» Original Title: Ladyhawke
» Productio date: 1984
» Country: USA
» Runtime: 121 min
» Genre: Romantic/Fantasy Adventure

» Estimated Bugget: $20.000.000
» Box-Office Gross: $18,432,000 (USA)

Matthew Broderick Phillipe Gaston	Michelle Pfeiffer Isabeau d'Anjou	Rutger Hauer Captain Etienne Navarre	Leo McKern Father Imperius the Monk	John Wood Bishop of Aquila	Ken Hutchison Marquet	Alfred Molina Cezar

Director - Richard Donner
Screenply - Edward Khmara, Michael Thomas, David Peoples and Tom Mankiewicz
[based upon a story by Edward Khmara]
Producers - Richard Donner and Lauren Shuler
Executive Producer - Harvey Bernhard
Director of Photography - Vittorio Storaro
Production Design - Wolf Kroeger
Music - Andrew Powell [produced by Alan Parsons]
Edition - Stuart Baird
Casting - Marion Dougherty
Costume Design - Nanà Cecchi

Production Company:
Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributor USA:
Warner Bros. Pictures

Phillipe (Matthew Broderick), a pickpocket in 13th-century France, is thrown into a dungeon, but escapes and tries to elude the palace guards in the thick of a nearby forest. Rescued by Navarre (Rutger Hauer), a mysterious knight, Phillipe is eager to be on his way, but the knight refuses to set him free, eventually filling him in on his secret. Navarre, the former chief guard for an evil bishop (John Wood), was involved in a romance with the bishop's mistress Isabeau (Michelle Pfeiffer). When the bishop learned of the affair, he appealed to the gods and had the lovers cursed. As a result the two take on different forms—Navarre, a wolf by night, and Isabeau, a hawk by day—never again able to embrace each other as humans.

Majestically photographed, LADYHAWKE is a joy to look at, employing some beautiful techniques to capture the transformations. Unfortunately, the synthesized soundtrack is drastically out of place (for some people) and out of character. Hauer, playing a more gentle role than usual, is excellent, but Pfeiffer, who looks stunning, isn't given much to do. While not without faults, LADYHAWKE is much more striking than many of Donner's other films.

A poetic, mythic tale of impossible love that was one of the overlooked films of 1985.

» 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 tune that Isabeau and Phillipe dance to in the stable is a genuine Italian 14th Century dance named "Trotto". The film also features a Renaissance piece by John Dowland.

» Richard Donner originally wanted to cast Rutger Hauer as the evil captain of the guard while casting a younger actor, Kurt Russell, as Navarre. Hauer wasn't interested in that role, but expressed interest in playing Navarre. When Russell dropped out a few days before principal photography began, the part was handed to Hauer.

» Warner Brothers falsely marketed the movie as being based on a true medieval legend. Edward Khmara took the issue to the Writers Guild Association and was awarded a cash settlement from Warners, but the medieval legend claim wasn't dropped, but on the other hand, the movie is set in the south of France and, based on certain astronomical events that occur, can be dated to 1239.

» The sword of Navarre was made for the movie. It is a style a generation older than the date of the movie (dated 1239, the eclipse in the film, which was confirmed in a conversation with Ed Khmara, the author).

» The sword, and the short sword, the dagger, and the crossbow were, and perhaps still are, on the wall above the fireplace in Richard Donner's family room. The creators were told this by a friend of his, Jeff Walker, who was fan liaison for Warner Brothers, and Amblin entertainment.

» In one scene, Navarre tells Philippe to ride his horse to Imperius' castle and slaps the horse's rear to make it ride. However, the first time the scene was filmed, Rutger Hauer (Navarre) slapped the horse too hard and it took off over the hill and off into the horizon. The horse was too powerful for Matthew Broderick to stop, so all everyone could do was sit and wait for him to come back.

» The breed of horse that Navarre rides is a Friesian stallion that originated in the Netherlands, Rutger Hauer's native country. The breed was popular among medieval knights.

» Catacombe, Rome, Lazio, Italy
» Campo Imperatore, L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy
» Rocca di Calascio, Calascio, L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy
» Castell'Arquato, Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
» Torrechiara, Langhirano, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
» Misurina, Auronzo di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy
» Soncino, Cremona, Lombardia, Italy

» 1986 - Academy Awards (Oscars), USA
- Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing: Robert G. Henderson & Alan Robert Murray (Nominated)
- Best Sound: Les Fresholtz, Dick Alexander, Vern Poore and Bud Alper (Nominated)

» 1986 - Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films (Saturn Awards), USA
- Best Costumes: Nanà Cecchi (Won)
- Best Fantasy Film (Won)
- Best Actress: Michelle Pfeiffer (Nominated)
- Best Music: Andrew Powell (Nominated)

» 1986 - Hugo Awards
- Best Dramatic Presentation (Nominated)

» 1986 - Motion Picture Sound Editors (Golden Reel Awards), USA
- Best Sound Editing - ADR (Won)
- Best Sound Editing - Sound Effects (Won)

» 1986 - Young Artist Awards
- Best Family Motion Picture - Adventure (Nominated)