Willow
.
Willow is a 1988 fantasy film directed by Ron Howard, based on a story by George Lucas.
Prior to Val Kilmer's selection, John Cusack and Matt Frewer were both considered for the role of Madmartigan. Once filming began, Val Kilmer improvised and ad-libbed much of his dialogue. Filming action scenes in the snow of a New Zealand winter prompted Val Kilmer to remark that he wished his wardrobe shirt had buttons, as the open shirt bared his chest to the cold.
Cast
Val Kilmer - Madmartigan
Joanne Whalley - Sorsha
Warwick Davis - Willow Ufgood
Jean Marsh - Queen Bavmorda
Patricia Hayes - Fin Raziel
Billy Barty - High Aldwin
Pat Roach - Gen. Kael
Gavan O'Herlihy - Airk Thaughbaer
David Steinberg
- Meegosh
Phil Fondacaro - Vohnkar
Tony Cox - Vohnkar warrior
Robert Gillibrand - Vohnkar warrior
Mark
Northover - Burglekutt
Kevin Pollak - Rool
Rick Overton
- Franjean
Maria Holvoe - Cherlindrea (as Maria Holvöe)
Julie Peters
- Kaiya Ufgood
Mark Vande Brake - Ranon Ufgood
Dawn Downing - Mims Ufgood
Michael Cotterill - Druid
Zulema Dene - Ethna
Joanna Dickens -
Barmaid
Jennifer Guy - The Wench
Ron Tarr - Llug
Sallyanne Law
- Mother
Ruth Greenfield - Elora Danan
Kate Greenfield - Elora Danan
Kenny Baker - Nelwyn band member
Peter Burroughs - Nelwyn villager
Gerry Crampton - Lieutenant in snow village
Kim Davis - Mountain villager
Samantha Davis - Nelwyn villager
Malcolm Dixon - Nelwyn band member
Valerie Gale - Villager
Rusty Goffe - Nelwyn villager
Cheryl Howard
- Mountain villager
Greg Powell - Nockmaar lieutenant
Nosher Powell
-
Jack Purvis - Nelwyn band member
David Sibley - Galladoorn warrior
Synopsis
A young farmer named Willow Ufgood (Warwick
Davis), one of a halfling-like people called Nelwyns, is drawn away from his sheltered
home to save Elora Danan (a baby girl with a destiny) from the evil Queen Bavmorda
(Jean Marsh) who would see her destroyed.
Willow is aided by the disillusioned master swordsman Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), who has turned to a life of roguery, sorceress Fin Raziel (Patricia Hayes), who has been turned into a possum by Bavmorda, as well as two diminutive brownies Franjean and Rool. They are initially thwarted, but later joined, by the queen's daughter Sorsha (Joanne Whalley).
In popular
culture
Willow is mentioned in the song Elvenpath by the Finnish metal band
Nightwish along with Bilbo, Sparrowhawk and the Snowman. The word 'daikinis' is
the inspiration for the name of Scottish indie band The Dykeenies.
Spanish rapper Tote King makes a reference to Willow in the song "Uno contra 20 MCs" from his album Música para enfermos: ¿qué tiene El Señor de los Anillos que no tenga Willow?, which translates as "what does The Lord of the Rings have which Willow doesn't have?"
The film has been the
subject of a running gag in the MST3K episode Village of the Giants, which starred
a young Ron Howard. During the movie, Mike Nelson and Tom Servo would repeatedly
mock Willow, sometimes going as far as saying that the episode's movie is better,
while Crow would always reply that he liked Willow.
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