
Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer (in hawk form) in “Ladyhawke” (Warner Bros./20th Century Fox, 1985)
“Ladyhawke” (Warner Bros./20th Century Fox, 1985). A cray cray jealous medieval bishop (John Wood) puts a curse a woman he loves (Michelle Pfeiffer) and the man she loves (Rutger Hauer). By day, she is a hawk and he is a dude; by night, he turns into a wolf and she is herself–”always together; eternally apart.” The only time they can see each other in their human form is for a brief moment at dawn and at dusk. Needless to say, they are not happy with this situation. With the help of a boy thief (Matthew Broderick), a monk (Leo McKern) and a solar eclipse, they set to make things right. Gorgeous location shooting in Italy, a totally awesome 80s electro synth soundtrack by Alan Parsons, and Michelle Pfeiffer just being in the film make this a true guilty pleasure for me. Written by Edward Khmara, Michael Thomas, Tom Mankiewicz and David Peoples. Directed by Richard Donner. “She loves you more than life itself.”
The famous entrance of Isabeau turning into the light of the moon, shrouded in a black cloak is the single shot from Ladyhawke that I’ve never been able to shake.
It’s completely burned into my moviegoing brain and it marked my big screen introduction to the woman who would become my favourite actress.
I saw Ladyhawke twice the week it opened and was so hypnotized I completely understood the Bishop’s obsession and Etienne Navarre’s unshakeable romantic devotion.