Ladyhawke [1985] dir Richard Donner

Ladyhawke (1985)


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089457/

Ladyhawke is a 1985 fantasy film directed by Richard Donner, and starring Matthew Broderick, Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer. It was novelized by Joan D. Vinge.

Ladyhawke is based on a 13th century legend of a beautiful woman, Isabeau (Michelle Pfeiffer) and the love of her life the former Captain of the Bishop's Guards, Etienne Navarre (Rutger Hauer). It seems that Isabeau (that's 13th Century French for "Is a Babe") is so lovely that she is also courted by the evil Bishop of Aquila (John Wood). She is already in love with Navarre and scorns the Bishop's love. The lovers reveal their love to the monk Father Imperius (Leo McKern) who in turn, "in a drunken confession to his superior" tells the Bishop. The Bishop is overcome with lust and jealousy and strikes a deal with Satan. If he cannot have her then no one will. With that a terrible spell is cast. During the day, the beautiful Isabeau is turned into a hawk. And at night the brave and handsome Navarre takes on the form of a wolf. They see each other in human form only for a split second at sunrise and sunset. Forever together, eternally apart. The only way the spell can be broken is if they confront the Bishop together on a day when there is no night and a night when there is no day. For those of us who are meteorologically challenged this does not seem possible. Or is it?

Matthew Broderick ... Phillipe Gaston
Rutger Hauer ... Captain Etienne Navarre [yummy!]
Michelle Pfeiffer ... Isabeau d'Anjou
Leo McKern ... Father Imperius the Monk
John Wood ... Bishop of Aquila
Ken Hutchison ... Marquet
Alfred Molina ... Cezar
Giancarlo Prete ... Fornac
Loris Loddi ... Jehan
Alessandro Serra ... Mr. Pitou
Charles Borromel ... Insane Prisoner
Massimo Sarchielli ... Innkeeper
Nicolina Papetti ... Mrs. Pitou
Russel Case ... Lieutenant (as Russell Kase)
Donald Hodson ... Guard on Cart (as Don Hudson

Imagery
Dr. E.C. Krupp, director of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, cites the film in his book Beyond the Blue Horizon as a modern example of archaeoastronomical eclipse imagery. The shapeshifting elements are shared with two medieval lais by Marie de France — "Bisclavret", the tale of a werewolf, and "Yonec", in which a knight transforms into a falcon — and are also reminiscent of the ancient symbologies of solar hawk and night wolf.

Music
The music of the film was composed by Andrew Powell, a composer and orchestrator most well known for his work with Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson for The Alan Parsons Project. Donner stated in the soundtrack's liner notes that he had been location-scouting with a steady soundtrack of the Projects' albums, and so he married music style to pictures in his mind before the film was even begun. Powell wrote the score and approached Parsons to produce the music, thus making it appear to be an instrumental album of the band. Parsons is often mistaken as the composer for the film.

The soundtrack also includes orchestral works and genuine medieval and renaissance tunes; when Phillipe and Isabeau dance in the stables, the tune they dance to is a genuine Italian 14th century dance named Trotto. The film also includes a genuine Renaissance piece by John Dowland.

A kind of "alternative soundtrack" has been written by the German composer Frank Fojtik (*1977). His symphonic poem Ladyhawke retells the story of the movie in about 18 minutes by using a Wagnerian leitmotif technique and a musical language in the tradition of romantic composers such as Anton Bruckner and Richard Strauss.

Ladyhawke a New Zealand singer songwriter used the title of the movie for her stage name.

Filming locations
Ladyhawke was filmed in Italy, principally in the Province of L'Aquila, as well as in the provinces of Parma, Piacenza and Cremona. Castles include Torrechiara, Fontanellato, Bacedasco and Castell'Arquato. Some of the exterior scenes were shot in Campo Imperatore, a high plain adjacent to the Apennines' highest peak, and at the ancient ruin of Rocca Calascio, Italy's highest fortress -- both Campo Imperatore and Rocca Calascio are in the Province of L'Aquila and within Italy's Gran Sasso National Park. Other locations include Rocca Sforzesca in Soncino in the Province of Cremona. Despite the location, in the Italian edition of the movie the main town wasn't called Aquila, but Auguignon


Academy Awards, USA
1986 Nominated Oscar Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing Robert G. Henderson Alan Robert Murray
1986 Nominated Oscar Best Sound Les Fresholtz Rick Alexander (as Dick Alexander) Vern Poore Bud Alper

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
1986 Won Saturn Award Best Costumes Nanà Cecchi
1986 Won Saturn Award Best Fantasy Film
1986 Nominated Saturn Award Best Actress Michelle Pfeiffer
1986 Nominated Saturn Award Best Music Andrew Powell

Hugo Awards
1986 Nominated Hugo Best Dramatic Presentation

Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA
1986 Won Golden Reel Award Best Sound Editing - ADR unknown
1986 Won Golden Reel Award Best Sound Editing - Sound Effects unknown

Young Artist Awards
1986 Nominated Young Artist Award Best Family Motion Picture - Adventure