Edward Scissorhands (1990)

An artificial man, who was incompletely constructed and has scissors for hands, leads a solitary life. Then one day, a suburban lady meets him and introduces him to her world.

Director:

Tim Burton

Writers:

Tim Burton (story), Caroline Thompson (story)

Stars:

Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 9 wins & 22 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Johnny Depp	...	Edward Scissorhands
Winona Ryder	...	Kim
Dianne Wiest	...	Peg
Anthony Michael Hall	...	Jim
Kathy Baker	...	Joyce
Robert Oliveri	...	Kevin
Conchata Ferrell	...	Helen
Caroline Aaron	...	Marge
Dick Anthony Williams	...	Officer Allen
O-Lan Jones	...	Esmeralda
Vincent Price	...	The Inventor
Alan Arkin	...	Bill
Susan Blommaert	...	Tinka (as Susan J. Blommaert)
Linda Perri	...	Cissy (as Linda Perry)
John Davidson	...	Host-TV

Storyline

In a castle high on top of a hill lives an inventor's greatest creation - Edward, a near-complete person. The creator died before he could finish Edward's hands; instead, he is left with metal scissors for hands. Since then, he has lived alone, until a kind lady called Peg discovers him and welcomes him into her home. At first, everyone welcomes him into the community, but soon things begin to take a change for the worse.

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Plot Keywords:

scissors | compassion | castle | waterbed | love | 

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Taglines:

The Director Of "Batman" & "Beetlejuice" Invites You To Meet His Newest Creation:

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 December 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Edward Scissorhands

Filming Locations:

Dade City, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$159,622, 9 December 1990, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$56,362,352

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$86,024,005, 25 February 2012

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (analog 70 mm prints) CDS (digital 70 mm prints) Dolby Stereo (35 mm prints) CDS (digital 35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The entire story is meant to be seen through Edward's eyes, which is why the neighborhood looks so "fantastical."

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Goofs

When Peg first meets Edward at the mansion, his face is very white and pale. But when they are in the car, his face is his normal skin colour.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Kim: Snuggle in, sweetie. It's cold out there.
Granddaughter: Why is it snowing, Grandma? Where does it come from?
Kim: Oh, that's a long story, sweetheart...

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Crazy Credits

The film title closes together like a pair of scissors, and the opening credits are all scissor-shaped.

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Alternate Versions

In order to secure a K-10 rating in Finland in 1991, fifteen seconds of violence was removed from the theatrical version. Also the subsequent VHS release was cut similarly.

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Connections

Referenced in Robodoc (2009)

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Soundtracks

Aloha Oe
(uncredited)
Written by Queen Liliuokalani

User Reviews

An uncommonly gentle man.

BIG SPOILERS.

"Give it to my loved ones?" - Edward Scissorhands.

Created by an inventor who dies before finishing his creation, and so leaving him with razor-sharp shears as hands - Edward Scissorhands (JOHNNY DEPP) isn't like other people.

When kindly Avon lady Peg Boggs (DIANE WIEST) finds him one day, hidden away in a Gothic mansion on top of a hill, she takes him under her wing and decides to take him back to the suburbs to live with her.

When we see Edward in this pastel paradise for the first time, it is apparent that he doesn't belong: his wild, dark and frightening appearance contrasting against the immaculate, sweetly colored people and homes of the suburbs. It's an ironic contrast too, as both of these 'worlds' reflect feelings and thoughts that should not associated with them - as Edward is a good-hearted person, whereas the people of the suburbs are unkind and intolerant.

When Edward arrives there he is welcomed and loved, due to the way in which he can sculpt hedges, dogs and hair into amazing works of art. But eventually, due to human trickery and greed, and Edward's want of acceptance and love, Edward is painted by the townspeople as a monster when he is told to rob a house by the boyfriend of Peg's daughter, Kim (WINONA RYDER), and he is ostracized by the town.

Throughout the course of the movie, Edward falls in love with Kim. Originally treating him as an outcast, she falls in love with him too, realizing what a kind and remarkable being he is. In the end, she is the only one who accepts him, when the entire town turns against him. Kim's boyfriend, Jim, enraged by jealousy of Edward, tries to kill him. In defense of Kim and himself, Edward plunges his scissor-hands into Jim's chest and kills him. Realising both that by what he has done they can never see each other again for his safety they share a final kiss and part ways, Edward remaining in his mansion and Kim returning to the shocked town below. The ending of this movie is one of the most wonderful I've seen. Poignant and bittersweet, it is hard to forget quickly.

Johnny Depp is outstanding as Edward Scissorhands, showing a kind of curious and bemused innocence within in the character, but at the same time a restrained passion. Every expression on his face is full of raw emotion: every cautious smile, and every time of hurt and confusion. Johhny Depp is Edward Scissorhands.

This is a wonderful fable from the brilliant imagination of Tim Burton. It's a twisted and sophisticated Gothic fairytale with a dose of comedy, and a good helping of morality, too. While a family movie, it's not really for kids - some things in there even shocked me.

This movie is amazing, and I was entranced by it the very first time I watched it. I'm not usually one for ridiculous hyperbole about movies, but there is very little wrong with this one. I love this movie.

10/10