Sleepy Hollow (1999)
- Cody Iden
- Nov 1, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 2, 2021
Release Date - November 19, 1999
Synopsis:
Constable Ichabod Crane is sent to the small village of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of decapitations supposedly committed by the Headless Horseman.
Directed by - Tim Burton
Screenplay by - Andrew Kevin Walker
Story by - Kevin Yagher and Andrew Kevin Walker
Based on - "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving
Produced by - Scott Rudin, Adam Schroeder and Larry Franco
Cinematography - Emmanuel Lubezki
Music by - Danny Elfman
Distribution Company - Paramount Pictures
Cast:
Johnny Depp - Ichabod Crane
Christina Ricci - Katrina Van Tassel
Miranda Richardson - Lady Mary Van Tassel
- The Crone Witch
Michael Gambon - Baltus Van Tassel
Casper Van Dien - Brom Van Brunt
Jeffrey Jones - Reverend Steenwyck
Christopher Lee - The Burgomaster
Richard Griffiths - Magistrate Samuel Philipse
Ian McDiarmid - Dr. Thomas Lancaster
Michael Gough - Notary James Hardenbrook
Marc Pickering - Young Masbath
Lisa Marie - Lady Crane
Steven Waddington - Mr. Killian
Run Time - 1 hr. 46 min. Rated - R
Budget - $70 million Gross - $207 million
Review:
Fully atmospheric and compelling from start to finish Tim Burton's take on Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is an excellent gothic horror film that pays homage to the films of Hammer Film Productions and the Roger Corman Poe adaptations of the 1960s but the movie also stands on its own and feels original and fresh at the same time partly due to the inclusion of slasher film style murders. The story is very good and while based on the original Irving story the writers simply used that as the base while coming up with a brand new story involving Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman so it feels familiar but fresh at the same time. The cast assembled is spectacular from the starring performance from Johnny Depp to the wonderful roster of character actors assembled to play the supporting roles. Michael Gambon, Jeffrey Jones, Richard Griffiths, Ian McDiarmid and Michael Gough are all excellent as the village elders while Christopher Lee has a small but memorable scene at the beginning of the film. Christopher Walken and Martin Landau also appear in small but important roles and Miranda Richardson really shines in her performance as well. The cinematography is well done though I'm not a huge fan of the misty grain that persists through many of the exterior scenes but this is what they were going for and it works for the story but it does prevent a really crisp picture during some scenes. The score by Tim Burton regular Danny Elfman is good but not all that memorable at times, it has its moments but a lot of the time it is very understated. The special effects for the time were very good but the decapitated heads are very obviously prop heads and there are a couple CGI sequences that haven't aged very well but overall the effects are very well done and many of the kills are quite gory and effective. Tim Burton proved to be the perfect choice to direct this film, it has his sense of odd quirkiness but also comes across as an effective and eerie gothic horror film. Sleepy Hollow is therefore a must see for its perfect blending of classic horror and modern violence.
My Score: 90
Plot - 10 Cinematography - 8
Attraction - 10 Editing & Special Effects - 9
Theme - 9 Sound & Music - 8
Acting - 9 Directing - 9
Dialogue - 9 Enjoyability – 9
Trivia:
Washington Irving claimed that Ichabod Crane and Katrina Van Tassel were real people. Col. Ichabod Bennet Crane was born in 1787 and later fought in the War of 1812. Irving claims to have met the real Crane in 1814 at Fort Pike in Sackets Harbor, New York.
Tim Burton has stated that Sleepy Hollow was inspired by the films of Hammer Film Productions, the films of Mario Bava and the Edgar Allan Poe film adaptations from Roger Corman. The character of Ichabod Crane in this film was inspired by the roles played by Peter Cushing and Vincent Price in those aforementioned films.
The studio urged director Tim Burton to consider Liam Neeson, Brad Pitt and Daniel Day-Lewis for the role of Ichabod Crane. Eventually Burton cast Johnny Depp in the role marking their third collaboration together following Edward Scissorhands (1990) and Ed Wood (1994).
Johnny Depp based his performance on Roddy McDowall in Fright Night (1985), Angela Lansbury in Death on the Nile (1978) and Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes.
Winona Ryder was offered the role of Katrina Van Tassel but turned it down and the part went instead to Christina Ricci.
Tim Burton convinced Michael Gough to come out of retirement to do this film. Gough had previously worked with Burton on Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992) and had appeared in several Hammer horror films including Horror of Dracula (1958) and The Phantom of the Opera (1962). This was Gough's final live action role though he later did voice roles for two other Tim Burton films.
Christopher Lee receives prominent billing in the film even though his small role appears before the opening credits. This was the first of 5 collaborations between Tim Burton and Christopher Lee.
Marlon Brando was considered to play the Hessian a part that instead went to Christopher Walken who had previously worked with Tim Burton on Batman Returns (1992). Ray Park played the Headless Horseman for most of the film while Walken only appeared as the Hessian in flashbacks and the film's finale.
Martin Landau appears uncredited at the beginning of the film as Peter Van Garrett.
Brom's prank attack on Ichabod Crane is a representation of the actual attack by the Headless Horseman in Washington Irving's original story.
The scene in which Johnny Depp's Ichabod Crane is crossing the covered bridge and hears the frogs croaking "Ichabod" and "Headless Horseman" is a reference to a similar scene in the Walt Disney animated film The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949).
The entire town of Sleepy Hollow was constructed for filming complete with rooms, multiple stories and stairs. After filming was completed the town was demolished. It remains the largest set built in England for a movie
The Western Wood was entirely constructed on a sound stage allowing for everything, including the weather, to be controlled.
The opening scene with Martin Landau was the only scene filmed near the actual town of Sleepy Hollow.
Sleepy Hollow and Martin Scorsese's Bringing Out the Dead (1999) were the final two films to be released on LaserDisc.
Availability:
Watched October 31, 2021
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