The Last Unicorn (1982) – Review

Rankin/Bass Productions were never going to topple the Disney company when it came to creating animated classics. Still, in 1982, with a delightful adaptation of Peter S. Beagle’s The Last Unicorn, they gave it their best shot. And while this film didn’t set the box office on fire at the time, it has generated a lot of love and respect over the years.

The story begins in an enchanted forest, where a unicorn (Mia Farrow) lives in peaceful solitude and protected by her magical abilities. One day, she overhears two hunters discussing the absence of unicorns in the world, and she starts to wonder about the possibility of her being the last of her kind. Concerned and curious, the unicorn decides to leave the safety of her forest, and upon learning from a butterfly that a malevolent entity called the Red Bull has herded unicorns to the ends of the earth, she embarks on a journey to find out what happened to the other unicorns.

“Are there Trip Advisors for heroic journeys?”

As the unicorn travels through the human world, she is captured by a witch named Mommy Fortuna (Angela Lansbury), who runs a travelling carnival called the Midnight Carnival. Fortuna uses dark magic to disguise ordinary animals as mythical creatures to attract customers, and she recognizes the unicorn for what she truly is and traps her in an iron cage. At the carnival, the unicorn meets a melancholy harpy named Celaeno and a bumbling magician named Schmendrick (Alan Arkin). Schmendrick, who longs to be a great wizard, sees the unicorn’s true nature and helps her escape. An endeavour that results in the death of Mommy Fortuna at the claws of the harpy.

“At least I’m not going to be transformed into a teapot.”

Grateful for his help, the unicorn allows Schmendrick to accompany her on her quest and along the way, they are joined by Molly Grue (Tammy Grimes), the kind-hearted but world-weary wife of a Captain Cully (Keenan Wynn), who is the leader of a bunch of Merry Men wannabes. Molly has dreamed of seeing a unicorn her whole life, and she is both heartbroken and overjoyed to finally meet one, lamenting that the unicorn did not come to her when she was young. The group learns that the unicorns have been driven away by a fearsome creature known as the Red Bull, who serves the evil King Haggard (Christopher Lee). It turns out that the Red Bull has chased the unicorns into the sea, where they have disappeared. Determined to confront the Red Bull and free her kin, the unicorn and her companions head towards King Haggard’s castle and, needless to say, things get off to a rocky start.

This Red Bull will not give you wings.

To protect her from this terrifying beast, Schmendrick uses his magic to transform the unicorn into a human woman, whom they name Lady Amalthea. The transformation confuses the Red Bull, who loses interest and retreats. However, this change brings about an unforeseen complication. Lady Amalthea, the unicorn, begins to forget her true nature and starts to feel human emotions, including love. She and Prince Lír (Jeff Bridges), King Haggard’s adopted son, develop a romantic bond. But despite her growing feelings for Lír, Amalthea is tormented by the fading memory of her true self and the fate of the other unicorns. With time running out, Schmendrick and Molly encourage her to remember her mission. They confront King Haggard, who reveals that he knows Amalthea’s true identity and had indeed used the Red Bull to drive the unicorns into the sea, imprisoning them there so he could gaze upon them and feel joy in his otherwise empty life.

“I’m voiced by Christopher Lee, what did you expect?”

The group discover the secret lair of the Red Bull and soon find themselves once again facing its terrifying visage. Realizing that she must fulfill her quest, Lady Amalthea is transformed back into her unicorn form, despite her love for Lír, but with his help, and by that I mean he sacrifices himself in an attempt to protect her, the unicorn finds the courage to fight back. She leads the Red Bull into the ocean, where the unicorns trapped beneath the waves rise up in a powerful stampede, driving the Red Bull away and reclaiming their freedom. As they rush out of the sea, they flood Haggard’s kingdom, causing his castle to crumble and ultimately destroying him.

Beware, Unicorn Crossing.

Stray Observations:

• The opening credit montage does a great job of illustrating how Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass were inspired by the old medieval tapestries for their art direction, with “The Unicorn at Fountain” being openly referenced.
• If a passing butterfly gives you a riddle, is it a good idea to take it seriously? I could see listening to a talking cat or a talking pig, but I draw the line at taking a butterfly at their word.
• The unicorn design from this movie was later used in the 80s cartoon series Thundercats, which was also produced by Rankin-Bass Animated Entertainment.
• The dragon that Prince Lir faces incorporates the same roars originally used in the older Godzilla movies.
• Haggard claims to have four “Men at Arms” and while they do appear in the book, no hide nor hair of them is seen in this movie.

“Blasted budget cuts in animation!”

While this film didn’t have the budget of your average Disney production, what we do find here has an almost ethereal quality, blending traditional animation techniques with an artistic style that draws heavily from the book’s illustrations, and its distinct animation style stands apart from the Disney-dominated era of the time. The hand-drawn visuals, with their soft, flowing lines and pastel colour palette, create a dreamlike atmosphere that complements the film’s fantastical narrative. The film’s art style has a storybook feel to it, capturing the essence of a magical realm that is both beautiful and melancholy. This adaptation is also quite faithful to the source material, with the book’s author writing the screenplay, but there are some drastic changes from book to screen. While some of these are clearly made due to the time constraints of an animated film, others are stranger and problematic.

I certainly don’t remember this from the book.

The soundtrack, featuring songs by the folk-rock band America, is both a highlight and a source of contention. The music adds an ethereal, almost melancholic quality to the film, perfectly complementing its tone and themes – the main theme, “The Last Unicorn” is hauntingly beautiful and captures the film’s sense of wonder and loss – however, there are times when the songs come across as a little intrusive and harm the pacing of the movie. That said, the music, combined with the film’s melancholic tone, does elevate the narrative into something almost mythic, enhancing the sense of wonder and loss that pervades the story.

“I told you we should have cut one or two songs for the sake of pacing.”

The voice acting is also a highlight, with Mia Farrow bringing a delicate vulnerability to the unicorn, Tammy Grimes bringing a bittersweet and heartfelt performance to the character of Molly Grue, and Christopher Lee perfectly cast as the menacing King Haggard, providing the film with his iconic, commanding voice, imbuing the character with a sense of both brooding menace and unchecked sadness. Unfortunately, in the case of Alan Arkin and Jeff Bridges, even the most generous critic could, at best, call their performances serviceable. Even author Peter S. Beagle found Arkin’s approach to the magician to be rather “too flat” and uninspired.

“How dare he? What does an author know of Acting?”

Beneath its fantastical surface, The Last Unicorn deals with profound themes such as the inevitability of change, the loss of innocence, and the pursuit of identity. The unicorn’s journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about finding her kind. The film doesn’t shy away from exploring ideas of mortality, the passage of time, and the loss of innocence. There is a bittersweet quality to the narrative that is both deeply moving and refreshingly complex, especially for an animated film. It’s a fairy tale that doesn’t guarantee a “happily ever after,” instead presenting a more nuanced and realistic view of life and love. Well, as realistic a view as you’re going to get in a fantasy epic.

These days, we don’t have to fight dragons to prove our love.

In conclusion, The Last Unicorn is a timeless classic that continues to enchant viewers with its unique blend of fantasy, heart, and artistry. It is a film that appeals to both children and adults, offering a layered narrative that rewards repeated viewings. For anyone who loves a good fairy tale with a touch of melancholy and a lot of heart, and while not achieving the heights of some of the Disney classics, it remains one of the most enduring and beloved animated films of the 1980s, a true testament to the power of storytelling and imagination.