remember you when men are only fairy tales in books written by rabbits."
One of my favorite metaphors.

Everything about this movie is just great and wonderful, even the dark parts.
"What is the use of wizardry if it cannot save a unicorn?" - "That is what heroes are for."

This is one of the very few movies I actually manage to view once a year!

Cajungal · Feb 9, 2014

Such a good story. I read the book every year.

"Have a taco!"

PatrThom · Feb 9, 2014

Dangit, @Shawnacy, that's TWO of "my" movies you've stolen now. This is what I get for having a stupid work schedule this week.

This movie follows the book more faithfully than any other I've seen. The VHS copy has a scene which was deleted from the DVD due to language (Wherein a character says "Damn you!") but is otherwise intact. The voice casting was nigh on perfect (though they maybe could've found some stunt singers...Mia Farrow and Jeff Bridges can act, but they certainly can't sing!)

--Patrick

David · Feb 9, 2014

PatrThom said:
Dangit, @Shawnacy, that's TWO of "my" movies you've stolen now. This is what I get for having a stupid work schedule this week.

This movie follows the book more faithfully than any other I've seen. The VHS copy has a scene which was deleted from the DVD due to language (Wherein a character says "Damn you!") but is otherwise intact. The voice casting was nigh on perfect (though they maybe could've found some stunt singers...Mia Farrow and Jeff Bridges can act, but they certainly can't sing!)

--Patrick

I distinctly recall the "damn you" from the DVD, but it's been a few years since I last watched. Are there multiple versions, perhaps?

PatrThom · Feb 9, 2014

Might be. I'm referring to the 25th anniversary release, but it's been a while since I've had a DVD (any DVD) in my player that wasn't for the 5-and-under set.
Hmm...looks like some have it and some don't. I can't even remember if the missing scene is on the one I have, or one that I might've watched at someone else's place.

--Patrick

Cheesy1 · Feb 9, 2014

Another childhood favorite of mine.

Celt Z · Feb 10, 2014

I love this movie so much, I ended up with the dvd, the book and the soundtrack. Except for one chapter, this may be the most faithful adaptation I've ever seen. There's also something about the Rankin & Bass style of animation I've always associated with the look of high fantasy.