Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

The infamous story of Benjamin Barker, aka Sweeney Todd, who sets up a barber shop in London which is the basis for a sinister partnership with his fellow tenant, Mrs. Lovett.

Director:

Tim Burton

Writers:

John Logan (screenplay), Hugh Wheeler (musical)

Stars:

Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman

Won 1 Oscar. Another 33 wins & 77 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Johnny Depp	...	Sweeney Todd
Helena Bonham Carter	...	Mrs. Lovett
Alan Rickman	...	Judge Turpin
Timothy Spall	...	Beadle
Sacha Baron Cohen	...	Pirelli
Jamie Campbell Bower	...	Anthony
Laura Michelle Kelly	...	Lucy / Beggar Woman
Jayne Wisener	...	Johanna
Ed Sanders	...	Toby (as Edward Sanders)
Gracie May Weldon	...	Baby Johanna (as Gracie May)
Ava May	...	Baby Johanna
Gabriella Freeman	...	Baby Johanna
Jody Halse	...	Policeman
Aron Paramor	...	Policeman
Lee Whitlock	...	Policeman

Storyline

In the Victorian London, the barber Benjamin Barker is married to the gorgeous Lucy and they have a lovely child, Johanna. The beauty of Lucy attracts the attention of the corrupt Judge Turpin, who falsely accuses the barber of a crime that he did not commit and abuses Lucy later after gaining custody of her. After fifteen years in exile, Benjamin returns to London under the new identity of Sweeney Todd, seeking revenge against Turpin. He meets the widow Mrs. Lovett who is the owner of a meat pie shop who tells him that Lucy swallowed arsenic many years ago, and Turpin assigned himself tutor of Johanna. He opens a barber shop above her store, initiating a crime rampage against those who made him suffer and lose his beloved family.

---

Plot Keywords:

razor | based on stage musical | serial killer | barbershop | throat slitting | 

---

Taglines:

Johnny Depp is THE BARBER.

---

Genres:

Drama | Horror | Musical | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for graphic bloody violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Five "Harry Potter" franchise alumni appear in this film: Helena Bonham Carter (Mrs. Lovett and Bellatrix Lestrange), Alan Rickman (Judge Turpin and Severus Snape), Timothy Spall (Beadle and Peter Pettigrew), Jamie Campbell Bower (Anthony Hope and Gellert Grindelwald) and Johnny Depp (Sweeny Todd and Gellert Grindelwald). All but Rickman play dark wizards in the franchise who act as either primary or secondary antagonists. However, Rickman's Snape can be seen as an anti-hero, as his morals are gray throughout the franchise and only in the last entry is he revealed to be a hero.

---

Goofs

Judge Turpin had gotten a fresh shave by Sweeney Todd when Anthony Hope rushes into the barber shop announcing he's going to run away with Johanna. When Turpin sends Johanna to the "asylum" the same evening, he's unshaved.

---

Quotes

Sweeney Todd: [to Mrs. Lovett while looking at his razor] The Judge! When will we get to him?

---

Alternate Versions

The final act in the US version uses different angles than the International version of the film during some extra violent deaths. The different angles focus more Sweeney instead of the immense amounts of blood that can be seen more vividly in the International cut. All in all it only amounts to around 3-5 seconds that are actually different and were needed in order to get the R-Rated in the US.

---

Connections

Featured in Nostalgia Critic: Top 11 Villain Songs (2010)

---

Soundtracks

Not While I'm Around
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Performed by Helena Bonham Carter & Ed Sanders (as Edward Sanders)

User Reviews

Tim Burton Claims Sweeney As His Own!

As a fan of the original stage version of this grimly Gothic tale, going into Sweeney Todd was bittersweet in my hopes and expectations. However, I'm pleased to announce that I did find Burton's latest effort impressive and intentional. Fans of the original won't be disappointed with a top-notch cast and the wonderfully dark overtures that haunt every minute of Sweeney Todd. Tim Burton, one of the masters of ambiance, sets his atmosphere in the grisly streets of a depressed London and his artistry punctures through every scene of screen time. I would have to clarify that, while Johnny Depp is a skilled actor, fans of the original will find it hard to believe that Depp has the ability to transform into the George Hearn "Sweeny" we've come to know. This is in fact true and recognized by Burton. In this respect, the character of Depp is not played as the same manner as the deep-voiced, towering Todd from the musical adaptation. Depp's is more of a less boisterous and thoughtful one. The vocal performances are great but have a different approach and feel to them. It was a refreshing adaptation and I feel a triumph on the part of Burton for making a stage-to-screen experience that captures you from it's bloody introduction.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [UK] Warner Bros. [Greece]

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

21 December 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sweeney Todd

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,300,805, 23 December 2007

Gross USA:

$52,898,073

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$153,383,627

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dreamworks Pictures, Warner Bros., Parkes/MacDonald Image Nation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1