Labyrinth (1986) | Canadian First Time Watching | Movie Reaction | Movie Review | Movie Commentary

ACTUAL BULGE TRIVIA: A colleague of mine works on SESAME STREET and one of the costumers on the show worked on LABYRINTH as an assistant costume maker. The subject of David Bowie's "bulge" was a hot topic after the first couple days of filming and producers told the costumers to tone down and hide it. The costumers tested multiple layers of pantyhose under Bowie's tights and looked like it would do the job. When the assistant costumer (that my colleague worked with) dropped the packs of pantyhose into Bowie's trailer, they put instructions asking him to wear them under his tights. The next morning, they found the pantyhose box was open and David said he had put them on. By the time he got to set and filming started, the producers saw him and again complained. The crotch bulge was still there. The costumer asked David if he was wearing the pantyhose. He said "of course, as requested." Confused, the costumer was instructed that maybe they should double up the layers. She bought extra boxes, took them to Bowie's trailer, left a note asking him to double-up the layers. Next morning, the new box is open too - David is wearing double. But on-set, his moose-knuckle was bigger than ever. Really confused, the costumer was sent to the trailer to get to the bottom of this. Bowie had gone home for the day and she searched his trailer for the pantyhose so she could test them again. She found the previous day's used pantyhose in the waste basket. She grabbed them, held them up.... ...and saw that David Bowie had very neatly and carefully, with absolute care and precision, cut the crotch out of every single one of the pantyhose he was given with a pair of scissors. By the time she had told Jim Henson what had happened and also told Bowie that the pantyhose was to hide his bulge, not enhance it, they had shot half of his scenes and never got around to refilming them. She noted that Bowie's bulge never got smaller, but each day's pantyhose was disposed somewhere off-set where she never got the chance to check if he was still cutting the crotch out or not. Classic Bowie.

This film is a coming of age film. But with an important message at the end that whilst we do have to put our childhood away and grow up, we don't have to let go of that wonder and fantasy. Now I'm older, when I see the end that "I do need you, every now and again in my life, for no reason at all" makes me tear up

Yes, me again, the super old person who saw this in theatres. I too wore out the VHS of this but I also revisted it in my 30s and realised something about this movie. It's clearly a coming of age movie in Sarah taking responsiblity and not hating on her little brother anymore, but literally EVERYTHING she faces in the Labyrinth is something a young person has to learn about as an adult. Starting with, as George said, "just because it looks pretty, doesn't mean it's nice" and then quickly progressing to good communication. Had she told the bug what she actually wanted, she would've got there sooner but because she assumed both her and the bug had the same goal, it cost her. She gets scammed, she learns that sometimes you just need to ask permission, that you shouldn't get distracted by fancy parties or get stuck in the past. Honestly, this film is deep on so many layers.

I have a labyrinth T-Shirt that says: "Jareth's day Nursery: 13 hours of free childcare".

In an alternate ending, once Sarah figured out the chant, instead of just fading out, Jareth smiles at her first, showing that in the end he wanted her to succeed. Its amazing how a simple smile could change the whole film's dynamic like that.

Toby Froud (plays the lil brother) frequently gets asked, "what was David Bowie like?" His frustrated answer is, "I don't know. I was a baby. But I'm told I peed on him, so I've got that going for me."

“Are those bottles of milk in the bottom left corner?” I mean Jareth does have a baby to take care of.

"I don't know David Bowie songs" as he talks over the intro song by David Bowie 😂🤣 <3

There's a reason that every Goblin King they wanted to chose was handsome and making age appropriate music for a teenage girl of the time to listen to: Labyrinth is a coming of age story so there is a hint of blooming sexuality in Jennifer Connelly's character, but ultimately she is still young and when she overcomes the Goblin King we see that, for a time, she will remain on the threshold between woman and young girl. She does, however, mature. She learns to stop hiding behind her childish fantasies (instead just enjoying them without the escapism) and she even allows her little brother to share in her beloved stuffed animal. I always liked how they didn't mature her up all the way, because 14 is way too young to be losing interest in childish things (hell, you should never totally lose interest in them really).

"That sounds like Elmo"... That IS Elmo (Kevin Clash)!

I'm still in awe of the set builders who put the face of David Bowie on various pieces of styrofoam 15:22 painted them up into rocks, and set them in an order the camera could see coalesce and then break into its parts. Visual synecdoche.

The fact that Jareth wants to rename Toby Jareth makes me wonder if Jareth was a stolen baby too, maybe renamed by the last Goblin King to have his same name. It would explain why the goblins steal babies at least.

About the poor, crying Toby: "In the beginning of the iconic "Magic Dance" scene, Toby is seen crying while surrounded by numerous goblins. In reality, the baby Toby Froud wasn't the least bit scared by any of the puppets used, and seemed to have fun with the scene. The shot of one of the goblins making silly noises and faces to make Toby laugh was a genuine reaction, and was inspired by many instances where they needed him to be silent and actually used some puppets off-camera to lull him. They had to wait until he was tired and wanted to nap after filming the musical number to get him to cry."

Fun fact about the puppet of hogle, he is currently on display in the unclaimed baggage store in Alabama(a huge thrift store full of items found in lost luggage) because he was found accidentally abandoned in an airport.

The ending message of this movie is one of the many reasons I love Labyrinth. In any other film Sarah would have "grown up" by completely rejecting/getting rid of all of her fantasy stuff. Instead, she shows maturity by her actions (like giving Toby her bear) but still admits that her love of fantasy and imagination will always be a part of her. Which is fitting considering this movie was made by a group of middle-aged men who were all huge fans of fantasy and storytelling.

In Sarah's room you can see a copy of Where the Wild Things Are - I think Ludo is supposed to be inspired by the monsters in that book.

I haven’t got to the end yet, so maybe you hit this in the trivia, but the baby is Toby Froud, son of Brian and Wendy Froud. Brian is a renowned fantasy artist who did most of the creature designs for this film and another Jim Henson film The Dark Crystal. Wendy fabricated many of the creatures in this film, but has worked on other projects such as The Empire Strikes Back where she created the original Yoda puppet. Toby himself has grown up to be a puppeteer, sculptor, and SFX designer.

"just because something is pretty doesn't mean its nice" thats a life lesson right there

People think Sarah got the door guard question wrong, but she was absolutely right, that is the only one question that will get you the right answer. People think she failed because she falls into the pit, but that is not "Buh-buh-buh-buh Certain Death". Every time something bad happens to her, it is because of her hubris. She gets cocky, and the Labyrinth has to knock her down a peg. It's another one of the lessons of adulthood that is the theme of the movie. To be humble and not brag about your small accomplishments, and take responsibility for your words and actions.

I'd add Ridley Scott's "Legend" and Henson's "The Dark Crystal" to your radar for similar feel films.