Halloween DVD for Older Children
The Black Cauldron movie is on my list for Halloween viewing by older children. This fantasy from Walt Disney Productions, was released in 1985, after twelve years in production.
The animation is outstanding and though the story line isn't as strong, it is still a good slightly scary movie that can be enjoyed, especially around Halloween.
Even though the books, the Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander, are much better (as most books are), I liked the movie and would recommend it.
The Black Cauldron Movie
The Story
The Black Cauldron is the story of Taran, a young pig-keeper, who attempts to rescue his clairvoyant pig, Hen Wen, from the castle of the evil Horned King. The King tries to get Hen Wen to lead him to the mysterious Black Cauldron. Taran escapes with young princess Eilonwy and Fflewdder Ffflam, the minstrel, and with the help of mischievous Gurgi finds the cauldron. Before they can destroy it, the Horned King takes it and begins to unleash its awesome power of producing deathless warriors. Gurgi sacrifices himself to destroy the cauldron's power and save his friends, and in the end, Taran defeats the Horned King and Gurgi is restored.
Reference: the Disney Archives
Review from TV Guide
"A glorious return to the days at Disney when animation was full and detail was everything, THE BLACK CAULDRON is betrayed by a routine storyline which fails to grip the imagination in the same way that such classics as PINOCCHIO or DUMBO do, but it's a remarkable achievement nonetheless."
The Black Cauldron History

Photo courtesy of Reelfilm.com
Disney released the Black Cauldron Movie in 1985. It was twelve years in the making. The animation used in the production was state of the art at that time and Disney was the first to use many of the techniques seen in the Black Cauldron.
The screen play or plot was adapted from Lloyd Alexander's award winning Prydain Chronicles, a five volume series. Disney studios bought the rights to all five books in 1971. The book the Black Cauldron and the movie are quite different. The Disney screen writer combined the plot and characters of the first two volumes, The Book of Three and The Black Cauldron. A minor character, the Horned King, became the major villan of the movie.
Many who loved the books thought this was a mistake, since the Book of Three could have supported an excellent animated film by itself. The author of Antagony and Ecstasy surmized, that the reason may have been that the "Black Cauldron" was a much better title for a movie than the "Book of Three". At any rate, this is what contributed to a sketchy plot lacking in deep character development.
All that being said, I still liked the movie. Yes, parts of it are dark, but so are parts of Harry Potter. It is sort of a combination of "Lord of the Rings" and "Star Wars", but many hero quest movies are. The animation is excellent and the story line is adequate to give children an hour or so of slightly frightening fantasy fun.
Reference Antagony and Ecstasy Blog
Black Cauldron Disney Gold Collection DVD
Antagony and Ecstasy says...
"But despite being a huge wreck of narrative in every respect, I do actually like The Black Cauldron; I might even say I like it quite a lot. For it is absolutely gorgeous."
Black Cauldron Music Video
Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles
are the books that the movie was based on.
The Prydain Chronicles Books
The Prydain Chronicles are outstanding mythological fantasy books for children, written by Lloyd Alexander. The five-volume set is composed of (1) The Book of Three, (2) The Black Cauldron, (3) Castle of Llyr, (4) Taran the Wanderer, and (5) The High King. The movie, the Black Cauldron was based on the first two books. Lloyd Alexander received the Newbery Award for book 5, The High King.
I would recommend all five volumes.
Other Books by Lloyd Alexander
Taran Wanderer (The Chronicles of Prydain) by Lloyd Alexander
The Newbery-winning fantasy series now available in more...0 points
The Castle of Llyr (The Chronicles of Prydain) by Lloyd Alexander
The Newbery-winning fantasy series now available in more...0 points
The High King (The Chronicles of Prydain) by Lloyd Alexander
The Newbery-winning fantasy series now available in more...0 points
Time Cat (Puffin Modern Classic) (Puffin Modern Classics) by Lloyd Alexander
Jason's cat has nine fantastic lives-and he's taki more...0 points
The Kestrel by Lloyd Alexander
Theo is traveling Westmark, learning about the cou more...0 points
The Foundling: And Other Tales of Prydain (The Chronicles of Prydain) by Lloyd Alexander
The Newbery-winning fantasy series now available in more...0 points
Westmark by Lloyd Alexander
A boy fleeing from criminal charges falls in with more...0 points
The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen by Lloyd Alexander
When Prince Jen volunteers to search for the legen more...0 points
The Town Cats and Other Tales by Lloyd Alexander
As he did in "Time Cat", Alexander bring more...0 points
The Beggar Queen (Westmark Trilogy) by Lloyd Alexander
Mickle, once a common street urchin, is now the queen more...0 points
The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio by Lloyd Alexander
A beautiful Kirkassi girl, cold-eyed villains and smiling more...0 points
The Arkadians by Lloyd Alexander
To escape the wrath of the king and his wicked soothsayers, more...0 points
The House Gobbaleen (Picture Puffins) by Lloyd Alexander
Poor luckless Tooley longs for some help from the Friendly more...0 points
Time Cat: The Remarkable Journeys of Jason and Gareth by Lloyd Alexander
Gareth's definitely not an ordinary cat. For one t more...0 points
Lloyd Alexander's Books on eBay
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The Black Cauldron
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Hildebrandt Series 1 Black Cauldron Private Collection 83 #21 Single Trading Card
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THE BLACK CAULDRON TARANS MAGIC SWORD by Golden Books
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Walt Disney- The Black Cauldron - 12"x12" Pkg with Cassette and Full Color Photo Book by Susan Sheridan, Freddie Jones, Nigel Mawthorne, Arthur Malet, John Byner, Eda Reiss Merin, Adelle Malis Morey, Billie Hayes Grant Bardsley
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More Get Crackin' Squidboo Movie Lenses
Please Leave us something for the black cauldron
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lastlittlebird
Dec 16, 2010 @ 2:19 am | delete
- The Black Cauldron game was one of the very first computer games I ever played... led me to the books and I adored the books. The movie wasn't bad either. Nice lens :)
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Sep 2, 2010 @ 4:20 am | delete
- Very informative lens.
Making a website is really not that tough, and top of all, you can create a website or more website for free.
Building a website is a extremely individual skill and is different with each client.
It is more about revealing your business to new probable clients and generating new sales.
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rms
Aug 30, 2010 @ 8:01 am | delete
- I've never seen this one but I think I'd really like it!
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BuckHawk Aug 29, 2010 @ 3:45 pm | delete
- You have definitely enticed me. I am a fan of all things Disney but missed this one. I'm now looking forward to seeing it. Netflix, get ready! Congrats on Number 13, too!
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