Getting out from under the shadow of Monty Python proved difficult for Terry Gilliam early in his solo career — no one in America would finance any films for him — so while he waited to get his big movie, “Brazil,” off the ground, he wrote a script for an idea he’d been kicking around that would appeal to the whole family. “Time Bandits” proved to be a box office success and still is one of Gilliam’s most profitable movies, allowing him to make “Brazil” immediately afterward and continue in the business. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we dig into his 1981 film. We talk about how this film struck us at an early age and how we find it now, thrilled that Gilliam made a children’s film that didn’t need to gloss anything over for kids but kept it raw and edgy. We chat about the slew of actors running all through it — from the brilliance of the kid and six dwarfs in the titular roles to all the fantastic cameos and bit parts scattered through it (and, of course, most notably the brilliant David Warner playing Evil in the best way possible). We discuss the theological views of the story and how these views don’t really affect the film, which can be viewed as simply a children’s film still. And we look at the amazing world building done by Gilliam in this film and how he couldn’t have done it without the help of his brilliant costume designer, production designer and art director. It’s a film that holds up incredibly well for us and holds a special place in our hearts. We have a great chat about it, so check it out and tune in!
Film Sundries
- Script ($)
- Original theatrical trailer
- Original poster artwork
- Flickchart
- Very Naughty Boys: The Amazing True Story of HandMade Films
- Get your very own replica of the Time Bandits map!
