Rutger Hauer: Remembering Ladyhawke and more

I still remember that towering, imposing presence on the back of a horse thundering across the screen, accompanied by the booming soundtrack by Alan Parsons.

He was a broken-hearted man searching to kill the man who took from him the woman he loved. Worse than killing her he imprisoned the lovers in a curse, doomed forever to be so close they could almost touch – but not quite.

That man, former captain of the bishop’s army, was Etienne Navarre, played by Rutger Hauer.

When I heard the actor died a few months ago, I was taken back to 1985 and perhaps his best movie – “Ladyhawke”.

A medieval classic

I have always enjoyed medieval movies, and “Ladyhawke” just caught my attention from the commercials.

It starred a very young Matthew Broderick as Felipe Gaston, who escapes from an impenetrable jail, attracting the attention of everyone in the kingdom, including the bishop who wants him killed. The bishop wants to make an example of Felipe because, according to the bishop, no one leaves that prison alive. In his desperate attempt to survive, Felipe meets Navarre, who rescues him, then joins him on his quest.

Navarre is travelling to the capital, with a bounty on his head as well, in a quest to kill the bishop who, in a fit of jealousy, took away Isabeau, the love of Navarre’s life.

As they travel, this white hawk stays close by, never far from the travellers.

Then, night falls, and Navarre disappears. Suddenly, Felipe happens upon a beautiful young woman, played by a very young and stunning Michelle Pfeiffer.

Felipe soon discovers a dark secret. The bishop never killed Isabeau or took her away. Instead, he put a curse on her and Navarre. By day Navarre is a man, by night a wolf. By day Isabeau is a hawk, by night a woman. The only time they can almost touch is at dawn, when night and day almost co-exist. Almost. It is heart-breaking to see them so close to touching only to see the curse work its dark magic.

As they travel, it is Felipe who dubs Isabeau the “Ladyhawke” when she is in bird form.

Along the way, they visit a disgraced priest, played by English actor Leo McKern who, it turns out is responsible for the curse.

I won’t share much more of the plot, because I don’t want to be a spoiler.

Broderick was fresh off his breakout performance in “War Games”, and he brought a tongue-in-cheek flavour to the role of Felipe Gaston.

For example, Felipe starts talking to God after his miraculous escape from prison. At one point Navarre mentions God.

“I talk to God regularly,” Felipe responded. “And he’s never mentioned you.”

In another example, the priest says, “Felipe, I will see you at the gates of St. Peter”, to which Felipe responds, “I’ll be there father, even if I have to pick the lock.”

Stirring soundtrack

It seemed pretty unconventional to set a medieval story to the sounds of rock music, but it worked. I recall taking notice when my sister and I sat in the theatre as the opening credits played, and the screen said music by Alan Parsons. I had just started listening to music and the Alan Parsons Project had a couple of songs I liked – “Don’t Answer Me” and “Eye in the Sky”. This was different, but it was good.

That point was reinforced three years later when I was moving into residence for my second year of university and I met a fellow named Bruce Freadrich. He had a copy of the “Ladyhawke” soundtrack on tape and we listened to it some time after our initial meeting. We both said it was as good as we remembered. That also was the springboard for a long friendship.

Scary characters

Rutger Hauer built quite a portfolio of imposing and frightening characters in the 1980s. He played a terrorist in “Nighthawks” in 1981; turned in a haunting portrayal of android Roy Batty in 1982’s “Blade Runner”; and a chilling hitchhiker in “The Hitcher” in 1986. He was also in “The Osterman Weekend” (1983); and “Escape from Sobibor” (1987).

As the 1980s receded into the distance, Hauer would go on to supporting roles after that, in such films as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” in 1992 and “Batman Begins” in 2005, where he played William Earle, chief executive officer of Wayne Enterprises.

Parting thoughts

When I saw “Ladyhawke” in Lethbridge in 1985, I had only heard of Rutger Hauer, but never seen him in anything, other than interviews on “Entertainment Tonight”.

He left a lasting first impression on me. His portrayal was brooding, and understated, and perfect for a man who was haunted by loss and the mistakes of his past. He was imposing, fitting for the one-time leader of an army, and skilled with a sword and a horse. He was also tender and vulnerable in the scenes with the hawk, and Isabeau.

Later on, in university, I would see “Blade Runner”, where he turned in a haunting performance as an android who becomes self aware, and parts of “The Hitcher” where he was just plain scary.

Through it all, Rutger Hauer brought a physical presence, coupled with a sense of foreboding to every role he had in the decade. You never knew if, or when, he was going to blow and that was worth the price of admission.

The 1980s is when he peaked as an actor, and something that will remain unforgettable.