Terry Gilliam

Jabberwocky

Jabberwocky

Amid the filth and muck of England in the Dark Ages, a fearsome dragon stalks the land, casting a shadow of terror upon the kingdom of Bruno the Questionable. Who should emerge as the only possible savior but Dennis Cooper (Michael Palin), an endearingly witless bumpkin who stumbles onto the scene and is flung into the role of brave knight? Terry Gilliam’s first outing as a solo director—inspired by Lewis Carroll’s poem “Jabberwocky” and made following Gilliam’s success as a member of the iconic comedy troupe Monty Python—showcases his delight in comic nonsense, with a cast chock-full of beloved British character actors. A giddy romp through blood and excrement, Jabberwocky remains one of the filmmaker’s most uproarious visions of society gone berserk.

Film Info

  • United Kingdom
  • 1977
  • 105 minutes
  • Color
  • 1.85:1
  • English
  • Spine #903

Director-Approved Special Edition Features

  • New 4K digital restoration by the BFI National Archive and The Film Foundation, approved by director Terry Gilliam, with 5.1 surround soundtrack mix supervised by Gilliam
  • Audio commentary from 2001 featuring Gilliam and actor Michael Palin
  • New documentary on the making of the film, featuring Gilliam, Palin, producer Sandy Lieberson, and actor Annette Badland
  • New interview with Valerie Charlton, designer of the film's creature, the Jabberwock, featuring her collection of rare behind-the-scenes photographs
  • Audio interview with cinematographer Terry Bedford from 1998
  • Selection of Gilliam’s storyboards and sketches • Original UK opening sequence
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Scott Tobias

    New cover by F. Ron Miller based on an original theatrical poster by Terry Gilliam

Purchase Options

Director-Approved Special Edition Features

  • New 4K digital restoration by the BFI National Archive and The Film Foundation, approved by director Terry Gilliam, with 5.1 surround soundtrack mix supervised by Gilliam
  • Audio commentary from 2001 featuring Gilliam and actor Michael Palin
  • New documentary on the making of the film, featuring Gilliam, Palin, producer Sandy Lieberson, and actor Annette Badland
  • New interview with Valerie Charlton, designer of the film's creature, the Jabberwock, featuring her collection of rare behind-the-scenes photographs
  • Audio interview with cinematographer Terry Bedford from 1998
  • Selection of Gilliam’s storyboards and sketches • Original UK opening sequence
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Scott Tobias

    New cover by F. Ron Miller based on an original theatrical poster by Terry Gilliam
Jabberwocky
Cast
Michael Palin
Dennis Cooper
Terry Jones
Poacher
Warren Mitchell
Mr. Fishfinger
Annette Badland
Griselda Fishfinger
Brenda Cowling
Mrs. Fishfinger
Paul Curran
Mr. Cooper Sr.
John Le Mesurier
Chamberlain
Max Wall
King Bruno the Questionable
Harry H. Corbett
Squire
Rodney Bewes
The other squire
John Bird
First herald
Bernard Bresslaw
Landlord
Deborah Fallender
Princess
Neil Innes
Second herald and drummer
Graham Crowden
Fanatics’ leader
Jerold Wells
Wat Dabney
Credits
Director
Terry Gilliam
Producer
Sandy Lieberson
Executive producer
John Goldstone
Screenplay
Charles Alverson
Screenplay
Terry Gilliam
Associate producer
Julian Doyle
Cinematographer
Terry Bedford
Editor
Michael Bradsell
Production designer
Roy Smith
Art director
Millie Burns
Costumes
Hazel Pethig
Costumes
Charles Knode
Hair and makeup
Maggie Weston
Hair and makeup
Elaine Carew
Hair and makeup
Scota Rakison
Special effects
John F. Brown & Effects Associates
Monster creation
Valerie Charlton
Monster creation
Clinton Cavers
Monster creation
Jen Effects

Current

Jabberwocky and the Joys of Nonsense
Jabberwocky and the Joys of Nonsense

Lewis Carroll’s imaginative spirit and love for nonsensical language is a guiding force in Terry Gilliam’s brilliantly antic medieval fantasy Jabberwocky.

Jabberwocky: Through the Looking Glass and  What Terry Found There
Jabberwocky: Through the Looking Glass and What Terry Found There

Terry Gilliam plunges into the filth and absurdity of medieval England with this grim fairy-tale comedy.

By Scott Tobias