NEVER PLAY LEAP FROG WITH A…OH, NEVERMIND.
Article by Adam Mast
I was a child of the 80’s and I have a particular fondness for the movies of that unforgettable decade.
Over 30 years ago, Rankin and Bass–the creative geniuses behind animated classics like RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER and MAD MONSTER PARTY– would team with writer Peter S. Beagle in an effort to bring his celebrated novel, THE LAST UNICORN, to the big screen. Beagle himself would write the screenplay, and the end result was an underappreciated 80’s gem that left quite an impression on kids like me. I saw it multiple times. In fact, the only films I saw more times in a theater way back in 1982 were E.T. and STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN. Pretty good company.
THE LAST UNICORN is a dark around the edges fantasy film about a unicorn who sets out to learn the truth behind the disappearance of her kind. Featuring an impressive roster of all star vocal talent, including Mia Farrow, Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Christopher Lee, Angela Lansbury, and Robert Klein, this was a unique animated feature in that it wasn’t as cuddly and sugar coated as one might expect.
Admittedly, I haven’t re-visited THE LAST UNICORN in quite some time so it remains to be seen if it’ll have the same affect on me now that I’m a cynical 45 year old. Thanks to THE LAST UNICORN SCREENING TOUR though, I’m thrilled that I’ll have an opportunity to see it on the big screen again after all these years. I can even bring my kids along.
This tour will see THE LAST UNICORN playing select cities all around the world, and as an added bonus, screenwriter Peter S. Beagle will be along for the ride for post-screening Q & A’s. This is unbelievably cool. Perhaps if it’s a success, we’ll see more films from the past get the world wide tour treatment too.
Click the link to see if THE LAST UNICORN TOUR is coming to a theater near you;
