WILLOW

PLOT SUMMARY

Rumors have been circulating throughout the land of the birth of a child of great importance. The child Elora Danan, it is said, will bring about the downfall of Queen Bavmorda and usher in an age of peace and prosperity. Queen Bavmorda is determined to find and kill this child. She sends her armies ranging over the country searching for a female child bearing the mark of Elora Danan. But the one that does bear the mark is spirited away by her midwife in the nick of time. Finally, the midwife is hunted down. Before the hunting dogs reach her, she sends the child drifting down the river on a raft of reeds.

In a quiet community of "halflings" far away, Willow Ufgood is plowing his field. His children, playing by the river, discover the child and one runs to tell him. Reluctantly, he goes to the river shore and sees that the child is a Daikini. "Don't touch it," he warns. "We don't know where it's been." But just then Burglekutt, a village official, calls Willow to answer why he's not working. They argue. Burglekutt vows he will soon have Willow's land. Meanwhile, Willow's wife Kiaya goes to the river and recovers the child. In spite of Willow's protestations, she takes it home.

There is a celebration in which Willow shows off his magic. It is interrupted by the same sort of dog that killed the midwife tearing through the village. Several halfling warriors dispatch it with spears. It is evident that the dog was looking for something or someone. Willow immediately fears the worst and runs home, but he finds Kiaya safe and sound holding the baby. He now decides to do what he forbid before: take the child to the village council.

The town wizard decides Willow must take the child to the Daikini Crossroads and there turn it over to one of its own people. He assigns Burglekutt to lead this expedition, to the official's chagrin. Despite having once to hide from Bavmorda's troops, they reach the Crossroads. There they find Madmartigan in a hanging cage. Hearing their discussion, he offers to take the baby and keep it safe. After waiting overnight, and seeing all his companions but Meegosh head for home, Willow finally agrees. But as Willow and Meegosh follow their companions, an eagle carrying two Brownies flies past them. It has the baby in its talons. The two Halflings are captured by the Brownies, whereupon Cherlindria appears and tells them how important Elora Danan is. She gives Willow her wand to take to Fin Raziel, and commands him to go with Raziel to the fortress Tiras Lin where he will find help.

Willow finds Raziel, who befriends the Halfling and his band and attempts to teach him some magical spells. This is necessary because Raziel has been imprisoned in animal form by Bavmorda and needs help to return to her true shape. Willow, a novice, has great trouble mastering the spells. He has other troubles too. Captured by Bavmorda's army, he, his friends, and Elora Danan are marched toward the Queen's castle. It appears his quest will end in failure.

Capsule review: The standouts in this Disney fantasy are Warwick Davis as Willow and Jean Marsh, who plays the evil Queen Bavmorda as a dripping-with-evil villainess. The film moves along swiftly with plenty of jeopardy and a satisfying ending. Its only defect is occasional bursts of humor that are over the top.