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

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:

Although Tim Burton claims the windmill scene was a reference to Frankenstein (1931), which he lovingly quoted in Frankenweenie (1984), a stronger link can be made to Will Hay's Oh, Mr. Porter! (1937) which also featured a windmill but not a headless horseman.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Ichabod is in the carriage and about to leave town he is playing with the cardinal/cage optical illusion toy. When the camera faces him the image of the cardinal and cage are right side up, but when shown from Ichabod's view they still appear right side up - one of these two shots should show the images upside down.

Quotes:

Ichabod Crane: We have murders in New York without benefit of ghouls and goblins.
Baltus Van Tassel: You are a long way from New York, constable.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Caleuche: El llamado del mar (2009)

Soundtrack:

Argeers

A Superb Version of Washington Irving's Classic Horror Story

The movie, Sleepy Hollow, embodies Tim Burton's unique take on one of the most well-known horror tales of all time, with a few new plot twists and greater character development, including a dark past for Ichabod Crane and a "story behind the story" of what's going on in the haunted town, which is beautifully rendered, dark and foggy for an eerie atmosphere.

The dream cast puts in great performances, but obviously it's Johnny Depp who steals the show with his intuitive and sometimes over-the-top portrayal of the anti-hero, Ichabod Crane, who displays admirable bravery while at the same time often succumbing to fear.

The lavish production, masterful acting, background music, beautiful periodic sets and costumes and the careful attention to detail, most notable in the special effects used to bring the headless horseman "to life", if you will, all come together to tell the tale of Sleepy Hollow's plight and deliverance as it's never been told before. It's unlikely that this cinematic version will ever be surpassed. Superb!