The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy

John Neville	Hieronymus Karl Frederick Baron von Munchausen
Eric Idle	Desmond/Berthold
Sarah Polley	Sally Salt
Oliver Reed	Vulcan
Charles McKeown	Rupert/Adolphus
Winston Dennis	Bill/Albrecht
Jack Purvis	Jeremy/Gustavus
Valentina Cortese	Queen Ariadne/Violet
Jonathan Pryce	The Right Ordinary Horatio Jackson
Bill Paterson	Henry Salt
Uma Thurman
Tutto, Ray B.

Director	Terry Gilliam
Writer	Rudolph Erich Raspe; Gottfried August Bürger

An account of Baron Munchausen's supposed travels and fantastical experiences with his band of misfits.

Monty Python's Terry Gilliam (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) directs this wild, wild version of the stories of Baron Munchausen, pushing the limits of 1989 special effects technology to bring us such sights as a horse divided in half and running around in two parts, and a giant Robin Williams with his head flying off his shoulders. Basically, this is a treat for Gilliam fans, as the sustaining idea of the film runs out of steam, and manic energy alone keeps the momentum going. Casual viewers might find it tedious after awhile. There are nice parts for fellow Python Eric Idle, as well as Sting, Alison Steadman, and Uma Thurman as a dazzlingly beautiful Venus on a half-shell. Gilliam had greater artistic and commercial success with Brazil, The Fisher King, and 12 Monkeys. --Tom Keogh