The Thief and the Cobbler

1993
G
1h 39m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

4.9K

YOUR RATING

Matthew Broderick, Jennifer Beals, and Hilary Pritchard in The Thief and the Cobbler (1993)

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Desert Adventure Hand-Drawn Animation Quest Swashbuckler Action Adventure Animation Comedy Family Fantasy

A lonely princess and a poor cobbler fall in love while trying to reclaim three magical orbs stolen by a bumbling thief, all while outwitting an ambitious sorcerer.A lonely princess and a poor cobbler fall in love while trying to reclaim three magical orbs stolen by a bumbling thief, all while outwitting an ambitious sorcerer.A lonely princess and a poor cobbler fall in love while trying to reclaim three magical orbs stolen by a bumbling thief, all while outwitting an ambitious sorcerer.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

4.9K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

ZigZag
(voice)

Matthew Broderick

Tack the Cobbler (Miramax version)
(voice)

Jennifer Beals

Princess YumYum (Miramax version)
(voice)

Bobbi Page

Princess YumYum (Majestic Films version)
(voice)
…

Steve Lively

Tack the Cobbler (Majestic Films version)
(voice)
…

Eddie Carroll

The Thief (Majestic Films version)
(voice)
(as Ed. E. Carroll)
…

Clive Revill

King Nod (re-edited versions)
(voice)

Mona Marshall

Joan Sims

Mad and Holy Old Witch
(voice)

Kevin Dorsey

Mighty One-Eye (re-edited versions)
(voice)

Donald Pleasence

Phido the Vulture (original and Majestic Films version)
(voice)
…

Stanley Baxter

Gofer
(voice)
…

Kenneth Williams

Goblet
(voice)
…

Clinton Sundberg

Dying Soldier
(voice)

Windsor Davies

Chief Roofless
(voice)

Frederick Shaw

Goolie
(voice)

Thick Wilson

Hook
(voice)

Eddie Byrne

Hoof
(voice)

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The film holds the record for the longest production schedule of a completed feature: 28 years.

Goofs
During the song sequence in the desert scenes, it is said they are all illiterate, but earlier they were seen reading.

Quotes
[last lines]
[original version]
Princess Yum-Yum: I love you.
[Tack takes the tacks from his mouth at last]
Tack the Cobbler: And I love you.
[they hug]

Crazy credits
The end credits of the South African/Australian prints of "The Princess and the Cobbler" show scenes from the movie that were scrapped from the edited versions, including the Thief narrowly avoiding getting his arms chopped off, behind the credits. However, the prints of "Arabian Knight" only use a black background behind the credits.

Alternate versions
Four major versions of the film exist - the workprint, The Princess and the Cobbler, Arabian Knight, and the Recobbled Cut. Richard Williams' 1992 workprint was bootlegged on video, and copies have been shared among animation fans and professionals for years. It is an unfinished work in progress. A slightly later workprint from 13 May 1992 was preserved by Williams himself as "A Moment In Time," archived and digitally duplicated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. "The Academy has it, it's in a 'golden box' now and it's safe," Williams said. The unfinished version was screened at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Connections
Featured in I Drew Roger Rabbit (1988)

Soundtracks
It's So Amazing
Lyrics by Norman Gimbel
Music by Robert Folk
Performed by Bobbi Page and Steve Lively

User reviews55

Review

Featured review

10/10

Probably the most bold feat in animation history.

I can't stand this film being so obscure. It was a 30-year-old labor of love that Richard Williams promised to be the greatest animated film ever, before it was taken away by his creditors. All he cared about was the perfection of the art, rather than the restrictions of schedules and budgets. What happened to the movie was awful, but the remaining animation shines through, greatly. I, for one, was very upset with the release of the Miramax version on DVD, with only pan and scan, and a lack of extras. It was an insult to the original version. I really hope the restoration project is revived soon. A fully restored Director's cut is my on and only "Dream DVD". That film really changed my life and outlook on animation. It deserves more recognition and it's a great learning exercise for animators. Stay away from the Miramax version.