The Adventures of Baron Munchausen


2h 6m 1989

Brief Synopsis

In a city under siege by the Turks, elderly adventurer Baron Karl Friedrich Hieronymus von Munchhausen, relates how he sparked the war by stealing a sultan's treasure and how he set out on a wild adventure in a hot air balloon constructed of ladies' underwear to protect the city from further attack.

Film Details

Also Known As
Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Avventuras del Barone di Munchausen, Baron Münchhausens äventyr, Las aventuras del barón Münchausen, Le Avventuras del Barone di Munchausen, aventures du baron de Munchausen
MPAA Rating
Genre
Adaptation
Adventure
Comedy
Fantasy
Period
Release Date
1989
Production Company
Cinecitta Studios; Dda Public Relations; Eastman Kodak; Peerless Camera Company; Pinewood Studios, Ltd.; Technovision Cameras Ltd
Distribution Company
SONY PICTURES RELEASING/SONY PICTURES RELEASING INTERNATIONAL/VOYAGER COMPANY; Constantin Film Development, Inc.; Penta Distribuzione; Rca/Columbia Pictures Home Video; Sony Pictures Releasing; Sony Pictures Releasing International
Location
Munich, West Germany; Cinecitta Studios, Rome, Italy; Almeria, Spain; Belchite, Spain

Technical Specs

Duration
2h 6m

Synopsis

In a city under siege by the Turks, elderly adventurer Baron Karl Friedrich Hieronymus von Munchhausen, relates how he sparked the war by stealing a sultan's treasure and how he set out on a wild adventure in a hot air balloon constructed of ladies' underwear to protect the city from further attack. Inspired by tales of a real-life, 18th century cavalry officer in the service of Frederick the Great.

Crew

Steve Abbott

Assistance (Prominent Features)

Chris Allies

Title Graphics

Francisco Ardura

Transportation Manager (Spain)

Alan Arnold

Original Music

Norman Baillie

Special Effects Technician (United Kingdom)

Nathalie Baker

Assistant Editor

Javier Balaguer

2nd Assistant 2nd Unit Director (2nd Unit) (Spain)

Fausto Baldinelli

Special Effects Technician (Italy)

Maria Teresa Barbasso

Art Direction

David Barclay

Puppeteer

Sante Barelli

Supervisor

Bill Barringer

Assistant Editor

Dennis Bartlett

Matte Photography Consultant

Luigi Battestelli

Special Effects Technician (Italy)

Franco Bellomo

Stills

Yuyi Beringola

Script Supervisor 2nd Unit (2nd Unit)

Giuseppe Bertucci

Electrician

Massimo Bertucci

Electrician

John Blakeley

Sculptor (Model Unit)

Chris Blunden

Associate Editor

Janice Body

Rotoscope Artist

Martin Body

Optical Effects Coordinator

Doriana Bonora

Other

Michele Borea

Special Effects Technician (Italy)

Dennis Bosher

Other

Dennis Bosher

Art Direction Assistant (Model Unit)

Elio Bosi

Chief Grip 2nd Unit (2nd Unit)

Mario Bramucci

Electrician

Christopher S Brooks

Music Editor

Les Broughton

Optical Effects Camera Operator

Franco Bruni

Camera Operator

Pino Buti

Production Manager (Italy)

Peter Butler

Camera Grip (Model Unit)

Luidi Camacho

Accountant Assistant

Domenico Caponecchi

Construction

Beniamino Carozza

Special Effects Technician (Italy)

Michael A Carter

Sound Rerecording Mixer

Osvaldo Caruso

Construction

Iole Cecchini

Hairdresser Supervisor (Italy)

Valerie Charlton

Special Effects Modelmaker

Javier Chinchilla

Assistant Director

Javier Chincilla

1st Assistant 2nd Unit Director (2nd Unit) (Spain)

Daniele Cimini

Special Assistant Camera

Francesco Cinieri

Casting

Nikki Clapp

Script Supervisor

Grady Clarkson

Unit Publicist

Lee Cleary

1st Assistant Director

Christopher Coboule

Special Effects Technician (United Kingdom)

Marcello Coccia

Special Effects Technician (Italy)

Aldo Colanzi

Key Grip

Bruno Colanzi

Construction

Brian E Cole

Modelmaker (Model Unit)

Vernon Connolly

Electrician (Model Unit)

Sergio Conti

Construction

Richard Conway

Special Effects

Ray Cooper

Music Producer

Ray Cooper

Co-Producer

Rusty Coppleman

Sound Editor

Claudio Corbucci

Production Assistant (Italy)

Ken Court

Art Direction (Model Unit)

Jamie Courtier

Special Effects Technician (United Kingdom)

Jamie Courtier

Animatronics Model Designer (Model Unit)

John Cozza

1st Assistant Director

Filomen Crisara

Supervisor

Allan B Croucher

Special Effects Plasterer (Animatronics)

Bob Cuff

Matte Painter

Joy Cuff

Matte Painter

Steve Cutmore

Optical Effects Camera Operator

Tonino Danieli

Other

Lisa Dasteel

Other

Peter Davey

Special Effects Technician (United Kingdom)

Santiago Debenito

Accountant (Spain)

Elisabetta Deleonardis

Hairdresser

Christina Derossi

Makeup

Alberto Destefani

Accountant Assistant

Roberto Diamanti

Construction

Martin Diaz

Wardrobe Supervisor 2nd Unit (2nd Unit) (Spain)

Gianni Doddi

Wardrobe Master 2nd Unit (2nd Unit) (Spain)

Margarita Doyle

Production Assistant (To Terry Gilliam (United Kingdom))

Nick Dunlop

Optical Effects Camera Operator

Jake Eberts

Executive Producer

Daniela Edelburg

Assistant (To Thomas Schuhly)

Robert Gordon Edwards

Executive In Charge Of Production (Cinema Production Consultants)

Marino Erca

Special Effects Technician (Italy)

Jose Luis Escolar

Assistant Director (Spain)

Giuseppe Fabrizi

Electrician

Geoff Felix

Puppeteer

Dante Ferretti

Production Designer

Doug Ferris

Matte Painter

Michael Ferriter

Optical Effects Camera Operator

John Fiddy

Original Music

Giovanni Fiore Coltellacci

Camera Operator 2nd Unit (2nd Unit)

Maria Fiorito

Accountant Assistant

Gianni Fiumi

Property Master

Vittorio Fornasiero

Unit Manager (Italy)

Doug Forrest

Optical Effects Camera Operator

Celeste Franzi

Wardrobe Assistant

Vic Fraser

Music Preparation

Don French

Assistance

Claudio Frollano

Electrician

Simon Fulford

Camera Assistant (Model Unit)

Martin Gant

Supervisor

Martin Gant

Special Effects Technician (United Kingdom)

Eduardo Garcia

Stunts 2nd Unit (2nd Unit) (Spain)

Jose Garcia

Stunts 2nd Unit (2nd Unit) (Spain)

Manolo García

Production Assistant (Spain)

Gianni Gentili

Electrician

Giovanni Gianese

Sculptor

Terry Gilliam

Screenwriter

Raffaela Giordani

Choreography Assistant

Giorgio Giovannini

Art Direction

Manolo Gomez

Special Effects Technician 2nd Unit (2nd Unit) (Spain)

Paquito Gomez

Stunts 2nd Unit (2nd Unit) (Spain)

Manuel Martin Gonzalez

Makeup 2nd Unit (2nd Unit) (Spain)

Pauline Granby

Accountant Assistant

John Grant

Matte Camera Operator

Kenneth Gray

Motion Control

Tony Graysmark

Construction Manager (Model Unit)

Jan Green

Dialogue Coach

Frank Guiney

Special Effects Engineer (Model Unit)

Stephen Hamilton

Special Effects Technician (United Kingdom)

Mark Harris

Art Direction (Model Unit)

Graham V Hartstone

Chief Sound Rerecording Mixer

Joyce Herlihy

Production Executive

Bob Hollow

Special Effects Technician (United Kingdom)

John Hollywood

Unit Driver (Model Unit)

Peter Hollywood

Editor

Billy Horrigan

Stunts

Peter Horrocks

Sound Editor

Keith Horsley

Art Department Assistant (Model Unit)

Kent Houston

Optical Effects Supervisor

Billy Howe

Special Effects Wireman

Eric Idle

Song ("The Torturer'S Apprentice")

Carla Indoni

Hairdresser

Gianni Indovino

Special Effects Technician (Italy)

Enrico Jacoponi

Makeup

Frank Jahn

Sound Recording Mixer

Anne James

Assistance (Prominent Features)

Andrew Jeffery

Optical Effects Camera Operator

Gonzalo Jimenez

Production Assistant (Spain)

Michael Kamen

Conductor (Symphony Orchestra Graunke And Pro Musika Seria Chamber Choir)

Michael Kamen

Song ("The Torturer'S Apprentice")

Michael Kamen

Original Music

Michael Kamen

Music Producer

Michael Kamen

Music

Ralph Kamp

Assistance (Prominent Features)

Ian C Kelly

Video Operator

Rashid Khares

Rotoscope Artist

Stuart King

Electrician (Model Unit)

Luca Lachin

Assistant Director (Italy)

Irene Lamb

Casting

Peter Lamb

Bestboy (Model Unit)

Michael Lamont

Art Direction (Model Unit)

Neil Lamont

Other

Simon Lamont

Art Department Runner (Model Unit)

Liz Lehmans

Assistance (Prominent Features)

Nino Lembo

Other

Nicolas Lemessurier

Sound Rerecording Mixer

Stratton Leopold

Supervising Producer

Alfonsina Lettieri

Costume Designer Assistant

Nancy Rubin Levin

Production Coordinator

Brian Lince

Special Effects Technician (United Kingdom)

Francesca Lo Schiavo

Set Decorator

Umberto Lucignano

Camera Assistant 2nd Unit (2nd Unit)

Ignazio Maccarone

Electrician

Jim Machin

Modelmaker (Model Unit)

Stephen Maclaughlin

Music Recording Mixer

Steve Maguire

Assistant Editor

Gianpaolo Maiorana

Construction

Gian Maria Majorana

1st Assistant Camera

Antonio Maltempo

Makeup

Giancarlo Mancini

Special Effects Technician (Italy)

Brian Mann

Special Effects Editor

Giancarlo Marin

Hairdresser

Salvador Marios

Stunts 2nd Unit (2nd Unit) (Spain)

Luciano Marocchi

Electrician

Fernando Marquerie

Unit Manager (Spain)

Yolanda Marquerie

Other

Roberto Marsigli

Camera Assistant 2nd Unit (2nd Unit)

Graham Martyr

Other

Les Maryon

Stunts

Atos Mastrogirolamo

Set Decorator Assistant

Kevin Mathews

Special Effects Wireman

Massimiliano Mazzini

Production Runner (Italy)

David Mccall

Special Effects Technician (United Kingdom)

Charles Mckeown

Screenwriter

Pam Meager

Makeup

Pam Meager

Hairstyles

Paolo Merosi

Production Assistant 2nd Unit (2nd Unit) (Italy)

Raymond Meyer

Boom Operator

Ian Miles

Assistance (Prominent Features)

Colin Miller

Sound Editor

Riccardo Mioni

Stunt Coordinator (Italy)

Francisco Molero

Production Manager (Spain)

Mick Monks

Assistant Editor

Riccardo Cruz Moran

Stunts

Ramon Moya

Construction Manager (Spain)

Janice Munro

Assistant (To Stratton Leopold)

Salvatore Murredu

Production Assistant (To Terry Gilliam (Italy))

Leandro Muslera

Accountant Assistant

Film Details

Also Known As
Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Avventuras del Barone di Munchausen, Baron Münchhausens äventyr, Las aventuras del barón Münchausen, Le Avventuras del Barone di Munchausen, aventures du baron de Munchausen
MPAA Rating
Genre
Adaptation
Adventure
Comedy
Fantasy
Period
Release Date
1989
Production Company
Cinecitta Studios; Dda Public Relations; Eastman Kodak; Peerless Camera Company; Pinewood Studios, Ltd.; Technovision Cameras Ltd
Distribution Company
SONY PICTURES RELEASING/SONY PICTURES RELEASING INTERNATIONAL/VOYAGER COMPANY; Constantin Film Development, Inc.; Penta Distribuzione; Rca/Columbia Pictures Home Video; Sony Pictures Releasing; Sony Pictures Releasing International
Location
Munich, West Germany; Cinecitta Studios, Rome, Italy; Almeria, Spain; Belchite, Spain

Technical Specs

Duration
2h 6m

Award Nominations

Best Art Direction

1989
Dante Ferretti

Best Costume Design

1989
Gabriella Pescucci

Best Makeup

1989

Best Visual Effects

1989

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States January 1996

Released in United States March 8, 1989

Released in United States on Video December 20, 1989

Released in United States Spring March 10, 1989

Re-released in United States on Video March 4, 1997

Shown at San Francisco International Film Festival March 8, 1989.

Shown in New York City (American Museum of the Moving Image) as part of program "Fairy Tales For Adults: A Terry Gilliam Retrospective" January 6-21, 1996.

Robin Williams replaced Sean Connery as King of the Moon. Film is dedicated to Maggie, Amy, Holly and Harry.

Began shooting September 21, 1987.

Completed shooting March 1988.

Shooting resumed November 23, 1987.

Shooting temporarily halted November 1987.

Released in United States January 1996 (Shown in New York City (American Museum of the Moving Image) as part of program "Fairy Tales For Adults: A Terry Gilliam Retrospective" January 6-21, 1996.)

Re-released in United States on Video March 4, 1997

Released in United States March 8, 1989 (Shown at San Francisco International Film Festival March 8, 1989.)

Released in United States Spring March 10, 1989

Released in United States on Video December 20, 1989