The Thief and the Cobbler: Recobbled Cut (2/11)

Enjoy the original version of this lost animation classic, written and directed by three-time Academy Award winning animator Richard Williams (animation director of Who Framed Roger Rabbit).

Nearly 30 years in the making, a labor of love by a team of animation greats, this was to be the masterpiece of Williams' career, perhaps the most ambitious independent animated film ever conceived. Williams funded the film over the years with his millions of dollars of his own money, until after Roger Rabbit, Warner Brothers decided to fund the film. The Thief was the inspiration for Disney's film Aladdin, which proved to be its undoing. After over two decades of work, the film was taken away from Williams when he couldn't meet his deadline. It was eventually recut and destroyed, bought by Disney and destroyed further.

It has never been seen the way it was intended to be seen ... until now. Based on Williams' original workprint, missing scenes have been restored using storyboards and unfinished animation. Restored to its true form, this lost classic can finally be found.

Unofficial restoration by Garrett Gilchrist. (orangecow.org) This is not intended for profit, just a fanmade research project and tribute to this classic film.

Directed by Richard Williams
Screenplay by Richard Williams and Margaret French
Master animator Ken Harris
Produced by Imogen Sutton and Richard Williams

"Animation among the most glorious and lively ever created." - The New York Times

"It is written among the limitless constellations of the celestial heavens, and in the depths of the emerald seas, and upon every grain of sand in the vast deserts, that the world which we see is an outward and visible dream, of an inward and invisible reality ... Once upon a time there was a golden city. In the centre of the golden city, atop the tallest minaret, were three golden balls. The ancients had prophesied that if the three golden balls were ever taken away, harmony would yield to discord, and the city would fall to destruction and death. But... the mystics had also foretold that the city might be saved by the simplest soul with the smallest and simplest of things. In the city there dwelt a lowly shoemaker, who was known as Tack the Cobbler. Also in the city... existed a Thief, who shall be ... nameless."

Also known (in horrifically butchered form) as Arabian Knight and The Princess and the Cobbler.

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[Altair0115]

♫OPEN FOR THE ROYAL POLO PONIIIIIES♫

[AebelAlmighty]

This is the tale of the world's most persistent thief.

[Blazenix1]

@TheaterParamore Richard Williams is still alive, but he doesn't want to talk about it. I don't blame him either, he didn't meet the deadline they fired him and so they hired someone to finish it as quickly and cheaply as possible. It wouldn't be so bad if Williams didn't spend 31 years on trying to perfect this as well trying to earn money himself to go towards it. I think this is the best we are going to see for a long while, unfortunately.

[thesega99]

Zig Zag is the genie from Aladin on crack. Wait, since this film was made before Aladdin, the genie is Zig Zag after quitting crack...? I dunno.

[HonkifULuvBrownies]

I like how Yum Yum's nurse has freakishly beefy arms. XD!

[BrooklynJackBlue]

Heh, wonder how many people got the full extent of why the guards are falsettos...

*snip snip*

[aquelescaraaaaaaaaaa]

@FreedInsanity and plus, it did had producers, but it was Williams who was in charge of creative control, and no one other. they had no right of raping Williams masterpiece, it's like someone took Citizen Kane and turned into a cheezy 40's comedy

[superbum900]

@KunameMitarashi surely you are kidding about the music. The intro theme? and what about fantasia on a theme? and sheherazade? What you call the removed dialogue I feel was just extra and not needed, since the characters express themselves through their actions. I must admit that in the other version I did find the thief's inner monologue amusing at times, but sometimes he would say things that conflicted with his character, which I feel detracted from him.

[aquelescaraaaaaaaaaa]

@TheaterParamore Richard Williams is still alive goddammit, and you should put the hate on Warner Bros. for not letting Richard finish the film, and Fred Calvert for butchering, and plus, this isnt a movie for kids, kids will be bored out of their minds because they cant appreciate art YET.

[RyleyAshford]

@KunameMitarashi It's basically a jury-rigged cut of Williams' original vision. Since Williams' original vision was never finished (which you'd fucking know if you read the description), they had to use what original footage they had, replaced certain scenes with storyboard frames, but to its credit it IS true to the source material. Trust me, this is better than the Disney cut.

[AeronPeryton]

Who knew the thief was Super Mario?

[TheaterParamore]

Rant: Why couldn't they finish these story boards, and made it into better quality? Maybe I'm just being ignorant here, but this is real art. I'm aware that the head animator who created this beauty died, but to honor him, they need to finish the original art and re-release this wonderful movie. For heaven sake, I even like this better than Disney's little 'Arabian tale'. I'd like to show my nine year old niece this, but she's a bit young to understand why the movie is the way it is.