Hazel accepts and dies peacefully. His spirit follows the visitor through the woodland and trees towards the Sun, which metamorphoses into Frith, and the afterlife, as Frith's parting advice to El-Ahrairah is heard once more. Cast John Hurt as Hazel Richard Briers as Fiver Michael Graham Cox as Bigwig John Bennett as Captain Holly Ralph Richardson as the Chief Rabbit of Sandleford Simon Cadell as Blackberry Roy Kinnear as Pipkin Terence Rigby as Silver Mary Maddox as Clover Richard O'Callaghan as Dandelion Denholm Elliott as Cowslip Zero Mostel as Kehaar Harry Andrews as General Woundwort Hannah Gordon as Hyzenthlay Nigel Hawthorne as Campion Lynn Farleigh as Tab the cat Clifton Jones as Blackavar Derek Griffiths as Vervain and Chervil Michael Hordern as Frith Joss Ackland as the Black Rabbit Michelle Price as Lucy Production Film rights were purchased by producer Martin Rosen. He did this with the assistance of a merchant banker, Jake Eberts, who enjoyed the experience so much it launched Eberts's career in the film industry. The option for the film rights was £50,000. Rosen estimated the budget at $2.4 million. Eberts raised $1 million from the Pearson company and clients of the merchant bank Lazard. Production of the film began in 1975 by a new animation studio, formed in London by Rosen. It was originally going to be directed by John Hubley, who left after disagreements with the film's producer Martin Rosen. His work can still be found in the film, most notably in the "fable" scene. He was replaced by Rosen who thereby made his directorial debut. The backgrounds and locations, especially Efrafa and the nearby railway, are based on the diagrams and maps in Richard Adams's original novel. Most of the locations in the movie either exist or were based on real spots in Hampshire and surrounding areas. Music The musical score was by Angela Morley and Malcolm Williamson, Morley replacing Williamson after the composer had fallen behind and only composed the prelude and main title theme in sketch form. A list of the musical cues for the film can be found on the composer's website, which also gives information about the different composers working on the project. The soundtrack includes Art Garfunkel's British No. 1 hit, "Bright Eyes", which was written by the British singer and songwriter Mike Batt. He also wrote other songs for the film which were not used. The composer recorded