Captain Etienne Navarre is a man on whose shoulders lies a cruel curse. Punished for loving each other, Navarre must become a wolf by night whilst his lover, Lady Isabeau, takes the form of a hawk by day. Together, with the thief Philippe Gaston, they must try to overthrow the corrupt Bishop and in doing so break the spell.
Matthew Broderick
Phillipe Gaston
Rutger Hauer
Captain Etienne Navarre
Michelle Pfeiffer
Isabeau d'Anjou
Alfred Molina
Cezar
John Wood
Bishop of Aquila
Leo McKern
Father Imperius
Ken Hutchison
Marquet
Giancarlo Prete
Fornac
Loris Loddi
Jehan
Charles Borromel
Insane Prisoner
Massimo Sarchielli
Innkeeper
Nicolina Papetti
Mrs. Pitou
Alessandro Serra
Mr. Pitou
Venantino Venantini
Bishop's Secretary
Nanà Cecchi
Bishop's Woman
Gregory Snegoff
Cart Driver
Benito Stefanelli
Bishop's Guard
Omero Capanna
Fornac's Man (uncredited)
Giovanni Cianfriglia
Fornac's Man (uncredited)
Nello Pazzafini
Fornac's Man (uncredited)
Augusto Funari
Fornac's Man (uncredited)
Domenico Cianfriglia
Fornac's Man (uncredited)
Gino Marturano
Fornac's Man (uncredited)
Franco Moruzzi
Fornac's Man (uncredited)
Umberto De Luca
Fornac's Man (uncredited)
Mario Novelli
Fornac's Man (uncredited)
Claudio Zucchet
Fornac's Man (uncredited)
Giuseppe Marrocco
Priest (uncredited)
Aldo Formisano
Priest (uncredited)
Director
Richard Donner
Screenplay
Michael Thomas
Screenplay
Tom Mankiewicz
Screenplay
David Webb Peoples
Screenplay, Story
Edward Khmara
April 4, 2022
6
Matthew Broderick is quite spritely in this mystical adventure. He breaks out from prison, using the sewers ("just like leaving the womb") where he, luckily, encounters "Navarre" (Rutger Hauer) just as he is about to become toast. The man travels with a hawk, and soon we discover that he and the hawk have a distinct synergy - the hawk is "Isabeau" (Michelle Pfieffer) by night; he a terrifying wolf then. How to break the curse? Well, they must face the ruthless bishop (John Wood) in his stronghold of Aquila, and the bishop's men are hunting all of them. It's quite an enjoyable fantasy this. Broderick talks too much (maybe I'd have hanged him too) but there is plenty of swordplay; mischief from Broderick's "Gaston the Mouse"; a little comedy from an on-form Leo McKern and it all looks quite stylish. It is a bit too long, it could probably lose twenty minutes, and there is far too much of the score but the falconry photography is fine and the ending lively. Worth a watch.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$20,000,000.00
Revenue:
$18,432,000.00