Time Bandits (1981) is a surreal, darkly comedic British fantasy adventure film directed by Terry Gilliam. Known for its eccentric storytelling and offbeat humor, it stands as one of Gilliam’s most imaginative works, blending adventure, philosophy, and absurdity in a way that only the Monty Python alumnus could pull off.
Detailed Summary
The Ordinary Beginning: Kevin’s Boring Reality
The film opens with Kevin, an eleven-year-old boy living in suburban England with materialistic and self-absorbed parents. They are obsessed with modern gadgets and consumer culture, completely ignoring their curious, intelligent son. Kevin loves history and dreams of adventure, but his life feels small and dull—until one night, it changes completely.
The Arrival of the Time Bandits
While Kevin is in bed, a group of six dwarves bursts out of his wardrobe, followed by a mysterious map. The dwarves—Randall, Fidgit, Strutter, Og, Wally, and Vermin—are former employees of the Supreme Being (a stand-in for God). They’ve stolen His map of time holes to plunder riches throughout history. They accidentally pull Kevin along, and soon they’re tumbling through a time portal into another era.
Adventures Through Time
Kevin and the dwarves travel through a series of wild historical escapades:
- They rob Napoleon Bonaparte (played hilariously by Ian Holm), who is obsessed with height.
- They encounter Robin Hood (John Cleese), portrayed as an overly polite, bureaucratic version of the legendary outlaw.
- They find themselves in the Titanic’s dining hall, unaware of its impending doom.
Each historical stop is filled with absurd humor and social satire. Yet as the story unfolds, Kevin realizes that a dark force is watching them: Evil (played by David Warner), who wants the time map to reshape reality in his own image—filled with computers, digital technology, and control.
The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness
Eventually, Kevin and the dwarves reach Evil’s domain: the Fortress of Ultimate Darkness. Evil captures the dwarves and manipulates them with illusions of wealth and power. Kevin uses his wits to outsmart some of Evil’s tricks, but it’s a losing battle.
Just when all seems lost, the Supreme Being himself appears—an unassuming, bureaucratic old man (Ralph Richardson). He casually defeats Evil by turning him into a pile of smoking ash. The dwarves are reprimanded for stealing the map, and the Supreme Being tells them to clean up the mess (literally sweeping up pieces of “Evil”).
Kevin asks why such terrible things are allowed to happen. The Supreme Being’s answer: “I think it has something to do with free will.”
Movie Ending
Kevin wakes up back in his bedroom, surrounded by fire and smoke. Firefighters rescue him, including one who eerily resembles King Agamemnon (played by Sean Connery), whom Kevin had met during his time travels.
Kevin’s parents discover a strange, smoldering lump on the floor—one of the last remaining pieces of Evil. Despite Kevin’s desperate pleas telling them not to touch it, they reach out—and explode into nothing.
The film ends with Kevin staring into the camera as the smoke billows around him, the fire truck drives away, and the world feels eerily quiet. It’s a haunting, ambiguous ending that leaves viewers wondering whether Kevin is still dreaming, trapped in another layer of time, or witnessing the true collapse of his reality.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Time Bandits does not have any post-credits scenes. However, Terry Gilliam has mentioned that the abrupt, dark ending was intentional—it’s the final punchline in a movie that’s as much about the absurdity of life as it is about adventure.
Type of Movie
Time Bandits is a fantasy adventure with dark comedy and surreal elements. It mixes childlike wonder with adult-level satire, poking fun at greed, religion, and technology while exploring philosophical questions about good, evil, and imagination.
Cast
- Craig Warnock as Kevin
- David Rappaport as Randall
- Kenny Baker as Fidgit
- Malcolm Dixon as Strutter
- Mike Edmonds as Og
- Jack Purvis as Wally
- Tiny Ross as Vermin
- David Warner as Evil Genius
- Ralph Richardson as The Supreme Being
- Sean Connery as King Agamemnon / Fireman
- John Cleese as Robin Hood
- Ian Holm as Napoleon
- Shelley Duvall as Pansy
- Michael Palin as Vincent
Film Music and Composer
The soundtrack was composed by Mike Moran, with the main theme “Dream Away” performed by George Harrison, who was also an executive producer on the film. The whimsical yet melancholic tone of the music perfectly matches the movie’s balance between adventure and existential absurdity.
Filming Locations
The movie was shot across various locations in the UK and Europe, including:
- Almería, Spain – for desert and historical landscapes
- Wiltshire, England – for medieval and rural settings
- Pinewood Studios, UK – interior and set construction
These locations added authenticity and texture to the historical sequences, grounding the film’s fantasy in a tangible reality.
Awards and Nominations
- Saturn Award Nomination for Best Fantasy Film (1982)
- BAFTA Award Nomination for Best Production Design (Milton Manasas)
- Widely praised for its art direction and imaginative design, even if it didn’t sweep major awards.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Terry Gilliam originally wanted to make a movie about adults but decided to center it on a child to highlight the contrast between imagination and materialism.
- Sean Connery agreed to appear after seeing the cleverness of his role’s twist.
- The dwarves’ costumes were extremely heavy and hot; shooting conditions were tough.
- George Harrison’s involvement as producer saved the film from running out of budget near the end.
- The original script had a slightly lighter ending, but Gilliam insisted on the darker one.
Inspirations and References
- Based partly on classical mythology, British folklore, and biblical allegory.
- The concept of “time holes” came from Gilliam’s fascination with bureaucratic mistakes in divine systems—a theme he’d expand upon in Brazil (1985).
- Influences include Alice in Wonderland, Gulliver’s Travels, and classic adventure tales.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
An alternate ending was written where Kevin is rescued by Agamemnon (as the firefighter) and taken in as his adopted son. It was filmed but cut for being “too optimistic.” Gilliam preferred the bleak, ambiguous ending that made viewers question what was real.
Book Adaptations and Differences
A novelization of the film was released, closely following the script but adding internal thoughts from Kevin and expanded background on the dwarves. The book presents a clearer answer about whether Kevin’s adventures were “real,” but Gilliam’s film leaves that delightfully uncertain.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Kevin discovering the dwarves bursting through his wardrobe.
- The gang stealing Napoleon’s treasures while he rants about short people.
- Robin Hood’s polite distribution of stolen goods.
- The Titanic reveal—“Oh, what a lovely ship!” followed by chaos.
- Evil’s monologue about technology: “God isn’t interested in computers. He never created one. That’s why I have to.”
- The fiery, shocking final explosion.
Iconic Quotes
- Evil: “If I were creating the world, I wouldn’t mess about with butterflies and daffodils. I would have started with lasers—eight o’clock, Day One!”
- Randall: “We’re international criminals. It’s just that we haven’t done much international crime yet.”
- Kevin: “Why does there have to be evil?”
- Supreme Being: “I think it has something to do with free will.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The Supreme Being’s calm, bureaucratic demeanor parodies institutional religion and government.
- Many characters played by famous British comedians are modern reinterpretations of mythic or historical figures.
- The map of time resembles the “Tree of Life” from Kabbalistic mysticism.
- Evil’s fortress is visually designed like a circuit board—symbolizing the danger of overreliance on technology.
Trivia
- Terry Gilliam considered Time Bandits the first film in his “Imagination Trilogy,” followed by Brazil (1985) and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988).
- The time portals were inspired by an idea Gilliam had while sketching Monty Python animations.
- The dwarves’ actors had a strong camaraderie on set and improvised much of their dialogue.
- Sean Connery shot his scenes in just a few days due to scheduling conflicts.
- The budget was roughly $5 million, small for such an ambitious visual effects film.
Why Watch?
Because it’s one of the most inventive fantasy adventures ever made—funny, tragic, imaginative, and deeply philosophical. Time Bandits manages to be a children’s film that’s secretly for adults, offering layers of meaning about greed, imagination, and the strange nature of good and evil.
Director’s Other Movies
- Brazil (1985)
- The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)
- 12 Monkeys (1995)
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
- The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
Recommended Films for Fans
- The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)
- Labyrinth (1986)
- The NeverEnding Story (1984)
- Brazil (1985)
- The Dark Crystal (1982)
- MirrorMask (2005)
