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Topic:
Tim Burton: The Wizard of Odd: Now Disc. Johnny Depp in "Alice in Wonderland"
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Hammurabi
Registered:
Jan '07
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Date Posted:
1/27 8:54pm
Subject:
RE: Tim Burton: The Wizard of Odd: Now Disc. "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
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It's a fairly common plot.
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and i know no one can sing the blues like blind willie mctell
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JohnWesleyDowney
Registered:
Jan '04
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Date Posted:
1/28 4:12pm
Subject:
RE: Tim Burton: The Wizard of Odd: Now Disc. "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
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I see Box Office Mojo has now started foreign grosses to Sweeney's box office tally, so it's finally starting to open overseas.
I guess what they'll do, for example in Japan, is add subtitles and leave the soundtrack as is. I mean, I can't imagine "Epiphany" sung in Japanese! It's a curious marketing challenge.
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Thrawn1786
Registered:
Feb '04
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Date Posted:
1/29 2:34pm
Subject:
RE: Tim Burton: The Wizard of Odd: Now Disc. "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
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It would also be really tricky to get the rhymes to work out correctly. I remember reading in The Complete Les Miserables, how when they were first going to premiere the musical in Japan, Boubil and Schoenberg had an almost impossible time matching the rhythm to the Japanese language.
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Zaz
Title: Manager:
The Amphitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
1/29 3:34pm
Subject:
RE: Tim Burton: The Wizard of Odd: Now Disc. "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
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No kidding. Somebody I know once saw a dubbed version of "My Fair Lady", where they dubbed the whole thing, including the songs, into Italian. You do wonder what that was like...
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JohnWesleyDowney
Registered:
Jan '04
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Date Posted:
2/1 3:33pm
Subject:
RE: Tim Burton: The Wizard of Odd: Now Disc. "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
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My copy of SWEENEY TODD THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET (Forward by Tim Burton) arrived today. It's a book that's an indepth look at the whole history of the movie project. Lots of great shots and insight.
It has the lyrics to most of A LITTLE PRIEST. They are hilarious.
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Zaz
Title: Manager:
The Amphitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
2/11 10:14pm
Subject:
RE: Tim Burton: The Wizard of Odd: Now Disc. "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
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Have you read all of it?
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JohnWesleyDowney
Registered:
Jan '04
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Date Posted:
2/12 4:23pm
Subject:
RE: Tim Burton: The Wizard of Odd: Now Disc. "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
- Date Edited:
2/12 4:41pm (3 edits total)
Edited By:
JohnWesleyDowney
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Yes, cover to cover. It's full of great pictures and lots of drawings and paintings that were done during the preproduction and production phase. An awesome process.
There's also lots of photos from the recording sessions, and Stephen Sondheim is very much present and involved. He participated in rehearsals for the recordings (One actor described it like having to perform the Hamlet soliloquy in front of Shakespeare!) and gave everyone some guidance, but apparently with a very light and constructive touch. Since he approved most of the cast already (Depp being the one exception), he knew what they could do. He's stated publicly he prefers actors who can sing as opposed to singers attempting to act. After he gave his input on the recording of his songs, he seems to have disappeared. There's not a single photo in the entire book of Sondheim present during filming on set. There's quite a few photos of Tim Burton at the recording sessions though.
Burton and Sondheim are shown having a conversation and it appears cordial.
I was surprised at how many of the locations that appear in the film to be outdoors are actually inside a cavernous sound stage. It's truly amazing what digital technology can do today. For example, the Old Bailey courthouse that Alan Rickman and his henchman walk out of and down to the street doesn't exist, nor does the rest of the city. The only physical aspect to that scene are the two actors, a few background extras, a cobblestone flooring for them to walk on, and the staircase leading down from the building.
It's one of the best books on the production of a film I've ever seen. Someone put a lot of effort into making this an excellent record of how a film was made.
At the end of the book there's a mini "pictorial" of the entire film, in frames taken from the movie itself.
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Zaz
Title: Manager:
The Amphitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
2/12 9:06pm
Subject:
RE: Tim Burton: The Wizard of Odd: Now Disc. "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
- Date Edited:
2/12 9:08pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Zaz
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That sounds really interesting, I'm going to look on Chapters for it.
I thought they filmed on location in London, not on a soundstage. The art direction was stellar. Glad that they asked Sondheim for his imput. He appears to like the result.
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JohnWesleyDowney
Registered:
Jan '04
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Date Posted:
2/12 9:14pm
Subject:
RE: Tim Burton: The Wizard of Odd: Now Disc. "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
- Date Edited:
2/12 9:19pm (2 edits total)
Edited By:
JohnWesleyDowney
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Yes, it was all filmed at Pinewood Studios on sets. Movie magic. Dante Ferretti is given much credit as the production designer for both his own contributions, as well as his ability to translate Tim's ideas into sets.
Yes, Sondheim seems quite pleased with the final results.
It's published by Titan, and the author is Mark Salisbury.
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Zaz
Title: Manager:
The Amphitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
2/12 9:15pm
Subject:
RE: Tim Burton: The Wizard of Odd: Now Disc. "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
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Thanks.
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JohnWesleyDowney
Registered:
Jan '04
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Date Posted:
2/20 11:59pm
Subject:
RE: Tim Burton: The Wizard of Odd: Now Disc. "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
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I'm currently reading the revised edition of BURTON ON BURTON. It's basically a 289 page interview book with Burton by writer Mark Salisbury, and this revised version takes us up to THE CORPSE BRIDE release in 2004. It's extremely interesting if you're a Burton fan, and also may be of interest to those who want to know the inside story of how indecisive and clueless studio executives can be. I learned a great deal about Tim on a personal level, and much of the material clarifies and explains how his movies came to be the way they are. There are TWO forewords by Johnny Depp, one written at the time of the book's original publication and a new one for the updated edition.
I was struck by how vulnerable and human and down to Earth Tim is...he is definitely not a conventional Hollywood director looking to make the next big kill, though many of his films have had commercial success. It's all about how things "feel" and how his subconscious works in concert with his conscious mind to get some form of a vision on the screen. He fears becoming a "thing" or a "brand" and not just a "human being." His art comes first, and Hollywood is more of a necessary evil, than a chosen vocation.
I was surprised to learn Tim tried his hand at shooting some TV commercials a few years ago to expand his experience. He certainly has no need to do them for the money, he's immensely rich. But after a few times he stopped it when he realized dealing the commercial clients and ad agencies reminded him of trying to please the movie studios.
BURTON ON BURTON is a good read for Burton fans and film students.
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solojones
Registered:
Sep '00
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Date Posted:
2/21 12:28am
Subject:
RE: Tim Burton: The Wizard of Odd: Now Disc. "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
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Really, I though it looked like it was all in a sound stage  Which apparently it was. Kind of had the same look as Moulin Rouge (only obviously lit much more darkly).
-sj loves kevin spacey
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6 x 9 = 42 Proud member of the Colbert Nation  Obi-Wan Kenobi and Obi-Wan Kenobi in Ghost Ship Executor All Hail Cliegg's Blue Leg!
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JohnWesleyDowney
Registered:
Jan '04
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Date Posted:
2/24 11:41pm
Subject:
RE: Tim Burton: The Wizard of Odd: Now Disc. "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
- Date Edited:
2/24 11:56pm (5 edits total)
Edited By:
JohnWesleyDowney
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I was disappointed Sweeney did not get more nominations but I'm quite happy that Tim's production designer, the legendary Dante Ferretti was honored with an Oscar for his work on the film, which was fabulous. Congrats to Tim and Dante.
Here are the lyrics from one of the wittiest song's in a film musical. Certainly the cleverest song ever written about Victorian cannibalism, and some of the darkest humor ever. Helena was at times difficult to understand, so this clarifies some of the passages. (for the uninitiated, the word play on "green" and "grocer" is due to an English term for their grocers.) I loved Tim's staging for this song.
A LITTLE PRIEST Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
MRS. LOVETT:
Seems a downright shame...
SWEENEY: Shame?
LOVETT:
Seems an awful waste...
Such a nice, plump frame
What's his name has...
Had...
Has!
No, it can't be traced...
Business needs a lift,
Debts to be erased...
Think of it as thrift,
As a gift,
If you get my drift!
No?
Seems an awful waste...
I mean, with the price of meat
What it is,
When you get it,
If you get it...
TODD: HAH!
LOVETT:
Good, you got it!
Take, for instance, Mrs. Mooney and her pie shop!
Business never better using only pussycats and toast!
And a pussy's good for maybe six or seven at the most!
And I'm sure they can't compare as far as taste!
[Simultaneously]
TODD:
Mrs. Lovett, what a charming notion
LOVETT:
Well, it does seem a waste...
TODD:
Eminently practical
And yet appropriate as always!
LOVETT:
It's an idea...
TODD:
Mrs. Lovett, how I've lived
Without you all these years, I'll never know!
How delectable!
Also undetectable!
LOVETT:
Think about it!
Lots of other gentlemen'll
Soon be comin' for a shave,
Won't they? Think of all them Pies!
TODD:
How choice!
How
Rare!
TODD:
For what's the sound of the world out there?
LOVETT:
What, Mr. Todd?
What, Mr. Todd?
What is that sound?
TODD:
Those crunching noises pervading the air!
LOVETT:
Yes, Mr. Todd!
Yes, Mr. Todd!
Yes, all around!
TODD:
It's man devouring man, my dear!
BOTH:
And [LOVETT: Then who are we to deny it in here?
TODD: (spoken) These are desperate times,
Mrs. Lovett, and desperate measures are called for!
LOVETT: Here we are, now! Hot out of the oven!
TODD: What is that?
LOVETT:
It's priest. Have a little priest.
TODD:
Is it really good?
LOVETT:
Sir, it's too good, at least!
Then again, they don't commit sins of the flesh, So it's pretty fresh.
TODD: Awful lot of fat.
LOVETT: Only where it sat.
TODD:
Haven't you got poet, or something like that?
LOVETT:
No, y'see, the trouble with poet is
how do you know it's deceased? Try the priest!
TODD: (spoken) Heavenly!
Not as hearty as bishop, perhaps,
but then again, not as bland as curate, either!
LOVETT:
And good for business, too -- always leaves you wantin' more!
Trouble is, we only get it on Sundays!
Lawyer's rather nice.
TODD:
If it's for a price.
LOVETT:
Order something else, though, to follow,
Since no one should swallow it twice!
TODD:
Anything that's lean?
LOVETT:
Well, then, if you're British and loyal,
You might enjoy Royal Marine!
Anyway, it's clean.
Though of course, it tastes of wherever it's been!
TODD:
Is that squire,
On the fire?
LOVETT:
Mercy no, sir, look closer,
You'll notice it's grocer!
TODD:
Looks thicker,
More like vicar!
LOVETT:
No, it has to be grocer --
It's green!
TODD:
The history of the world, my love --
LOVETT:
Save a lot of graves,
Do a lot of relatives favors!
TODD:
Is those below serving those up above!
LOVETT:
Everybody shaves,
So there should be plenty of flavors!
TODD:
How gratifying for once to know
BOTH:
That those above will serve those down below!
TODD: What is that?
LOVETT:
It's fop.
Finest in the shop.
And we have some shepherd's pie peppered
With actual shepherd on top!
And I've just begun --
Here's the politician, so oily
It's served with a doily,
Have one!
TODD:
Put it on a bun.
Well, you never know if it's going to run!
LOVETT:
Try the friar,
Fried, it's drier!
TODD:
No, the clergy is really
Too coarse and too mealy!
LOVETT:
Then actor,
That's compacter!
TODD:
Yes, and always arrives overdone!
I'll come again when you have JUDGE on the menu!
TODD:
Have charity towards the world, my pet!
LOVETT:
Yes, yes, I know, my love!
TODD:
We'll take the customers that we can get!
LOVETT:
High-born and low, my love!
TODD:
We'll not discriminate great from small!
No, we'll serve anyone,
Meaning anyone,
BOTH:
And to anyone
At all!
I wondered if the shop across the street from Mrs. Lovett's shop was a nod
to composer John Williams. The name on it is J. WILLIAMS
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Thrawn1786
Registered:
Feb '04
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Date Posted:
2/25 10:33am
Subject:
RE: Tim Burton: The Wizard of Odd: Now Disc. "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
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I understand why they cut out parts of "A Little Priest," for time reasons, but at the same time wish they'd kept the whole thing. I love the "With or without his privates?" joke.
Congratulations to Sweeney Todd winning the Best Art Direction Oscar! 
Oh, and the DVD is supposed to come out on April 1. There will be a single disc and a two disc version. I'll see if I can find where I read that and I'll post it here later.
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e-sibs: Rabe, padawanlissa, Elfie, CW, DG, Kahn, Trimaj, MGA, prj1, SWF444, Swan, Allegra Proud Master of Mister_Master Sith Apprentice to darth_nemisis, AoD
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Palpateen
Registered:
Apr '00
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Date Posted:
3/3 11:18pm
Subject:
RE: Tim Burton: The Wizard of Odd: Now Disc. "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
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I'm really looking forward to the dvd release.
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"What's a dazzling urbanite like you doing in a rustic setting like this?"
-Gene Wilder in BLAZING SADDLES
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