Frankenweenie (1984)

Director:

Tim Burton

Writers:

Tim Burton (idea)
Leonard Ripps (writer)

Release Date:

1 December 1994 (Spain)

Genre:

Short | Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A comic twist on a classic tail!

Plot:

When young Victor's pet dog Sparky (who stars in Victor's home-made monster movies) is hit by a car...

Plot Keywords:

Monster | Dog | Neighbor | Young Boy | Dog Actor

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Shelley Duvall	...	Susan Frankenstein
Daniel Stern	...	Ben Frankenstein
Barret Oliver	...	Victor Frankenstein
Joseph Maher	...	Mr. Chambers
Roz Braverman	...	Mrs. Epstein
Paul Bartel	...	Mr. Walsh
Sofia Coppola	...	Anne Chambers (as Domino)
Jason Hervey	...	Frank Dale
Paul C. Scott	...	Mike Anderson
Helen Boll	...	Mrs. Curtis
Sparky	...	Sparky
Rusty James	...	Raymond

Runtime:

29 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Certification:

Australia:G | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Spain:T | USA:PG | West Germany:6 | Peru:PT

Company:

Walt Disney Pictures

Trivia:

Tim Burton was fired from Disney for "wasting" their resources on films like this which they deemed too scary for family viewing. That did not stop Disney from releasing it on VHS after Burton became famous, although only in a censored version. The The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) DVD is its first uncensored appearance on home video.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: At the beginning, when the movie of Victor is played, you can see four people in the shadows, clapping. When the lights are on, you can only see Victor, his mother and father in the room.

Quotes:

Ben Frankenstein: I guess we can't punish Victor for bringing Sparky back from the dead.

Movie Connections:

References Vincent (1982)

A truly funny classic.

This short story is a flat out classic. It's funny and unique. And who better to direct than Tim Burton. The story is about the Frankensteins, a normal suburban family in modern times. Victor, the young son, is crestfallen when his dog Sparky dies.

The movie is very funny and original, and I'm glad that Tim Burton decided to do this movie in black and white, as he did 10 years later with his masterpiece Ed Wood. Frankenweenie is just a fun and original idea that is glad to be a short and mostly unknown movie. A great film.