Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Director:

Tim Burton

Writers (WGA):

Washington Irving (story)
Kevin Yagher (screen story) ...

Release Date:

19 November 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

Who will it come for next?!

Plot:

Ichabod Crane is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the decapitations of 3 people with the culprit being the legendary apparition, the Headless Horseman.

Plot Keywords:

Horseman | Head | Headless | Murder | Ghost

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 21 wins & 28 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Johnny Depp	...	Ichabod Crane
Christina Ricci	...	Katrina Van Tassel
Miranda Richardson	...	Lady Van Tassel / Crone
Michael Gambon	...	Baltus Van Tassel
Casper Van Dien	...	Brom Van Brunt
Jeffrey Jones	...	Reverend Steenwyck
Richard Griffiths	...	Magistrate Philipse
Ian McDiarmid	...	Doctor Lancaster
Michael Gough	...	Notary Hardenbrook
Christopher Walken	...	Hessian Horseman
Marc Pickering	...	Young Masbath
Lisa Marie	...	Lady Crane
Steven Waddington	...	Killian
Claire Skinner	...	Beth Killian
Christopher Lee	...	Burgomaster

Also Known As:

Sleepy Hollow (Germany)
Sleepy Hollow - Köpfe werden rollen (Germany) (TV title)

MPAA:

Rated R for graphic horror violence and gore, and for a scene of sexuality.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:18 | Spain:13 | Iceland:16 | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Italy:VM14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KT | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18A (Alberta) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:12 (original rating) (cut) | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | Hong Kong:IIB | Hungary:14 (cut) | Hungary:16 | Ireland:18 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Winona Ryder was offered the role of Katrina Van Tassel, but turned it down.

Goofs:

Continuity: The teeth in the disembodied skull ARE filed.

Quotes:

Ichabod Crane: The millennium is almost upon us. In a few months, we will be living in the nineteenth century. But our courts continue to rely on medieval devices of torture.
High Constable: Stand down.
Ichabod Crane: I stand up for sense and justice.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Corpse Bride (2005)

Soundtrack:

The Swallow/The Colly Flower

Strangely comical, yet still an excellent film.

Any reservations that I had about the film being be a turkey, were almost immediately quelled upon seeing the movie. From the offset Mr. Depp throws himself into the role of Icabod Crane with enthusiasm and gusto; portraying excellently a man of "science" suddenly out of his depth in legend. Christina Ricci also plays the role of Katrina van Tassel superbly; a sure sign of good things to come from this talented young actress.

I would be reluctant to call this film an outright horror film - the special effects are used primarily to enhance the plot and visual appearence, and the gore level is low. The visual detail is a masterpiece - the sets are fantastic and lighting brilliant. Tim Burton has superbly used music and suspense to build the thrill in the film. However, the comical interjections provide the required break-up of the suspense.

All in all a very well put together film, with solidly good acting, and most of all a superb plot. Well worth seeing!