Ladyhawk is a 1985 fantasy film directed by Richard Donner and is now 25 years old.    The film begins with Phillipe “The Mouse” Gaston (Matthew Broderick) a thief escaping the dungeons of Aquila through the prison sewers and flees to the countryside.   He frequently talks to God about his woes and concerns.  The Bishop of Aquila (John Wood) is the harsh ruler of the region and hears of Phillipe Gastons escape, who sends his Captain of the Guard Marquet (Ken Hutchison) to hunt down Phillipe Gaston and kill him.   A short time later Phillipe arrives at a inn and offers to by everyone a drink, he tells everyone that he has just escaped from the dungeons of Aquila.  After he says that several men stand up and unveil themselves to be soldiers from Aquila looking for a escaped prisoner.  After a brief attempt to escape from the soldiers Phillipe is captured by Marquet and his men, without question Marquet gives the order to kill Phillipe.  Then from nowhere a mysterious black knight inter veins and saves Phillipe’s life.   He holds Marquet and his men at bay while Phillipe escapes,  he reveals himself to be their former Captain Etienne Navarre (Rutger Hauer).  Marquet reports back to the Bishop telling him of Navarres return,  after which the Bishop summons Cezar (Alfred Molina) the wolf trapper.  Navarre is accompanied only by a hawk,  Navarre tells Philippe why he saved him he needs Philippe’s unique knowledge to lead him inside Aquila and kill the Bishop.  Phillipe has no desire to return to his death sentence, but Navarre threatens to kill him if he will not help.  Navarre and the hawk mysteriously vanish at night and a beautiful woman Isabeau (Michelle Pfeiffer) joins Philippe.   Sheltering in a barn they are attacked by a peasant but are saved by a large black wolf.    In the morning Navarre and the hawk reappear and at night the lady and the wolf again accompany Phillipe.   In another encounter with the Bishop’s men Ladyhawk is hit by a crossbow.   Navarre fights off the guards and has Phillipe rush the injured hawk to an old monk named Imperius (Leo McKern) who lives nearby to heal her.  At the ruined castle of the monk he works to heal her, but Phillipe spies on the monk and sees Isabeau laying where he placed the hawk with a crossbow in her shoulder.  Imperius explains that Navarre was once the captain of the guard in Aquila and the woman Isabeau loved him.   She confessed her love to her priest Imperius who Sadly got drunk and betrayed the couple one night to the Bishop, who coveted Isabeau for himself.  The jealous Bishop cursed the lovers, making Navarre a wolf by night and Isabeau a hawk by day.  In their human forms they do not remember anything about their activities as animals, only at dusk and dawn of each day can they see each other in human form only for one fleeting moment, but can never touch.  Just before daybreak some of Marquets soldiers attack the castle forcing Phillipe and Isabeau to seek safety on the near by tower roof only to be pursued by the soldiers.  Forcing there way through the trap door, Isabeau falls of the tower but is caught by Phillipe who cant hold onto her and she falls as daybreak comes and turns into the hawk and flies away.  Phillipe is caught by the Bishops soldiers, but by this time Navarre regains his human form and kills the guard.  Imperius reveals that the curse can be broken if the Bishop sees the couple together in their human forms.  This seems impossible,  but he says that within days there will be a solar event making this possible.  Navarre is unwilling to trust Imperius and intends to follow his own plan.  Finding Navarre stubborn Phillipe convinces Isabeau that the couple should try to break the curse.  Phillipe, Isabeau and Imperius decide to show Navarre how Imperius’ idea might work. The men dig a hole for the lovers to sit in and await the day. While crossing the river to reach the group Navarre as the wolf falls through the ice.  Phillipe tries to pull him out and in doing so gets scratched to pieces by Navarre before they reach safety.  In the morning Isabeau is hidden from the sun on one side of the hole so that she does not transform. On the other side the wolf who is struck by sunlight and begins to transforms into Navarre.  They are amazed to see each other, but in seconds Isabeau transforms into a hawk and flies away. Navarre is crushed and then angry.  However when he learns that Phillipe rescued him from the deadly river during the night, he apologize and agrees to try to break the curse.  They decide to openly bring Navarre into the city in his wolf form as a present for the bishop.  Imperius and Isabeau enter the city in a wagon carrying the wolf Navarre in a cage.  Since Phillipe is a wanted criminal,he hides under the cart.  As the eclipse begins on the following day it is time for Navarre to see the Bishop to break the curse. The Bishop will be conducting Mass in the cathedral and the main doors will be bolted shut. Phillipe’s must crawl through the sewers to unlock the doors.  Worrying that the whole enterprise may fail, Navarre tells Imperius to kill the hawk when the bells ring at the end of Mass if Navarre has not returned.  After Phillipe unlocks the doors Navarre rides his horse right into the cathedral.  While fighting the Bishops guards in the cathedral a window breaks and the solar eclipse shows through. Someone rings the bell, which the signal to Imperius to kill Isabeau.  Marquet attacks Navarre and the two tear up the cathedral before Navarre beats him.   Devastated because he believes Isabeau is dead, Navarre determines to execute the Bishop.  Then from nowhere Isabeau appears in human form.   All activity in the room stops and everyone stares at the couple including the Bishop. This breaks the curse.  The Bishop sees his plan foiled and tries to use his crozier spear on Isabeau to keep the lovers apart.  Phillipe cries out and Navarre hurls his sword impaling the Bishop.  Isabeau and Navarre are finally together in their human form Phillipe and Imperius look on with tears in there eyes.

Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is an American actor who is best known for his role as the title character in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.   His films include Max Dugan Returns (1983), WarGames (1983), Ladyhawke (1985), 1918 (1985), On Valentine’s Day (1986), Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), Project X (1987), She’s Having a Baby (1988), Biloxi Blues (1988), Torch Song Trilogy (1988), Family Business (1989), Glory (1989), The Freshman (1990), Out on a Limb (1992), The Night We Never Met (1993), Mrs Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994), The Road to Wellville (1994), The Cable Guy (1996), Infinity (1996), Addicted to Love (1997), Godzilla (1998), Walking to the Waterline (1998), Election (1999), Inspector Gadget (1999), You Can Count on Me (2000), Marie and Bruce (2004), The Stepford Wives (2004), The Last Shot (2004), The Producers (2005), Deck the Halls (2006), Then She Found Me (2007), Diminished Capacity (2008), Finding Amanda (2008) and Wonderful World (2009).  He has appeared in episodes of Frasier, Freedom A History of Us and 30 Rock and has also lent his voice to animated films The Princess and the Cobbler (1993), The Lion King (1994), Bee Movie (2007) and The Tale of Despereaux (2008).

Rutger Hauer
Rutger Hauer is a Dutch actor his films include Rumpelstiltskin (1973), Turkish Delight (1973, Hard to Remember (1974), The Wilby Conspiracy (1975), Katie Tippel (1975), Das Amulett des Todes (1975), The Year of the Cancer (1975), Max Havelaar (1976), Soldier of Orange (1977), Pastorale 1943 (1978), Mysteries (1978), Woman Between Wolf and Dog (1979), Spetters (1980), Nighthawks (1981), Chanel Solitaire (1981), Blade Runner (1982), Eureka (1983), The Osterman Weekend (1983), A Breed Apart (1984), Ladyhawke (1985), Flesh+Blood (1985), The Hitcher (1986), Wanted Dead or Alive (1986),La leggenda del santo bevitore (1988), Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989), Blind Fury (1989), On a Moonlit Night (1989), The Blood of Heroes (1989), Wedlock (1991), Past Midnight (1991), Split Second (1992), Beyond Justice (1992), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), Arctic Blue (1993), Surviving the Game (1994), The Beans of Egypt, Maine (1994), Nostradamus (1994), Blood of the Innocent (1995), Mariette in Ecstasy (1996), Precious Find (1996), Omega Doom (1996), Crossworlds (1997), Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (1997), Blast (1997), Bleeders (1997), Redline (1997), Bone Daddy (1998), Tactical Assault (1999), Simon Magus (1999), New World Disorder (1999), Lying in Wait (2000), Partners in Crime (2000), Wilder (2000), The Room (2001), Flying Virus (2001), Scorcher (2002), I banchieri di Dio (2002), Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), Warrior Angels (2002), In the Shadow of the Cobra (2004), Tempesta (2004), Sin City (2005), Batman Begins (2005), Minotaur (2006), Dead Tone (2007), Moving McAllister (2007), Sweet Betty (2007), Spoon (2008), Magic Flute Diaries (2008), Bride Flight (2008), The Rhapsody (2008), Barbarossa (2009), Happiness Runs (2010) and The 5th Execution (2010), Life’s a Beach (2010), The Mill and the Cross (2011), Hobo with a Shotgun (2011), The Rite (2011) and Alle for én (2011).  He has appeared in TV series such as Floris, The Pathfinders, Waaldrecht, Floris von Rosemund, Duel in de diepte, Lexx, The 10th Kingdom, Alias and Smallville.

Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Pfeiffer is an American actress her films include The Hollywood Knights (1980), Falling in Love Again (1980), Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981), Grease 2 (1982), Scarface (1983), Into the Night (1985), Ladyhawke (1985), Sweet Liberty (1986), The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Amazon Women on the Moon (1987), Married to the Mob (1988), Tequila Sunrise (1988), Dangerous Liaisons (1988), The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989), The Russia House (1990), Frankie and Johnny (1991), Batman Returns (1992), Love Field (1992), The Age of Innocence (1993), Wolf (1994), Dangerous Minds (1995), Up Close & Personal (1996), To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (1996), One Fine Day (1996), A Thousand Acres (1997), The Deep End of the Ocean (1999), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999), What Lies Beneath  (2000), I Am Sam (2001), White Oleander (2002), I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007), Hairspray (2007), Stardust (2007), Chéri (2009) and Personal Effects (2009).   She has appeared in TV series such as Delta House, CHiPs, Fantasy Island, Great Performances and Picket Fences.

John Wood
John Wood is an English actor his films include Stolen Face (1952), Two Way Stretch (1960), Let’s Get Married (1960), The Challenge (1960), The Rebel (1961), Wings of Death (1961), Invasion Quartet (1961), Postman’s Knock (1962), Live Now Pay Later (1962), Just for Fun (1963), Love Is a Ball (1963), The Mouse on the Moon (1963), That Kind of Girl (1963), Just Like a Woman (1967), One More Time (1970), Which Way to the Front? (1970), Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), Slaughterhouse-Five (1972), Somebody Killed Her Husband (1978), WarGames (1983), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Ladyhawke (1985), Lady Jane (1986), Heartburn (1986), Jumpin’ Jack Flash (1986), Orlando (1992), The Young Americans (1993), Shadowlands (1993), Uncovered (1994), The Madness of King George (1994), Richard III (1995), Sabrina (1995), Jane Eyre (1996), Metroland (1997), The Gambler (1997), The Revengers  Comedies (1998), The Avengers (1998), An Ideal Husband (1999), The Venice Project (1999), Mad Cows (1999), The Little Vampire (2000), Chocolat (2000), The Body (2001), Imagining Argentina (2003), The Rocket Post (2004), The White Countess (2005) and When I Grow Up I Want to Be White (2008).  He has appeared in TV series such as The Avengers, Hondo, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Kavanagh QC, Foyle’s War and Lewis.

Leo McKern
Leo McKern is a British actor his films include Murder in the Cathedral (1951), All for Mary (1955), X The Unknown (1956), Time Without Pity  (1957), Confess, Killer (1957), A Tale of Two Cities (1958), Web of Evidence (1959), Yesterday’s Enemy (1959), The Mouse That Roared (1959), Scent of Mystery (1960), The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film (1960), I Like Money (1961), The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961), Lisa (1962), Doctor in Distress  (1963), Agent 8 3/4 (1964), They All Died Laughing (1964), King & Country (1964), The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders (1965), A Man for All Seasons (1966), Assignment K (1968), The High Commissioner (1968), Decline and Fall of a Birdwatcher (1968), Ryan’s Daughter (1970), Massacre in Rome (1973), The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother (1975), The Omen (1976), Candleshoe (1977), Damien Omen II (1978), The Blue Lagoon (1980), The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981), The Chain (1984), Ladyhawke (1985), Travelling North (1987), Dad and Dave On Our Selection (1995), Molokai The Story of Father Damien (1999) and The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring (2001).   He has appeared in TV series such as The Prisoner, Space: 1999, Reilly Ace of Spies, Great Performances, Screen Two and Rumpole of the Bailey. Leo McKern passed away in 2002 after suffering from diabetes and other health problems, he was 82 when he passed away.

Alfred Molina
Alfred Molina is an English actor his films include Song of the Shirt (1979), A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (1979), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Ladyhawke (1985), Water (1985), Eleni (1985), Letter to Brezhnev (1985), Prick Up Your Ears (1987), Manifesto  (1988), Not Without My Daughter (1991), American Friends (1991), Enchanted April (1992), The Trial (1993), When Pigs Fly (1993), Cabin Boy (1994), White Fang 2 Myth of the White Wolf (1994), Maverick (1994), Hideaway (1995), The Steal (1995), The Perez Family (1995), Dead Man (1995), Species (1995), Before and After (1996), Mojave Moon (1996), Scorpion Spring (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997), The Impostors (1998), The Treat (1998), Pete’s Meteor (1998), Dudley Do Right (1999), Magnolia (1999), Chocolat (2000), Texas Rangers (2001), Frida (2002), Undertaking Betty (2002), Identity (2003), Luther (2003), Coffee and Cigarettes (2003), Crónicas (2004), SpiderMan 2 (2004), The Da Vinci Code (2006), As You Like It (2006), The Hoax (2006), Orchids (2006), The Moon and the Stars (2007), Silk (2007), The Little Traitor (2007), Nothing Like the Holidays (2008), Big Guy (2009), The Lodger (2009), An Education (2009), The Pink Panther 2 (2009), Lessons in Self-Defense (2009), Prince of Persia The Sands of Time (2010), The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010) and The Tempest (2010).  He has appeared in TV series such as Casualty, Miami Vice, El C.I.D, Boon, Crime Story, Law & Order Special Victims Unit, Law & Order Trial by Jury and Monk.
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