Time Bandits is what you would call a product of the 80s in that it’s a bit crazy and definitely not confined to any one stretch of imagination. The Dwarves that go gallivanting about with the map created by the Supreme Being are just flat out nuts despite the fact that they work for the Supreme Being, and aren’t too shy about taking the young boy, Kevin, along for the ride. Of course they don’t seem to always care that much about his well-being since he gets stranded at one point in ancient times until they finally come back to retrieve him. The whole movie is akin to a giant thrill ride that promises laughs and a chance to shake your head at the confusing antics of the actors and the story as it continues to unfold.
To be honest I’d forgotten all about this movie.
10. The script somehow ended up in Sean Connery’s hands and he was interested.
Connery wasn’t even thought of for the script aside from the fact that the part of Agammemnon need to be played by ‘someone looking like Sean Connery’. It was kind of a happy accident that he said yes.
9. The director accidentally jumped off a scaffolding and landed on Shelly Duvall.
To be fair he was trying to show his actors what not to do while hitting their mark, he just wasn’t entirely successful in his direction.
8. Mrs. Ogre was left to act without makeup to make it funnier.
The original actress couldn’t fulfill the role so they brought in another woman and decided to forego the heavy makeup and other parts of the costume to make it appear a little more comical.
7. The Invisible Barrier scene was more than just acting.
One of the actors thought a little too highly of himself and this scene was more about the other actors letting him know just how frustrated they were with him.
6. The film was shot from a lower vantage point.
This was to give the idea that the film was being shot from a dwarf’s, or a kids, vantage point so as to give the film a little perspective.
5. The Evil Genius needed a double to walk up the stairs since the original actor suffered from vertigo.
You would kind of think that a guy suffering from vertigo wouldn’t be cast in a role where he might have to ascend any stairs. But that’s what doubles are for.
4. Sir Ralph Richardson actually put in his own edits.
He went so far as to red ink the parts he didn’t like, citing that ‘God wouldn’t like that’.
3. No studio wanted to fund this movie.
The funding had to come from elsewhere due to the fact that no studio wanted to touch this film.
2. The director had to exit the set at times since he was laughing so hard.
The one guy on the set that’s supposed to be stoic at most times really needs to bottle it up whenever possible, but laughter is going to happen.
1. John Cleese’s part only took two days to film.
After all he was only the film for a little over three minutes.
Does anyone remember this film? If you were growing up in the 80’s it’s possible.
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