Black Cauldron (1985) (Disney) [VHS]

Version I saw: Amazon Instant Video streamActors: 6/10Plot/script: 5/10Photography/visual style: 5/10Music/score: 6/10Overall: 6/10The Black Cauldron has a reputation as the film about which Disney are faintly embarrassed, and would rather people didn't know about. The film has never had the publicity of others in the Disney stable, taking a long time to reach home video and DVD release. It would seem to have been a ruinously expensive box office flop, and investigations into the background reveal board-level personality clashes and fractious internal politics. I don't know about you, but that sounds intriguing to me.The film has problems, certainly. It is generally agreed to be considerably darker in tone than almost any other Disney film, and rather darker then studio execs were comfortable with. What first struck me, though, was not the tonal darkness but physical darkness. Throughout the early part, it was irritatingly difficult to even see what was happening on screen, even with brightness and contrast turned up to maximum. Thereafter, too, there is an odd discrepancy between the sumptuous, subtly shaded, almost canvas painting style backgrounds, and the simplistic design of the foreground characters, all thick lines and blocks of colour.There is a comparison to be drawn between The Black Cauldron and The Sword in the Stone. Apart from the medieavalish period setting, there is a distinct similarity in character design, and indeed the art style of the film in general. Thematically, though, it has far less in common with Disney in general than it does with Brian Froud's faerie illustrations and Lord of the Rings. In terms of the latter, some of the similarities are a bit too close to comfort. We have a Sauron-clone with Nazgul-clones, other incompetent lackeys (less unique, but still something in common) and a Gollum-clone. Admittedly, it could be that these were inserted by Disney based on Tolkien's popularity, and even if they are in Lloyd Alexander's source text, The Chronicles of Prydain, he would not be the first or the last to copy the seminal master of fantasy fiction.The writing has other problems. I found it short on the honed wit that brightens Disney pieces both before and since. Some bemoan the American committee style of writing, claiming that it leads to a certain soullessness, but at least a room full of brains can be counted on to deliver the zingers. Also, the main character Taran has very little about him to incline me to root for him. He is not strong, which is fairly standard, but neither is he clever, or brave, or even witty. His only real virtue seems to be luck, and even this abandons him at times in the narrative. This is especially a problem given how long he spends alone before companions are introduced.At least when other characters appear, they include a strong female character. Or do they? Certainly, Princess Eilonwy has personality, and a more engaging screen presence than Taran, but for the most part she seems content to tag along behind, and be a bit sassy. Still, that's a step up from Sleeping Beauty.So why 6 out of 10 and not lower? Two factors: Elmer Bernstein's excellent, strident orchestral score - exactly what one would expect from a cinematic legend of his pedigree - and the ending. I will try not to spoil it, but I found the deviation from the "hero saves the day" convention very refreshing. The virtues displayed in obtaining victory are not the sort to be usually found in this kind of film. That papered over a lot of cracks for me.In some ways, I was a little disappointed that it was not more repellent, or otherwise inappropriate, which would have been an entertainment in itself. I suppose that will have to wait until I can seek out and watch 'Song of the South'...For my full review, see my independent film blog on Blogspot, Cinema Inferno: http://cinemainferno-blog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/the-black-cauldron-1985.html

This is a film that really made an impression on me when I saw it in the cinema as a child. Not normally a fan of the saccharine Disney style, I hadn't been keen to go and see it. However, I came away from the cinema with a totally different opinion of Disney. This is a much darker film than their usual fare, with the usual schmaltz mixed with a good dose of what can only be described as horror.Telling the tale of Taran, a pig keeper who gets mixed up in the war against the Horned King, who needs the magical and evil Black Cauldron of the title in order to bring alive his army of undead warriors. There are the usual Disney elements here - talking animals, comedy villain sidekicks and moral lesson. But much, much, darker than usual with the demonic Horned King (voiced by an underused John Hurt), and armies of skeletal spectral warriors creeping across the land. I loved it then, and I love it now.I'm not sure the U certificate is totally appropriate, I think a PG would be better. As a 9 yr old kid I know it gave me nightmares!This is a nice presentation, 5.1 surround sound (which shows of Elmer Bernstein's excellent score nicely). In widescreen. The colours seem a bit washed out and dingy at times, but if memory serves it was like that in the initial cinema release.Well worth getting, especially for those looking for something a little different from the usual Disney fare.

this is an underrated and seemingly largely forgotten Disney feature. It's pleasingly dark (too scary really for small children - but then so is all the best Disney, e.g. Beauty and the Beast, Pinocchio, Lilo & Stitch, etc.), handsomely animated, and has a strong voice cast. It's concise and well-structured enough to never outstay its welcome, and though it might appear generic "high fantasy," it's different enough and magical enough to have its own identity. If anything, it's almost too slight: it feels as if it should be longer and more epic - or as if it needs to be a chapter in a bigger saga (and it is of course an adaptation of the first / second book in Lloyd Alexander's "Chronicles of Prydain" series of fantasy novels.) But I think it definitely succeeds more than it fails, and in among the dark fantasy it also has a charming sense of innocence and honesty, refreshingly free of the sort of post-ironic, irritatingly "meta," gratingly smart-mouthed and "Oooooo-look-at-me-and-how-clever-and-knowing-I-am!" winks at the audience which permeate so many modern animated features. It's an entertaining, well-made, well-told story. Worth 79 minutes of your time. I'd recommend that if you watch it you also get hold of the five books in the Chronicles of Prydain series and read them too. You'll enjoy the film more by being able to contextualise it in this way, and you'll find out the full story!

The Black Cauldron is a 1985 American animated feature dark fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and originally released to theaters on July 24, 1985. The twenty-fifth animated feature in the Disney Animated Canon and Disney's first PG-rated animated film, the film is based on Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain book series, which is in turn based on Welsh mythology.The film centers around the evil Horned King who attempts to secure the Black Cauldron in order to rule the world. The Horned King is opposed by the heroes Taran, Princess Eilonwy, Fflewddur Fflam and Gurgi.The film is directed by Ted Berman and Richard Rich, and stars the voices of Grant Bardsley, Susan Sheridan, Freddie Jones, Nigel Hawthorne, and John Hurt. A video game based on the film was released in 1986. The film is notorious for being a major box office disaster for the Disney company and being considered one of the worst entries in the Disney Animated Canon (along with Home on the Range and Chicken Little). Though, the film has gained a cult following.