Line #117 Film/Ladyhawke


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1985-ladyhawke-poster2_6022.jpg]]
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3	A 1985 fantasy/adventure film directed by Creator/RichardDonner, with a cast featuring both a number of veteran actors (such as John Wood, Creator/RutgerHauer, and Creator/LeoMcKern) and young actors who would go on to become HouseholdNames (Creator/MatthewBroderick and Creator/MichellePfeiffer).
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5	In the medieval French town of Aquila, a young thief named Philippe the Mouse (Broderick) escapes prison by sneaking through the sewers. Said prison and the lands around it are controlled by a [[CorruptChurch corrupt Bishop]] (Wood), and he is none too pleased to hear of this (the prison is supposed to be inescapable, after all). The Bishop's guardsmen pursue and corner Philippe, but Etienne of Navarre (Hauer) unexpectedly comes to his rescue, aided by his fierce and beautiful hawk.
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7	Navarre has a score to settle with the Bishop. Not only was he the former Captain of the guard, he and the Bishop once loved the same woman, Isabeau d'Anjou (Pfeiffer). When she chose Navarre, the jealous Bishop called down a curse on them: during the day, Isabeau is a hawk; by night, Navarre is a wolf. Navarre plans to use Philippe's knowledge of the sewers to infiltrate Aquila and slay the Bishop, but his obsession might lead to tragedy. For the disgraced monk Imperius knows a way to break the curse, but it will only be possible while the Bishop is alive...
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9	----
10	!!This film provides examples of:
11	* AbsurdlySpaciousSewer: Philippe climbs through it to get in and out of Aquila. Though it's a ''very'' tight squeeze, even for a skinny teenager.
12	* ActionSurvivor: Philippe escapes from prison and then runs from the Bishop's guards. He'd like to get away clean but he has to help the leading man and lady.
13	* AdaptationExpansion: The film's novelization adds in the twist that [[spoiler:Marquet was who told the Bishop about Navarre and Isabeau's relationship]], not Imperius.
14	* AdaptationalVillainy: In the novelization, Marquet is the one who [[spoiler:tells the Bishop about Navarre and Isabeau's relationship]], effectively dooming them just so he could get a promotion. The film's Marquet is still a brutal, murderous man, but apparently isn't a traitor and got his position honestly.
15	* TheAlcatraz: The prison Philippe was sent to. It's supposed to be inescapable, you know. Philippe only managed to get out by being small enough to fit ''down the drain,'' and even then he says his escape was mostly luck.
16	* TheAlcoholic: Imperius drinks. A lot. During one of his benders, he let slip to the Bishop about Navarre and Isabeau.
17	* AllCrimesAreEqual: In Aquila, you can be hanged for theft just the same as murder.
18	* AnachronismStew: Navarre claims his [[{{BFS}} massive two-handed sword]] has [[AncestralWeapon been in his family for five generations]]. With the film being set around the 13th Century, this means the sword would have been forged in either the second half of the 11th Century or the first half of the 12th Century. However, the design is of a type that wouldn't appear until the ''16th'' Century.
19	* AncestralWeapon: Navarre's sword. It's been around for a few generations and went with his father to the Crusades.
20	* AnimalEyes: Used in the lovers' face-to-face transformation scene -- the eyes are the last thing to become human and the first thing to become animal.
21	* AnimalStereotypes: The guy who turns into a wolf is [[NobleWolf a fierce, loyal badass who can be absolutely vicious when riled up]], and the guy called "the Mouse" is a cowardly ActionSurvivor thief who prefers to hide and be sneaky whenever possible. Isabeau is fairly fierce and graceful herself. It's observed in TheMovie that hawks and wolves mate for life (though not with each other, of course) signifying the couple's enduring faithfulness. Both species will eat mice when given the chance, though they also hunt and eat other predators who eat mice, so make of that what you will.
22	* AnnoyingArrows: Played with. Arrow injuries are deadly when [[spoiler:Isabeau is shot in hawk form and still injured in human]] but Navarre just shrugs off one arrow because he's wearing armor.
23	* ArchEnemy: The Bishop to both Navarre and Isabeau.
24	* ArtisticLicenseReligion: Imperius is described as a monk, but his background reveals he used to take confessions. In real life, a monk has not taken Holy Orders and thus cannot take confessions - he would need to be a priest to be able to hear confession and give absolution. Of course, it is possible to be both a monk and a priest, but you would be more likely to refer to yourself as a priest in the same way that someone with credentials as both a paralegal and a lawyer would probably not mention the paralegal part. However, this might be intentional, as Imperius is revealed to have become TheAtoner for committing the crime of betraying secrets of the confessional, which hints he was previously a priest and renounced his vows and became a monk to repent, as it was done in the time and setting.
25	* ArtisticLicenseSpace: There is a scene under a full moon. Two days later, there is what seems to be a solar eclipse (which requires a new moon). Possibly {{Hand Wave}}d as a result of divine intervention, and explains why Navarre would be skeptical of Imperius's prediction, thinking he's gone mad.
26	* TheAtoner: Imperius, the monk who helps Navarre and Isabeau. He feels responsible for their curse because he accidentally revealed their love to the Bishop. In the novelization, [[spoiler:he didn't--it's just he believes he did.]]
27	* AutobotsRockOut: 1980s synthesizer rock by Music/TheAlanParsonsProject.
28	** ThemeMusicPowerUp: The music will let you know when Navarre is about to kick ''all'' kinds of ass.
29	* AutomaticCrossbow: Badass people strap two crossbows together.
30	* AutomatonHorses: Averted, for the most part. Navarre will take breaks in order to rest and care for his horse Goliath, even having Philippe get food for him, and Marquet seems to make use of way stations of some sort in order to swap tired horses for fresh ones, as he gallops back to the Bishop after his encounter with Navarre.
31	* BackstabBackfire: [[spoiler:How the Bishop ultimately meets his end - after trying to kill Isabeau with his crosier, he ends up pinned by Navarre's longsword, ''[[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks thrown]]'' at him]].
32	* BackupBluff: When Philippe is hearing noises in the woods, he tries to fool his potential attackers by talking to two imaginary friends, saying things like, "You'd better draw your sword, Pierre!" and, "Ah, Louis, you brought your crossbow!" He also uses different voices to make it sound like they are there.
33	* BadBoss:
34	** Marquet, who replaced Navarre as the Captain of the Guards, throws one of his underlings on Navarre's sword and gets him killed just for addressing Navarre as "captain."
35	*** That said, in the novelization, he apologizes to a guard he had demoted and reinstates him - he didn't believe the guard when he described Navarre.
36	** The Bishop constantly berates Marquet for his failures and, at some point, he even threatens to have him executed if Isabeau should be hurt while in her hawk form.
37	* BadassCape: Navarre's is ''awesome''. He is, naturally, incredibly badass.
38	* BadassInDistress: Navarre is surprisingly vulnerable in wolf form, having nearly fallen prey to a hunter, nearly drowned in an icy lake after falling through thin ice, and nearly gotten stabbed by a random guard for fun.
39	* BadassPreacher: Imperius is technically a ''monk'', not a priest, but he's still a formidable man of God. He manages to stall a few soldiers by himself for a while when they come to his castle and takes out one with a trap.
40	* {{BFS}}: Navarre's sword is a Zweihander. Philippe visibly struggles to carry it throughout the film.
41	* BlackKnight: Etienne Navarre is a literal one, clad in black armor, as he's been cast out from service to Aquila and has no lord or master. Despite appearances, he's TheHero and a noble man.
42	* BloodlessCarnage: Despite countless {{Mook}}s being killed throughout the movie, you would be hard-pressed to find any blood. In fact, the only time when blood is present is when minor wounds are inflicted.
43	* BloodstainedGlassWindows: [[spoiler:The climax takes place in a gothic cathedral, with the bishop celebrating the mass. Navarre ''rides in on horseback'', cutting down the guards like grass. Then Marquet faces him, also on horseback]].
44	* BookEnds: The movie begins with Philippe escaping the dungeons of Aquila through the moat. By the climax, he's returned to that same moat to sneak ''into'' the cathedral. Even Philippe [[LampshadeHanging comments]] on how things have come full circle.
45	* BowAndSwordInAccord: Navarre uses a crossbow and a CoolSword.
46	* CassandraTruth:
47	** Navarre doesn't believe Imperius when he says the curse can be broken, because he thinks of the man as a betrayer (and a drunkard)
48	** Nobody believes Philippe, admittedly with reason. This leads to mild CringeComedy when he and Imperius try to support each other.
49	--->'''Imperius:''' Thank you for trying, Philippe, and for standing up for the truth.\
50	'''Philippe:''' I should have known better. Every moment of happiness in my life has come from lying.
51	** Also, he tells the truth to some evil guards and is still in trouble:
52	---> '''Philippe:''' I told the truth, Lord! How can I learn any moral lessons when you keep confusing me this way?
53	** At the end of Philippe's and Isabeau's near-capture at the monastery:
54	--->'''Guard''': Where's the woman?\
55	'''Philippe''': She flew away.\
56	'''Guard''': WHERE IS SHE?\
57	'''Philippe''': God's truth, she flew away!\
58	'''Guard''': YOU L-AAAGH!!! (Guard is shot by Navarre and falls.)\
59	'''Philippe''': (beat)... It pays to tell the truth, Lord. Thank you. I see that now.
60	* ChekhovsSkill: Navarre scares Philippe into helping him by throwing his sword with such force that it sticks to a tree. [[spoiler:This is how he slays the Bishop when the Bishop is about to kill Isabeau in his breakdown]].
61	* ChewToy: Philippe the Mouse spends a lot of time in peril, and even gets mauled by Navarre in wolf form while saving his life.
62	* ClothingConcealedInjury: Philippe wears a heavy sweater to hide the injuries that Navarre inflicted in wolf form. It doesn't work.
63	* CombatPragmatist: Navarre doesn't mind kicking and punching during a swordfight, just like throwing knives or opening a skirmish with a crossbow bolt to thin the crowd. Marquet is similarly willing to use his helmet as a weapon in a pinch.
64	* CoolHelmet: So cool, [[{{Manga/Berserk}} Guts had to get one for himself]]! Navarre and Marquet use the same type--it's just Navarre's is white and Marquet's is black.
65	* CoolHorse:
66	** Navarre rides Goliath, a huge black [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friesian_horse Friesian]]. He gets to show off the breed's signature floating trot in a few scenes.
67	** Marquet isn't far behind with his series of white horses, especially the one he uses at the climactic swordfight.
68	* CoolSword: Navarre's two-handed crusader sword.
69	-->'''Navarre:''' [''finding his weapon being used to chop kindling''] This sword has been in my family for five generations. It has never known defeat, until now.
70	** Deconstructed, to the extent that it's only a cool sword for ''him''. For someone like Philippe, it's a big, bulky burden that he can't actually use but is compelled to drag along anyway.
71	* CorruptChurch: The entire region of Aquila in the Middle Ages is ruled by this trope. Unusually, however, the movie averts the trope's implicit TakeThat qualities in that [[RealMenLoveJesus the protagonists are all depicted as genuinely devout, faithful, and God-fearing]]. In the end, it's possibly only the Bishop and [[TheDragon Marquet]] who are corrupt, but they have the authority to pervert the Church's influence in the region.
72	* {{Curse}}: The two StarCrossedLovers were cursed to be "always together, eternally apart." They are always tantalizingly close to the one they love, but they can't both be human at the same time.
73	* CurseEscapeClause: Navarre believes killing the Bishop will end the curse, but Imperius (and the Bishop) both say this will only make it permanent. Imperius claims God revealed to him the true method: if Navarre and Isabeau meet each other in human form in sight of the Bishop--made possible by a [[TotalEclipseOfThePlot "night without a day"]]--the curse will be dispelled. The Bishop seems to know this, too, as he initially covers his face with his arms to avoid seeing [[spoiler:Isabeau when she shows up in the cathedral]] and has to be forced to look at sword-point by Navarre.
74	* DarkIsNotEvil: Navarre wears all-black clothing, rides a black horse, turns into a black wolf, and has a brooding manner, but he is an honorable man betrayed by his employers.
75	* DarkestHour: At one point in the climactic swordfight, Navarre has been disarmed, Marquet is closing in with a sword to finish him off, and he is certain Isabeau is dead.
76	* DeadpanSnarker: Philippe.
77	-->'''Philippe:''' ''(to Imperius)'' When you kneel before the altar, how do you get up again?
78	* DealWithTheDevil: The Bishop asked the Devil to curse the lovers. In the novelization and earlier versions of the script, Navarre is told by Imperius to not kill the Bishop after the curse is broken, as the devil will be coming to collect his soul [[spoiler:and presumably does so by turning him into a (sickly) wolf himself]].
79	* DeathGlare: Isabeau gives an epic one to the Bishop [[spoiler:after being cured, showing him the hawk jesses and letting them drop before him.]]
80	* DespairEventHorizon: Navarre is right on the edge of it when he thinks Isabeau is dead. This terrifies the Bishop, who realizes that his foe has [[TheUnfettered no reason to restrain himself]].
81	* {{Determinator}}:
82	** Navarre and Isabeau have been cursed for two years but neither has given up hope.
83	** Philippe. He promises to get into Heaven even if he has to pick the lock to the pearly gates.
84	* DownerEnding: In-universe: when the "day without a night" doesn't seem to have happened according to Imperius' prediction, Navarre wonders if perhaps God intended all along for Navarre and Isabeau to die without breaking the curse (and presumably reunite in heaven.) [[spoiler:The ''actual'' story is a SurprisinglyHappyEnding]].
85	* TheDragon: Marquet, Navarre's successor as Captain of the Guard, for the Bishop.
86	* TheDreaded: Imperious describes the Bishop as "an evil man, a powerful man, hated and feared; rejected even by Rome itself." His reputation is [[ExploitedTrope exploited]] by Imperius, who successfully bluffs a guard out of killing Wolf!Navarre on the ''possibility'' the Bishop might get mad at him doing it.
87	* DudeMagnet: Just about every male character in the story finds Isabeau the most beautiful woman they've ever seen--and this is definitely [[SoBeautifulItsACurse not a good thing]], since this includes the {{Yandere}} Bishop. Philippe freely admits to Navarre that he's had fantasies about her, but also is aware [[SingleTargetSexuality Navarre's the only one she's interested in]].
88	-->'''Imperius:''' I'll never forget the day I saw her. It was like looking at...
89	-->'''Philippe:''' The face of love.
90	-->'''Imperius:''' You too? Well, I suppose we were all in love with her in different ways.
91	* TheDungAges: The Bishop's cathedral and garden are pretty clean, but otherwise the Europe seen in the film is a miserable-looking place. Filthy dungeons, rough and ruined castles, and ramshackle wooden villages abound.
92	* DyingDeclarationOfLove: A rather twisted version, as [[spoiler:the Bishop dies with Isabeau's name on his lips.]]
93	* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The Bishop's real name is never revealed, and he is simply referred to as "the Bishop."
94	* EvilCounterpart: Marquet to Navarre. He, too, is captain of the Aquila guard, with a similar CoolHorse, CoolHelmet, and equipment--except all [[LightIsNotGood white]] to Navarre's [[DarkIsNotEvil black]].
95	* EvilPlan: The Bishop seeks to capture Isabeau. This will be a lot easier if Navarre's dead, so the Bishop gets Cezar, a professional wolf-hunter, to kill Navarre while he's in his (relatively) vulnerable wolf transformation.
96	* FadeToBlack: The final scene has an interesting case of it -- the scene gradually gets darker, until [[spoiler:only Navarre and Isabeau are in the middle of the now completely dark cathedral, with a beam of light coming through the broken window on them]]... and then it fades to black too.
97	* FeeFiFauxPas: Philippe stops at an inn and offers to buy a round for the house (with stolen money, natch) to celebrate his escape. Too bad the house is full of the Bishop's guard...
98	* FirstNameBasis: Isabeau d'Anjou's full name is only said once. For the rest of the movie, she's just Isabeau. Justified, as "d'Anjou" isn't really her last name, just meaning where she was born ("of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anjou Anjou]]".)
99	* {{Flynning}}: The sword technique is rough around the edges, featuring big windups, wide misses, and loud clanging. Despite this, it is high quality by eighties standards, especially with energetic grappling and some neat moves that stand out. For example, at the end where [[spoiler:Navarre rolls towards Marquet to avoid the ''coup de grace'', immediately rolls back on top of the blade to strip it from his enemy's grasp, and then uses it to inflict inertial impalement]]. This was deliberate, depicting the fighting as more realistic, brutish and forceful.
100	* ForcedTransformation: The curse turns Isabeau into a hawk by day; Navarre, a wolf by night. While they are themselves the rest of the time, the real cruelty is that they cannot ''both'' be human for more than a few seconds at a time.
101	* ForDoomTheBellTolls: When Navarre storms the church, he tells Imperius to kill Isabeau if he hears the church bells ring (because it will mean he has failed and is probably dead). In the midst of the melee, some soldiers try FastRoping down the bell pulls... leading to an OhCrap moment from Navarre, who has just realized the curse might be breakable after all.
102	* GreenEyedMonster: The spurned Bishop turned to the infernal to spite Isabeau and Navarre. [[spoiler:And when even that failed, he tried to kill the object of his affection so no other man could have her]]. Even Navarre has moments where he almost seems to ''hate'' Philippe for the time he gets to spend with Isabeau. (Philippe is able to defuse it by saying she only talked about Navarre.)
103	* TheGhost: Imperius mentions that Isabeau came to Aquila to stay with a cousin. That cousin is never seen, and their reaction to what the Bishop did to Isabeau is unknown.
104	* GreaterScopeVillain: Downplayed. Satan most definitely exists in this setting, as the curse upon the lovers is the result of the Bishop [[DealWithTheDevil making a deal with him]]. However, he never appears, there's no danger of him making another curse or affecting the heroes in any way, and defeating him isn't on anyone's radar.
105	* GuileHero: Philippe the Mouse escapes from an unescapable prison, steals food and clothes, and is constantly trying, and often failing, to talk his way out of trouble. But when push comes to shove, he helps people in need and doesn't run from danger.
106	* [[VillainExitStageLeft Hero Exit Stage Left]]: An inversion of the normal trope. [[spoiler:After the curse is broken, Imperius and Mouse try to slip out without being seen. Navarre doesn't let them.]]
107	* HellBentForLeather: Navarre. Nearly every scene with him in human form, his leather creaks ''loudly''.
108	* HelmetsAreHardlyHeroic: When Navarre and Marquet fight each other in the church on horseback, they're both wearing helmets. Marquet rips off his helmet when unhorsed and actually throws it at Navarre, but misses and breaks the rose window of the church. Navarre initially leaves his on even after Marquet drags him off his horse, but he then rips it off in order to see better when he notices the eclipse beginning.
109	* HeroKiller: The wolf-hunter to Navarre. When Isabeau sees all the wolf pelts on his saddle, her initial shock and horror quickly turns to rage, and she rides after him in a rainstorm with nothing but a knife.
110	* HeterosexualLifePartners: Philippe and Imperius forge an OddFriendship.
111	-->'''Imperius:''' I fully expect to meet you at the Pearly Gates, little thief, and don't you dare disappoint me.\
112	'''Philippe:''' I'll meet you there, Father... even if I have to pick the lock.
113	* HeWentThatWay: Zig-zagged. Philippe directs the guards after Navarre knowing they will expect him to lie. It works at first [[ReversePsychologyBackfire until one of them figures it out]].
114	* TheHero: Though Philippe is the point-of-view character, he is ultimately just a thief and a witness to Navarre and Isabeau's story. It's Navarre who gets the biggest action scenes and the climactic battle.
115	* HoistByHisOwnPetard:
116	** The wolf hunter dies when Isabeau shoves him headfirst into his own trap. It's not a quick death, either.
117	** [[spoiler:Marquet, who pushed one of his own men onto Navarre's sword for greeting Navarre as 'Captain', ultimately dies by falling onto Navarre's sword.]]
118	* HollywoodCostuming: The costume department seems to have used their imaginations more than historical references. For example, the bishop's soldiers wear some fanciful form of scale armor instead of chain mail.
119	* HollywoodDarkness: Night scenes are represented with a blue or purple filter.
120	* HollywoodHealing: The hawk gets shot. Isabeau spends one night getting medical treatment, and the following morning, the hawk can fly again as if nothing happened to it. Imperius's poultice must be very effective. That being said, in the novel adaptation, it does take Isabeau several days to recover.
121	* HomeFieldAdvantage: Imperius is living in a ruin of a keep. Despite being a fat, old monk, he still manages to easily get the better of anyone trying to barge into his home. He also lectures Mouse early on to only step on the left side of a bridge but doesn't explain why. [[spoiler:When the Bishop's men storm the place, one of them starts across the bridge only to fall through, as the boards are rotting and the bridge is only solid along its left side]].
122	* HumiliationConga: [[spoiler:The ending, for the Bishop. His trusted Captain of the Guard is killed, the curse is broken and Isabeau personally comes to mock him. Everyone knows now what he did. Then he gets killed. In the book, he's turned into an old wolf]].
123	* HunterTrapper: The wolf hunter Cesare is a legitimate huntsman on the Bishop's payroll.
124	* IKnowYouKnowIKnow:
125	-->'''Philippe''': I believe he was heading south, toward Aquila.\
126	'''Guard''': Then we ride north, sir!\
127	'''Philippe''': It's impolite to assume someone is a liar when you've only just met them!\
128	'''Guard Leader''': And yet you knew we would... [[GenreSavvy we ride south.]]
129	* IfICantHaveYou: "...then no man shall!" Thus the hawk curse. [[spoiler:And when the curse is broken, the Bishop repeats his words when he tries to kill Isabeau]].
130	* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: The ending. [[spoiler:Twice. First Marquet runs onto Navarre's blade while trying to kill him, then Navarre impales the Bishop by throwing his sword like a javelin]].
131	* ImportantHaircut: Isabeau's hair is in a short and ragged bob. The novel explains that she cut it all off with Navarre's sword shortly after she found herself cursed. One of his first lines when they finally reunite is "You cut your hair!"
132	* ImprovisedWeapon: In addition to [[SwordFight swords]], weapons used include a bunch of horseshoes, an iron bar, rocks, the opponent's helmet, and a huge candelabrum.
133	* IncendiaryExponent: Averted. The captain of the guards is anything but badass when he's on fire.
134	* InfoDump: Around the midway point of the film, Imperius gets Philippe up to speed on who Isabeau is, her relationship with Navarre, how the curse came to be, and how it works.
135	* InnSecurity: Their first night out, Navarre and Philippe take refuge in a family's barn. They offer to pay, but in the middle of the night, the owner violates SacredHospitality by coming after them with an axe.
136	* IntellectualAnimal: Averted. Navarre and Isabeau are an actual wolf and an actual hawk respectively when transformed, not a man and a woman in animal bodies. While they seem to have ''some'' awareness of each other, they don't have human minds [[AlternateIdentityAmnesia nor do they remember as humans what they did as animals]]. Wolf!Navarre has enough presence of mind to save Philippe from a farmer trying to kill him (or at least spare Philippe after the farmer's dead), but doesn't understand Philippe is trying to save him when he's drowning and brutally mauls him.
137	* InvoluntaryShapeshifting: The curse upon Navarre and Isabeau forces them to transform between human and animal forms every dawn and dusk.
138	* IronicEcho: When Isabeau runs off towards danger, Philippe mutters "He's going to kill me!" referring to Navarre. When Philippe talks Isabeau into releasing him from where Navarre tied him up, she says the same thing.
139	* ItsPersonal: Navarre wants to kill the Bishop for costing him his career and the woman he loves. He wants his revenge so desperately that he ignores warnings that it will cost him his one chance to break the curse and be with Isabeau.
140	* IWillFindYou: Etienne Navarre to Philippe, after telling him to deliver the hawk to Imperius: "And know this -- if you fail, I will follow you the length of my days. And I ''will'' find you."
141	* KarmicDeath: [[spoiler:The Bishop is killed in the process of trying to stab Isabeau in the back.]]
142	* KnightInShiningArmor: Navarre has this down to the time period; a heroic and pious man who uses a sword to fight evil.
143	* KnowWhenToFoldEm: A mild example, but there are times when the regular guards, despite their orders from the Bishop, decide to not fight Navarre. While some may have done it out of lingering loyalty to their former captain, others were no doubt acting from sheer self-preservation.
144	** A particularly funny example is when a guard sees Navarre charge toward him with his {{BFS}} and visibly decides it's time to make for the hills.
145	* LadyAndKnight: Navarre and Isabeau, though due to the curse, they don't ''appear'' as the lady and the knight at the same time.
146	* LastNameBasis: Etienne of Navarre is just "Navarre" to everyone, including Isabeau.
147	* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Philippe regularly directly addresses God (but effectively the audience) as his personal confidant. None of the other characters notice, but he does go out of his way to put distance between himself and the other characters before talking to the camera.
148	--> '''Philippe (to Navarre):''' No offense, sir, but I talk to God all the time, and He never mentioned you.
149	* LightIsNotGood: The villainous Bishop and the corrupt Captain Marquet wear white and gold, and the Captain rides a white horse.
150	* LiminalTime: At the exact moments of sunrise and sunset, the two lovers both have their human forms and faculties. Unfortunately, it doesn't give them enough time to do anything, not even hold hands.
151	* LivingMacGuffin:
152	** The bishop really wants Isabeau.
153	** In a way, the bishop himself is one. As much as Navarre wants to kill him he ''must'' be kept alive if the curse is to be broken: the CurseEscapeClause requires him seeing both Navarre and Isabeau's human forms at the same time. Once the curse is broken, however, [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness all bets are off]].
154	* LooseLips: Imperius talks more freely while drunk. This led him to reveal to the Bishop the secret about Navarre and Isabeau. Philippe exploits it, pouring Imperius more wine to keep him talking when he wants to find out about Navarre and Isabeau's curse.
155	* LyingToProtectYourFeelings: Phillippe tells Navarre and Isabeau that their lover told him incredibly romantic feelings to convey to the other. They didn't, but Phillippe correctly guessed their true feelings, so the sentiment both had for each other was real; it strongly hinted that they had trouble expressing love for each other before the curse.
156	* MagicIsEvil: The only explicit magic in the film--Navarre and Isabeau's curse--is clearly said to be caused by the powers of Hell. The most the good guys get is Imperius claiming God revealed to him how to break the curse, and the "day without a night/night without a day" ''maaaybe'' being divine intervention. There's no true "good" magic.
157	* MagicPants: There seems to be little consistency as to whether or not clothes transform. Both are naked upon resuming human form, so it could be argued that there is just no need to see an empty dress falling off a little hawk.
158	* MagicRealism: Apart from the curse, the setting is mundane in medieval France - and nobody seems too miffed by the fact said curse exists or is very real.
159	* MalevolentArchitecture: Imperius's castle has two bridges designed to drop you in the moat.
160	-->'''Imperius:''' Remember--\
161	'''''SPLASH!'''''\
162	'''Imperius:''' Walk on the ''left'' side.
163	* ManlyTears:
164	** Tears stream down Philippe's cheeks as he watches Navarre and Isabeau look upon each other during the dual transformation scene. One can surmise it is at this point, Philippe is ''fully committed'' to helping them.
165	** Phillippe and Imperius both cry when the curse is broken, the former kissing the latter on the head.
166	* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: Watch the priests in the background react in horror when the Bishop is killed, and start praying effusively to God.
167	* MementoMacGuffin: Early in the film, Navarre is shown to have a grey/violet dress in his saddlebags. It's Isabeau's [[spoiler:and when they finally meet and the curse is broken, she is wearing it.]]
168	* MercyKill: Navarre tells Imperius to kill the hawk if he's dead because he doesn't want to doom her to a half-life.
169	* TheMiddleAges: The location and time period; medieval France. (Though filmed in Italy.)
170	* TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody: According to Imperius's description of the curse, neither Navarre nor Isabeau are aware of their human selves while in animal form; Navarre, in particular, is quite vicious. However, even in animal form, each of the pair is quick to attack anyone who threatens the other, though there are hints their animal forms are having some influence on their personalities. Navarre is impatient and quick to violence, while even [[ProperLady Isabeau]] has a moment where she chases a rabbit as if she could capture it with her bare hands.
171	* MisplacedWildlife: Isabeau's hawk form is a red-tailed hawk, which is not native to France. Could be handwaved, seeing as the curse was spat up by Hell itself.
172	* MrExposition: Around roughly the halfway point of the film, Imperius gives a lengthy InfoDump that gets Philippe up to speed on the curse and how it came about.
173	* MundaneUtility: The ancestral longsword is used for various tasks at a pinch, including wood chopping, rope tethering, or as a javelin.
174	* MyOwnPrivateIDo: Navarre and Isabeau confessed to Imperius that they had taken "secret vows," implying that they had eloped to avoid the wrath of the Bishop. [[spoiler:They presumably went on to have an official wedding after the end of the film.]]
175	* NiceJobBreakingItHero:
176	** Though it saved Navarre, the only reason Isabeau was shot was that Philippe threw a rock at the guard, causing him to accidentally fire into the air.
177	** Philippe wrecks his own escape from prison by ''bragging'' about it in a local town. If he had kept his mouth shut until he was ''far'' away in another country, he might have gotten away effortlessly. Marquet even lampshades it to his face.
178	* NightAndDayDuo: The film contains a literal example. Lovers Navarre and Isabeau were cursed so that Navarre is human during the day and a wolf at night while Isabeau is human at night and a hawk during the day.
179	* NighttimeTransformation: The shift between day and night is the trigger for Navarre's and Isabeau's transformations. They ''can'' see each other at sunrise/sunset, but there's only a second or two when both of them are fully human at the same time.
180	* NoManOfWomanBorn: The transformation curse may not be broken until there is "a day without a night; a night without a day". [[spoiler:As it turns out, [[TotalEclipseOfThePlot the lovers meet during a solar eclipse.]]]]
181	* NobleBirdOfPrey: Isabeau in hawk form. At one point she distracts a pair of guards while Navarre and Philippe escape.
182	* NobleWolf: Navarre's wolf form is fierce and loyal.
183	* NonActionBigBad: The Bishop spends the entire movie walking around Aquila doing routine work associated with being a Bishop. The threat he presents to the protagonists stems from his sending Marquet and Cezar after them while he goes about his daily business.
184	* NonHumanSidekick: Both Navarre and Isabeau are this to each other depending on the time of day.
185	* NotSoStoic: Navarre is composed for most of the movie, the exceptions being his SkywardScream after the dual transformation scene and his barely-contained rage and relief when confronting the Bishop after the curse is broken.
186	* NotWhatItLooksLike:
187	** A weird variation. When Philippe stretches and yawns, the hawk lands on ''his'' arm, not Navarre's. The former is embarrassed and the latter is in shock.
188	** There's also a Not What It Sounds Like variation: when Navarre asks Philippe about the previous night, Philippe says he and Isabeau went to a stable and "changed clothes," which was completely innocent but riles up a jealous Navarre.
189	* {{Novelization}}: A novel was published based on the film, which included screenshots from the film illustrating scenes and an alternate ending where, once the curse is broken, [[spoiler:the Bishop is turned into a wolf as punishment.]]
190	* OhCrap: The Bishop remains calm and stoic even when Navarre confronts him, knowing he can't be killed or the curse will be impossible to break. When Navarre explains to him that Isabeau is dead and his insurance is useless, his face turns chalk-white within seconds. [[spoiler:When he sees Isabeau herself, alive and well, behind Navarre, he seems close to fainting]].
191	* OohMeAccentsSlipping: Matthew Broderick does an all-right job for the first 15 minutes, then we're basically watching Ferris Bueller swanning about Medieval France.
192	* OurWerebeastsAreDifferent: As the result of the {{curse}}. While Navarre plays the trope somewhat straight by turning into a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent wolf]] at night, he transforms ''every'' sunset, while his lady, Isabeau, turns into a hawk at sunrise.
193	* PetTheDog: In the novelization and earlier scripts, Marquet had demoted one of his officers for telling him Navarre was back. When he actually sees Navarre, he asks for the man's forgiveness and gives him his rank back.
194	* PlatonicKissing: There are a lot of kisses exchanged at the end of the film out of affection, gratitude, and sheer relief -- not counting the lovers' [[TheBigDamnKiss enthusiastic reunion]], of course.
195	* PlummetPerspective: A variant -- moments after Isabeau escapes a horrible death by falling, we get a long shot of a soldier's body landing on the same rocks she would have hit.
196	* POVCam: When Navarre approaches the altar where the Bishop stands, we get a shot from his perspective through the bars of his helmet as he swats aside another guard.
197	* PropheciesAreAlwaysRight: According to Imperius, God told him that the curse will be broken when there is "day without a night, and night without a day" -- which is to say, [[spoiler:a solar eclipse]].
198	* TheQueensLatin: If we infer from the names, we can guess the film is set in France, yet everyone speaks with Received Pronunciation, or... [[OohMeAccentsSlipping tries to]]. Since characters in medieval France wouldn't speak anything even remotely resembling modern English, it's probably best to just file it under TranslationConvention.
199	* ReligiousBruiser: The skilled fighter Navarre fervently believes in God, in stark contrast to the hypocrisy of the Bishop and Marquet. He believes Philippe's escape was a sign that he has a chance to end the curse--by having Philippe letting him into Aquila so he can fight his way to the Bishop and kill him.
200	* TheReveal: The novelization has a twist the film doesn't: [[spoiler:Imperius didn't betray the lovers. Marquet did -- to replace Navarre as the Captain of the Guard.]]
201	* ReversePsychologyBackfire: The Bishop's men catch Philippe and demand to know where Navarre went. Philippe tells the truth, [[BatmanGambit assuming]] the soldiers won't believe him. One doesn't, but the leader [[GenreSavvy catches on]] to what Philippe's doing, allowing them to set an ambush for Navarre.
202	* RewatchBonus: Imperius is told to MercyKill Isabeau!Hawke by Navarre if the bells ring (signifying the Mass was concluded, hence Navarre was killed). The bells do ring, and Imperius apologizes to Isabeau, presumably for killing her. No, he was apologizing because he couldn't go through with it and was going to doom her to a half-life as a hawk.
203	* RuleOfCool: The armour and especially the helmet worn by Navarre look great but would be highly impractical.
204	* SceneryPorn: The movie has some beautiful shots at times, and prominently features a pretty cool real-life medieval castle.
205	* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Philippe tries to simply walk away on a few occasions. It never sticks, and by the climax of the film, he is a willing ally to Navarre and Isabeau.
206	* SecretStabWound: Philippe hides from Navarre the fact [[spoiler:that he mauled him while he was in wolf form]].
207	* ShapeshiftingHealsWounds: Left ambiguous, but it seems that non-lethal injuries don't transfer from the animal to the human bodies, and/or that the body not in use will heal while 'idle'. When Isabeau is shot as a hawk, for example, the injury transfers to her human self because the bolt is still in her breast, but after it is removed during the night, her hawk form shows no injuries the next morning. In the book, it takes several days and nights for Isabeau to heal, with Navarre, and his wolf form, waiting nearby, even though the wolf doesn't know the exact reason why they were waiting.
208	* SilkHidingSteel: Isabeau is entirely a lady, but ''don't'' mess with the man she loves. [[spoiler:Just ask Cezar, whom she shoves into his own wolf-trap]].
209	* SinisterMinister: The Bishop is a jealous and lustful man who calls on the devil himself to curse a pair of lovers.
210	* SkewedPriorities: Marquet is visibly confused at the Bishop's obsession with Navarre's hawk, given that the security and reputation of Aquila have been compromised, a major religious service is coming up, and Navarre is in the area with a score to settle.
211	* SkywardScream: Navarre's howl of frustration after being unable to touch Isabeau before she becomes a hawk.
212	* SlowMotionFall: Isabeau slips out of Philippe's grasp while they hide on the tower at Imperius's home. She falls just slowly enough for the sun to rise and turn her into a hawk before she hits the ground.
213	* SoBeautifulItsACurse: Isabeau's looks gets her the attention of Navarre, but it also attracts the powerful, evil Bishop of Aquila. It's shown in the film he's fond of pretty women, but Isabeau is beautiful enough that he's willing to do whatever it takes to get her, up to and including making a DealWithTheDevil to ruin her and Navarre's lives. [[spoiler:He's also willing to kill her if the curse gets broken]].
214	* SoundtrackDissonance: Medieval setting with [[Music/TheAlanParsonsProject Alan Parsons]]-produced ProgressiveRock music (Andrew Powell actually ''wrote'' the music). It sounds even more unusual decades later, now that synthesizers have become very dated.
215	* StarCrossedLovers: Invoked by the Bishop on Navarre and Isabeau. They are always together but never human at the same time.
216	* SteppingStoneSword: A sword is at one point used to anchor a rope for people to cross thin ice.
217	* SupportingProtagonist: Philippe may be the protagonist, but the story centers around Navarre and Isabeau. Once the climax begins, Philippe's contribution is unlocking a door and tossing a sword to Navarre.
218	* SwordFight: The main form of combat in the movie, apart from crossbows. It happens throughout, both on horseback and on foot, culminating in intense final combat between Navarre and Marquet. All were choreographed by the great William Hobbs.
219	* SwordPlant: Several times, for different reasons.
220	** When Isabeau gets shot with an arrow while in hawk form, Navarre leaves his sword stuck in the grass as he goes to her side.
221	** When Navarre in wolf form falls through the ice, Philippe sticks Navarre's sword in the ice and ties a rope to it as a lifeline.
222	* ThatWasNotADream: Philippe immediately assumes he's dreaming the first night he sees Navarre as a wolf and Isabeau as a human. It takes him a ''long'' time to work out the truth.
223	* ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks: If you're Navarre it does.
224	* TitleDrop: Philippe dubs Isabeau's animal form the "lady hawk". Navarre is amused by this sobriquet.
225	* TokenGoodCop: Since Navarre was disgraced and exiled, the Bishop of Aquila's guards have become [[PoliceBrutality quite nasty]] in their enforcement of the laws. When Navarre returns, one of the guards who previously served under him won’t fight him and respectfully addresses Navarre as if he is still Captain. This promptly gets the guard killed by Marquet the new Captain , after which the other guards, even the ones who knew Navarre, oppose him more sternly for the rest of the film, [[spoiler:[[DownplayedTrope until the climax, when a large group of their remaining number let him pass for his confrontation with Marquet and the Bishop.]]]]
226	* TotalEclipseOfThePlot: [[spoiler:The "[[CurseEscapeClause night without a day]]" that will cause the curse to temporarily fail is a solar eclipse, allowing Isabeau and Navarre to finally meet. Meeting in front of the bishop causes the curse to break completely.]]
227	* TranquilFury: When Navarre goes after the bishop in the final, he just calmly and methodically cuts down every guard on his path, without any emotion or remorse, [[TheSlowWalk just walking forward]], and yet being fueled by pure rage.
228	* TranslationConvention: Characters in medieval France wouldn't speak anything even remotely understandable to a modern English speaker.
229	* UnexplainedAccent: Creator/RutgerHauer, a Dutch actor, acting in a film set in Medieval France, adopts an American accent.
230	* VillainousBreakdown: The Bishop has one during the climax. [[spoiler:After the curse is broken, he furiously tries to kill Isabeau with his spiked crosier.]]
231	* TheWatson: Philippe is an outsider to the whole curse situation, so he gets to ask questions about it for the audience's benefit.
232	* WhatMeasureIsAMook: While Navarre has no issues killing the guards when he must, when possible, he tries to avoid doing so. In one case, he actually mourns the death of one, Francesco, after Captain Marquet shoved said guard onto Navarre's sword, for calling him "Captain Navarre". Justifiable in that Navarre was once their captain, and there is still some bond between him and the men left.
233	* WhatTheHellHero: At one point, Navarre flips out at Philippe [[spoiler:for supposedly losing his sword]]. He gets called out first by Mouse, who tells him he's being selfish with his fixation on revenge, but he doesn't really snap out of it until [[spoiler:he sees the cuts all over Philippe's chest -- which he inflicted, in wolf form, when Philippe saved his life.]]
234	* WhenSheSmiles: Isabeau looks very good with her bright, amused grin while dancing with Phillipe in the barn and [[spoiler:reuniting with Navarre.]]
235	* WouldHurtAChild: Philippe is in his mid-to-late teens. He is about to be hanged in his very first scene, and he spends the rest of the movie in varying degrees of mortal peril.
236	* {{Yandere}}: The Bishop. Isabeau rejected him, so he put a curse on her so she could never be with the man she truly loves.

Context Film / Ladyhawke