The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

Terry Gilliam's film about a lying baron now plays as an enchanted tall tale, but its production is a disaster log. The budget started at 23.5 million dollars and reached roughly 46.63 million. Producer Thomas Schühly said there had been a 35 million dollar plan before Columbia took over distribution, and when Dawn Steel arrived after David Puttnam's departure and refused to honour earlier agreements, the financing turned into a fight. The result was that nobody saw it. Columbia struck only 117 prints in America. Gilliam blamed studio politics, noting the film opened really well in major cities despite no promotion. It took 8.1 million dollars domestically. There was a human cost on set too. Sarah Polley, nine years old during filming, later described it: it was just so dangerous, there were so many explosions going off so close to her, long stretches in freezing water and endless hours. Gilliam acknowledged the difficulties while disputing some accounts. It received four Academy Award nominations, for art direction, costume design, makeup and visual effects. Who it is for: viewers who love handmade fantasy and outsized storytelling. Who it is not for: anyone wanting a steadily paced narrative. The film scatters on purpose and some stretches drag.