WHAT WENT WRONG

Labyrinth

Mar 30, 2026
They dig into Jim Henson's experimental impulse and how his adult-oriented shorts led to a strange fantasy. The hosts trace Brian Froud's visual ideas and the many rewrites that shaped the story. Casting choices get attention, from a teenage Sarah to David Bowie and his theatrical contributions. Detailed production tales cover puppet innovation, dangerous sets, practical effects, and the film's rocky release and later cult revival.
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ANECDOTE

Elaine May Did A Covert Emergency Rewrite

  • Elaine May did an uncredited last-minute rewrite, staying in Henson's house and working covertly.
  • Her furtive two-to-three day pass aimed to restore comedy and tighten structure just days before shooting.
INSIGHT

Hoggle's Face Was A Mini Puppet Engineering Feat

  • Labyrinth pushed puppetry tech: motorized faces and remote controls scaled down into smaller characters like Hoggle.
  • Hoggle required 18 motors and four operators; Brian Henson provided the voice and Sherry Weiser operated the suit.
ANECDOTE

Hoggle's Performer Saw Through The Mouth And Heard Constant Noise

  • Sherry Weiser inside Hoggle couldn't see and got motion sick from internal camera attempts.
  • The workaround was to have Brian Henson's vocalizing keep Hoggle noisy so she could navigate via the open mouth hole.
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