David Bowie Film Labyrinth Now Streaming for Free

Musicians often take a dive into the acting world. Fans frequently enjoy these performances. David Bowie loved to mix mediums, starring in movies or taking his music to the Great White Way. Seeing David Bowie appear in a movie or a television show was common. Musicians often take on cameos as themselves, much like Prince did in the hit television show New Girl or David Bowie did in the 2001 film Zoolander. One particular foray into acting stands the test of time and is available on streaming.

David Bowie was no stranger to taking on acting roles. In 1976, he starred in the film The Man Who Fell to Earth and later worked with Oscar-winning directors. His Jim Henson fantasy film remains a classic that stands the test of time. In 1986, Jim Henson directed a new kind of fantasy film utilizing his mastery of puppetry in Labyrinth. Jim Henson was known for his work on The Muppet Show as both the creator of the puppets and the voice of characters like Kermit the Frog.

David Bowie stars as Jareth the Goblin King. This being arrives at Sarah’s home after Jennifer Connelly’s character wishes that goblins would come and take her baby brother Toby away. Jareth gives Sarah a task: complete his Labyrinth and reach his castle before time runs out to get her brother back. If she fails, Toby turns into one of the goblins forever. Much like The Muppet Movie and Muppet Treasure Island, which Brian Henson directed, Labyrinth featured a limited human-to-puppet ratio. That approach makes the project one of the most whimsical masterpieces of the 1980s.

David Bowie’s role as Jareth became legendary for several reasons, including the character’s appearance. Jareth wears a blonde mullet hairstyle paired with pants resembling Lululemon style and flowy pirate shirts beneath a vest. Making that outfit work is difficult, yet David Bowie pulls it off, creating an iconic fit for the Goblin King. The music that David Bowie contributed to the movie made the project truly special.

Dance, Magic Dance

Audiences naturally expect David Bowie to sing. His role in Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige offered a fun change of pace because David Bowie played the engineer and futurist Nikola Tesla. Part of what made that departure jarring stemmed from the legacy of Jareth the Goblin King. The movie opens with David Bowie’s song “Underground” and features moments like Jareth and Sarah dancing to “As the World Falls Down.” Viewers remember the Fire Gang dance to “Chilly Down.” However, the most well-known song in the film remains David Bowie’s track “Magic Dance.”

“Magic Dance” plays earlier in the film when Sarah begins her journey through the Labyrinth alongside Hoggle. She advances further than Jareth wants. When Toby refuses to stop crying, Jareth sings a song to calm the infant. Featuring lyrics such as “You remind me of the babe,” the song remains a primary association many fans have with the movie.

The Whimsy of Labyrinth

Part of what allows Labyrinth to stand the test of time comes down to world-building. Sarah finds friends in Hoggle, Didymus, Ludo, and others who support her in ways that her father, stepmother, and Jareth do not. Those relationships give her the courage to tell Jareth that he has “no power over me” and to find her own strength.

The visual style and atmosphere that Jim Henson brought to the production give Labyrinth its beauty. The legacy invites viewers to explore generation-to-generation sharing of the film, and audiences can experience the distinct confusion of the Fire Gang.

Source: Polygon