Labyrinth holds a special place in 1980s fantasy cinema, blending Jim Henson’s practical puppetry with David Bowie’s iconic performance.
This quiz covers the film’s production, from the technical challenges of the Hoggle character to the stories behind the baby actor and those famous wardrobe choices.
If you enjoy this subject, check out our pages on special effects history, cult classics, and fantasy genre staples.
What character did David Bowie portray in the 1986 film Labyrinth?
The Fire Gang Leader
The Fire Gang Leader
Jareth the Goblin King
Jareth the Goblin King
The Junk Lady
The Junk Lady
The Wise Man
The Wise Man
What wardrobe choice in Labyrinth led to significant internet discourse regarding David Bowie’s anatomy?
A tight-fitting grey pair of leggings
A tight-fitting grey pair of leggings
Armor plating over the crotch area
Armor plating over the crotch area
Billowing robes
Billowing robes
Loose, flowing trousers
Loose, flowing trousers
How did the infant actor Toby Froud react to the goblin puppets on the Labyrinth set?
He was terrified of them and cried constantly.
He was terrified of them and cried constantly.
He ignored them completely and fell asleep.
He ignored them completely and fell asleep.
He tried to eat them whenever they got close.
He tried to eat them whenever they got close.
He loved playing with them and squishing their noses.
He loved playing with them and squishing their noses.
Which of the following best describes the construction of the character Hoggle in Labyrinth?
A static statue moved by strings
A static statue moved by strings
A complex, multi-person animatronic suit
A complex, multi-person animatronic suit
A simple hand puppet with no moving parts
A simple hand puppet with no moving parts
An intricate, fully automated robotic prop
An intricate, fully automated robotic prop
Why did the Hoggle puppet frequently break down during the filming of Labyrinth?
The actors intentionally sabotaged the prop.
The actors intentionally sabotaged the prop.
The costume was made of cheap plastic.
The costume was made of cheap plastic.
The complex internal mechanisms were fragile and unreliable.
The complex internal mechanisms were fragile and unreliable.
The puppeteers were inexperienced.
The puppeteers were inexperienced.
Beyond acting, in what other capacity was David Bowie involved in the production of Labyrinth?
He requested a rewrite of the entire script.
He requested a rewrite of the entire script.
He refused to wear the required costume.
He refused to wear the required costume.
He contributed significantly to the film’s soundtrack.
He contributed significantly to the film’s soundtrack.
He was only on set for one week.
He was only on set for one week.
Who played the lead role of Sarah in Labyrinth?
Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher
Sigourney Weaver
Sigourney Weaver
Shelley Duvall
Shelley Duvall
Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Connelly
Regarding the ‘bulge’ controversy, what has long been speculated about its intent in the film’s aesthetic?
It was mandated by the censors.
It was mandated by the censors.
The studio demanded it be accentuated.
The studio demanded it be accentuated.
It was purely accidental.
It was purely accidental.
It was a deliberate artistic choice by the costume designer.
It was a deliberate artistic choice by the costume designer.
Which character is the first one Sarah encounters in the Labyrinth?
Ludo
Ludo
The Worm
The Worm
Sir Didymus
Sir Didymus
The Fire Gang
The Fire Gang
In what year was Labyrinth released?
1988
1988
1984
1984
1986
1986
1985
1985
Why did the Hoggle puppet require so much rehearsal time to operate during filming?
Because it was too heavy for a single actor to carry inside the suit
Because it was too heavy for a single actor to carry inside the suit
Because it was operated by five puppeteers who had to work in perfect synchronization
Because it was operated by five puppeteers who had to work in perfect synchronization
Because its internal batteries needed to be recharged every hour
Because its internal batteries needed to be recharged every hour
Because the radio control signals were constantly blocked by studio walls
Because the radio control signals were constantly blocked by studio walls
Who served as the director of the film Labyrinth?
Jim Henson
Jim Henson
Brian Froud
Brian Froud
George Lucas
George Lucas
Frank Oz
Frank Oz
What did a crew member use off-camera to keep baby Toby calm and engaged during his scenes with Jareth?
A glove puppet of the British character Sooty
A glove puppet of the British character Sooty
A squeaking rubber duck
A squeaking rubber duck
A flashing red light
A flashing red light
A music box playing lullabies
A music box playing lullabies
What was the primary background of Shari Weiser, the actress who provided the body movement for Hoggle?
She was one of the film’s costume designers
She was one of the film’s costume designers
She was an actress with no prior puppeteering experience
She was an actress with no prior puppeteering experience
She was a professional stunt performer
She was a professional stunt performer
She was a professional dancer from a Broadway company
She was a professional dancer from a Broadway company
How did the so-called ‘bulge’ controversy gain momentum?
Film critics wrote extensively about it in their reviews
Film critics wrote extensively about it in their reviews
The internet fan base popularized the topic years later
The internet fan base popularized the topic years later
It was a headline in major news outlets at the time of release
It was a headline in major news outlets at the time of release
David Bowie famously addressed it in his opening monologue
David Bowie famously addressed it in his opening monologue
In which specific musical number from the film is Jareth’s ‘bulge’ most prominently featured?
Chilly Down
Chilly Down
Magic Dance
Magic Dance
As the World Falls Down
As the World Falls Down
Underground
Underground
What made the Hoggle puppet technically challenging to operate?
The puppet’s facial expressions were animated using stop-motion overlay on top of the live-action footage.
The puppet’s facial expressions were animated using stop-motion overlay on top of the live-action footage.
The heavy pneumatic pumps inside the suit required an active tether to a compressed air machine off-stage.
The heavy pneumatic pumps inside the suit required an active tether to a compressed air machine off-stage.
It required an actor inside the suit and a team of external puppeteers controlling his facial features via radio transmitters.
It required an actor inside the suit and a team of external puppeteers controlling his facial features via radio transmitters.
The puppet required several puppeteers to manually pull cables while hidden inside a hollowed-out floor.
The puppet required several puppeteers to manually pull cables while hidden inside a hollowed-out floor.
Who was the baby actor Toby Froud in real life?
The son of executive producer George Lucas
The son of executive producer George Lucas
The son of the film’s director, Jim Henson
The son of the film’s director, Jim Henson
The son of the film’s conceptual designer
The son of the film’s conceptual designer
The nephew of star actor David Bowie
The nephew of star actor David Bowie
In which setting does the dreamlike sequence featuring David Bowie’s song ‘As the World Falls Down’ take place?
A masquerade ball
A masquerade ball
The Junk City
The Junk City
The Bog of Eternal Stench
The Bog of Eternal Stench
The Oubliette
The Oubliette
Why was the ‘Fireys’ sequence one of the most technically challenging in the film?
The puppeteers had to wear heavy fireproof suits because actual flamethrowers were used on set.
The puppeteers had to wear heavy fireproof suits because actual flamethrowers were used on set.
The puppets were filmed entirely underwater to simulate their floating body parts.
The puppets were filmed entirely underwater to simulate their floating body parts.
The movements were animated using stop-motion over a period of six months.
The movements were animated using stop-motion over a period of six months.
The puppets had to be filmed against a black background with a motion-control camera, then composited onto the forest set.
The puppets had to be filmed against a black background with a motion-control camera, then composited onto the forest set.
Regarding David Bowie’s involvement in ‘Labyrinth’, what did he contribute to his character’s look?
He was heavily involved in the choice of his costume.
He was heavily involved in the choice of his costume.
He actively practiced his puppet lines with the crew.
He actively practiced his puppet lines with the crew.
He improvised his final scene in the film.
He improvised his final scene in the film.
He wrote the script for the goblin dialogue.
He wrote the script for the goblin dialogue.
Which scene in ‘Labyrinth’ is frequently cited for containing practical puppet challenges alongside the baby actor?
The ballroom dance sequence
The ballroom dance sequence
The ‘Magic Dance’ sequence
The ‘Magic Dance’ sequence
The Bog of Eternal Stench scene
The Bog of Eternal Stench scene
The clock tower confrontation
The clock tower confrontation
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