Rethinking "The Black Cauldron"

In 1985 Disney made a bold, really bold and innovative decision. They were going Dark. It was the determination of the studio's powers to be that their most recent projects were coming out a bit on the weak side. Since Walt's death in 1966, the studio was taking longer to produce films, the theme parks were the only things keeping them a float, and there was a lot of fat in the Animation department's bones. Plus, it seemed that the public was moving towards a more adult driven audience. Like 1979's Lord of the Rings, which was commercially very successful, if critically disappointing.



The Rescuers was the sole film that studio produced that seemed to bring in the kind of revue that Disney had once enjoyed. So some how it was decided to adapt The Black Cauldron from the book series The Chronicles of Prydain.



Now here is the summary and you tell me if this sounds like the kind of tale disney would usually produce

In the land of Prydain, Taran is an "assistant pig-keeper" on the small farm of Caer Dallben, home of Dallben the Enchanter. Dallben learns that the Horned King is searching for a mystical relic known as the Black Cauldron, which is capable of creating an invincible army of undead warriors, the “Cauldron Born”. Dallben fears the Horned King may try to steal his pig Hen Wen, which has oracular powers, and use her to locate the cauldron. Dallben directs Taran to take Hen Wen to safety; unfortunately, Taran's foolish daydreaming causes Hen Wen to be captured by the Horned King's forces.



Taran follows them to the Horned King's stronghold. Along the way, he encounters the small, pestering companion Gurgi, who joins Taran on his search. Taran leaves Gurgi to sneak into the castle and rescues Hen Wen, who flees, but all too soon he is finally captured himself and thrown into jail. A fellow captive, Princess Eilonwy, frees Taran as she is trying to make her own escape. In the catacombs beneath the castle, Taran and Eilonwy discover the ancient burial chamber of a king, where Taran arms himself with the king's sword. It contains magic that allows him to effectively fight the Horned King's minions and so to fulfill his dream of heroism. Along with a third prisoner, the comical, middle-aged bard Fflewddur Fflam, they escape the castle and are soon reunited with Gurgi.

Following Hen Wen's trail, the four stumble into the underground kingdom of the Fair Folk—a group of small fairy-like beings who reveal that Hen Wen is under their protection. When the cheerful, elderly King Eiddileg reveals that he knows where the cauldron is, Taran resolves to go destroy it himself. Eilonwy, Fflewddur, and Gurgi agree to join him and Eiddileg's obnoxious right-hand man Doli is assigned to lead them to the Marshes of Morva while the Fair Folk agree to escort Hen Wen safely back to Caer Dallben. At the marshes they learn that the cauldron is held by three witches—the grasping Orddu, who acts as leader; the greedy Orgoch; and the more benevolent Orwen, who falls in love with Fflewddur at first sight, which causes a frightened Doli to abandon the group. Orddu agrees to trade the cauldron for Taran's sword, and he reluctantly agrees, although he knows that to yield it will cost his chance for heroism.


Before vanishing, the witches reveal that the cauldron remains indestructible, and that its power can only be broken by someone who climbs in under his own free will, which is likely to kill him. Although Taran feels foolish for aspiring to destroy the cauldron alone, his companions show their belief in him; and it seems that Eilonwy and Taran will kiss. Suddenly, the glorious reverie is broken when the Horned King's soldiers interrupt, having finally reached the marshes all by themselves. They seize the cauldron and everyone but Gurgi, and take their prisoners back to the castle. The Horned King uses the cauldron to raise the dead and his Cauldron-born army begins to pour out into the world.



BLAH BLAH BLAH so you can see its a bit of a mixed bag of some of the source material and whatever Disney found compelling. So does it work? Well not for what it cost them. Reportedly it was made for 25 million, but figures say the number is closer to 40 million. It was met with a terrible series of negative reviews and the movie had to be cut because it was deemed too violent.


With their gums bleeding, Disney decided to cut the party short and it was years before the movie was released on VHS. It was in this second life in the Video and then DVD market that the movie finally received some much needed love.

It was this cult following that has made the film linger in the minds of many fans of Animation. Personally I was always a fan of this movie and its more serious tone. The visuals have always been deemed as innovative yet a bit rough around the edges. To me its in the realm of Characters that has always left this movie wanting. Where the hell are they? There is no depth, interest, or growth in them. Nothing to make them interesting and nothing to make you care if they live or fall off a freaking bay.

The film even has John Hurt as the villain and somehow manages to misuse him. Yet, there is a lot in the film to be happy about, at least for younger kids. I'd definitely watch it with a remote.