The Last Unicorn

The Last Unicorn is a 1982 American-British-Japanese animated fantasy film about a unicorn who, upon learning that she is the last of her species in the world, goes on a quest to find out what has happened to the others of her kind. Based on the 1968 novel The Last Unicorn written by Peter S. Beagle, who also wrote the film's screenplay, the film was directed and produced by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass. It was produced by Rankin/Bass Productions for ITC Entertainment and animated by Topcraft.

The film includes voices of Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury, and Christopher Lee. The musical score and the songs were composed by Jimmy Webb, and performed by the group America and the London Symphony Orchestra, with additional vocals provided by Lucy Mitchell. The film grossed $6,455,330 domestically.

Plot
A unicorn learns by two hunters and a butterfly that she is the last of her kind since a malevolent entity called the Red Bull has herded unicorns to the ends of the earth. The Unicorn journeys to find them.

The Unicorn is captured by the witch Mommy Fortuna and displayed in her Midnight Carnival. Most of the attractions are normal animals enhanced by illusions to appear as mythical beasts. Fortuna uses a spell to create another horn on the unicorn's head, as the carnival visitors cannot see her real form. Fortuna keeps the immortal harpy Celaeno captive as well, deeming the risk secondary to the deed's pestige. The unicorn is brefriended by Schmendrick, an imcompetent magician in the service of Mommy Fortuna. With the help of Schmendrick, the Unicorn escapes, in the process feeling Celaeno, who kills Fortuna. The Unicorn and Schmendrick gain a second travelling companion with Molly Grue, the careworn lover of Captain Cully (the disappointing reality behind the Robin Hood legend).

When the Unicorn nears the seaside King Haggard, keeper of the Red Bull, she encounters a beast, a monstrous fire elemental. Before she can be captured, Schmendrick uses his upredictable magic, transforming her into a woman. The Red Bull becomes uninterested in her and departs, but the Unicorn is shocked by the sensation of mortality. Schmendrick promises to return her to normal after the quest is complete.

Schmendrick, Molly Grue, and the now-human Unicorn proceed to the castle. Haggard is at first unwelcoming. Schmendrick uses the Unicorn as Lady Amalthea, and requests that they become members of Haggard's court, only to be told that the only occupants of the castle are Haggard, his adopted son Prince Lir and four ancient men-at-arms. Haggard consents to lodge the trio, replacing his more competent wizard, Marbuk, with Schmendrick, and setting Molly Grue to work in his scullery. Marbuk leaves after recognizing "Amalthea" for what she truly is, jeering that by allowing her into his castle Haggard has invited his room. Due to her new human emotions, Amalthea begins forgetting her true self and falls in love with Prince Lir, and considers abandoning her quest in favor of mortal love. Haggard confronts Amalthea, hinting at the location of the unicorns, yet from the warning magic in her eyes, has doubts regarding his suspicions that she is more than she seems.

Molly finally learns the location of the Red Bull's lair from the castle's cat. Molly, Schmendrick, and Amalthea are joined by Lir as they enter the bull's den, and are trapped there by Haggard. Schmendrick explains to Lir what they are looking for and reveals Amalthea's true identity. Lir declares that he loves her anyway. This makes Amalthea want to abandon the quest and marry Lir, but Lir dissuades her. The Red Bull appears, no longer deceived by Amalthea's human form, and chases after her. Schmendrick turns Amalthea back into the Unicorn, but she is unwilling to leave Lir's side. The Bull begins driving her toward the ocean just as he had driven the other unicorns. Lir tries defending her, but is killed by the bull. Enraged, the Unicorn turns on the Bull and forces him into the sea. Carried on the incoming tides, the other unicorns emerge from the water. With their release, Haggard's castle collapses into the sea, Haggard, watching all from the battlements, falls to his death.

On the beach, the Unicorn magically revives Lir before she leaves him. Schmendrick assures Lir he gained much by winning the love of a unicorn, even if he is now alone. The Unicorn later says goodbye to Schmendrick, who laments he wronged her by burdening her with regret and the taint of mortality, which could make her unable to properly rejoin her kind. She disagrees about the importance of his actions, as they helped restore unicorns to the world and made her experience love. Schmendrick and Molly watch the Unicorn depart for her home.

Cast

 * Mia Farrow - Unicorn/Lady Amalthea
 * Alan Arkin - Schmendrick
 * Tammy Grimes - Molly Grue
 * Jeff Bridges - Prince Lir
 * Christopher Lee - King Haggard
 * Paul Frees - Marbuk
 * Angela Lansbury - Momy Fortuna
 * Brother Theodore - Rukh
 * Keenan Wynn - Harpy Celaeno/Captain Cully
 * Robert Klein - Butterfly
 * Don Messick - Cat
 * Rene Auberjonois - Skull
 * Nellie Bellflower - Tree
 * Edward Peck - Jack Jingly