27 Labyrinth Facts That Everyone Should Definitely Know!
Gallery
'Labyrinth' is a musical dark fantasy feature film with Jim Henson as the director, a well-known American puppeteer, cartoonist, screenwriter, director, and actor, and George Lucas as the executive producer.
Although the movie was a big flop, it gained recognition for the profound use of radio-controlled puppets. Today, the movie is recognized as a cult classic and one of the best puppet movies of all time.
A lot of work was put into making this movie, especially while creating the puppets, and not to be forgotten, Jennifer Connelly was only 16 years old while filming. The movie was able to gain fandom in later years, especially when released on VHS and DVD, and now it is there is talk of a spinoff sequel being filmed.
Storyline Of 'Labyrinth'
The storyline is one of the most important parts of a film because it is the storyline that reaches the heart of the viewers.
The story is about Sarah, a teenage girl who has to find and save Toby, her half-brother, by midnight.
Sarah is told to babysit Toby while her parents are out and is frustrated about having to do this.
She wishes that baby Toby is taken away by goblins.
Sarah's wish is granted by the Goblin King, Jareth, as goblins take Toby away. She later regrets that decision and asks Jareth to give Toby back.
Sarah is given until midnight before Toby is turned into a goblin.
A dwarf named Hoggle directs Sarah into a labyrinth where she needs to find her way to Toby.
She is put to the test and needs to face several challenges and traps.
She successfully faces all the challenges but Sarah falls for one of the traps set by Jareth.
Ultimately, Sarah escapes from the trap and then has to confront Jareth.
She faces Jareth with courage, defeats him, and they are sent home safely.
Sarah finally understands that Toby is important in her life.
Casting And Screenplay
Any movie is deemed to be as good as the actors in it. So casting is always of great importance and the casting of this movie is pretty interesting.
The script of this movie was first written by Terry Jones and then rewritten by multiple other writers including George Lucas.
Jim Henson was also considering Michael Jackson for the role of the Goblin King Jareth but Henson ended up giving the role to David Bowie.
Many celebrated actresses like Ally Sheedy and Marisa Tomei attended the auditions for the lead role, but after auditioning Jennifer Connelly, Henson knew he wanted her in the role of Sarah.
The role of the baby, Toby, was given to Toby Froud, son of Brian Froud.
Brian Froud was given the job of conceptual designing by Henson and he was behind most of the paintings and sketches that made the look of the movie.
The tricks using crystal balls in the movie were actually done by Michael Moschen but were shown as if they were David Bowie's hands.
One of the main puppet characters, Hoggle, was played by two people, Shari Weiser in a bodysuit and Brian Henson (Jim Henson's son) as the voice.
The creature character of The Wiseman was performed by the Puppeteer Frank Oz and the voice was given by Michael Hordern.
Cultural Impact
The movie was initially a failure but in later years it regained its popularity and became a well-known cult film.
Even after numerous years, many children used to know David Bowie as the character from the movie.
Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade ball is an event based on the movie that has been celebrated every year since 1997.
The movie-inspired event takes place in San Diego, Hollywood, and Los Angeles, and people attend the event dressed as characters from the movie.
The movie has multiple internet fan pages and there are a few pages that have a dedicated section with thousands of stories.
A book with Brian Froud's movie art was published in 1986 and later a deluxe edition was also published in 2006.
The movie was adapted into a picture book with detailed illustrations.
The movie was also adapted into a computer game in 1986, and later a Japanese version was also released of the game.
In recent years, multiple adapted books have been released by top publishers like Macmillan, and Boom Studios.
A musical stage show based on the movie was reportedly being worked on in 2018, so fans could expect that in the future.
In 2018 and 2019, a comic series was published portraying the story of the Goblin King.
FAQs
How many puppets are in the 'Labyrinth'?
Multiple puppets have been used throughout the movie but the 'Dance Magic' scene of this movie is known to have used over 48 puppets which were controlled by over 52 puppeteers.
What is the meaning behind the 'Labyrinth'?
The movie tells that self-empowerment is important. Life is never easy and fair with anyone, you should be strong and just go along with the flow, and if required it is important that you ask for help.
Who played Hoggle in 'Labyrinth'?
There were two people involved in making the character complete. Shari Weiser was the person in the bodysuit but the voice of Hoggle was given by Brian Henson, Jim Henson's son.
Who directed the movie?
The director of the movie 'Labyrinth' is Jim Henson, and Henson was a puppeteer himself.
Why is the movie so famous?
The movie is most known for the phenomenal usage of radio-controlled puppets, and today this movie has become a part of the greatest puppet movies of all time.
How old was David Bowie in 'Labyrinth'?
David Bowie was 38 years old when he played the character of the Goblin King in the movie 'Labyrinth'.
We Want Your Photos!
More for You
See All
Doctorate specializing in Veterinary Medicine
Oluniyi AkandeDoctorate specializing in Veterinary Medicine
With an accomplished background as a Veterinarian, SEO content writer, and public speaker, Oluniyi brings a wealth of skills and experience to his work. Holding a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Ibadan, he provides exceptional consulting services to pet owners, animal farms, and agricultural establishments. Oluniyi's impressive writing career spans over five years, during which he has produced over 5000 high-quality short- and long-form pieces of content. His versatility shines through as he tackles a diverse array of topics, including pets, real estate, sports, games, technology, landscaping, healthcare, cosmetics, personal loans, debt management, construction, and agriculture.
Disclaimer
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.
