The Black Cauldron [25th Annivesary] [Special Edition]

Overview

Another of Disney's animated features, this one is perhaps not as well known and certainly not a classic, but still good entertainment for the young ones or for animation buffs. There are impressive Disney animation and memorable characters, but it just never quite came up to the classic standard of other Disney films. Still and all, however, it is a magic and sword animated film in which a young boy must keep a black cauldron from the hands of an evil Horned King. Classic good guys versus evil.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/14/2010
UPC:	0786936765021
Original Release:	1985
Rating:	PG
Source:	Walt Disney Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:20:00

Special Features

New! The Witches' Challenge Game; New! Deleted Scene: The Fairfolk; "The Quest For Black Cauldron" Game; Short - "Trick Or Treat" Cartoon Starring Donald Duck and His 3 Nephews; Still Frame Gallery

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Grant Bardsley	Taran
Susan Sheridan	Eilonwy
Freddie Jones	Dallben
Nigel Hawthorne	Fflewddur Fflam
Arthur Malet	King Eidilleg
John Byner	Gurgi/Doli
Eda Riess Merin	Orddu
Adele Malis-Morey	Orwen
Billie Hayes	Orgoch
John Hurt	Horned King
John Huston	Narrator,Narrator
Lindsay Rich	Fairfolk
Brandon Call	Fairfolk
Gregory Levinson	Fairfolk
Phil Fondacaro	Creeper
Wayne Allwine	Henchman
James Almanzar	Henchman
Steve Hale	Henchman
Jack Laing	Henchman
Eda Reiss Merin	Orddu
Phil Nibbelink	Henchman
Peter Renaday	Henchman
Elmer Bernstein	Composer

Technical Credits

Ted Berman

Richard Rich

Joe Hale

Ron Clements

Vance Gerry

David Jonas

Roy Morita

John Musker

Al Wilson

Roy Edward Disney

Rosemary Anne Sisson

Art Stevens

Peter Young

Pete Young

Ted Berman	Director,Screenwriter
Richard Rich	Director,Screenwriter
Joe Hale	Producer,Screenwriter,Screenwriter
Ron Miller	Executive Producer,Producer
Ron Clements	Screenwriter
Vance Gerry	Screenwriter
David Jonas	Screenwriter
Roy Morita	Screenwriter
John Musker	Screenwriter
Al Wilson	Screenwriter
Roy Edward Disney	Screenwriter
Rosemary Anne Sisson	Screenwriter
Art Stevens	Screenwriter
Peter Young	Screenwriter
Pete Young	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

The Black Cauldron is an unusual film from Disney that was supposed to mark a new era for its animation division. Instead, it failed at the box office and Disney would not recover until The Little Mermaid in 1989. A departure from the company's usual tendency to cheer up mythical stories, The Black Cauldron is an appropriately dark adventure-fantasy that benefits from the absence of any superfluous songs. Produced with a cruder animation style during the studio's rocky times in the late '70s and early '80s (starting with The Aristocats), it still looks excellent, filmed in 70mm and employing some computer animation enhancement. The story was based on two books from Lloyd Alexander's children's novel series The Chronicles of Prydain. Providing a predictable tale, it bears similarities to the Star Wars saga as well as a Raiders of the Lost Ark-style ending. Perhaps due to the PG rating, surreal settings, and evil characters, The Black Cauldron was a huge commercial flop upon its theatrical release, but it remains notable as an uncommonly risky Disney animated feature.