Sweeney Todd (2006) (TV)

Director:

Dave Moore

Writer:

Joshua St. Johnston (written by)

Release Date:

3 January 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Plot:

A BBC adaptation of the classic tale of the 18th century demon barber of Fleet Street, London, who cuts the throats of his unsuspecting clients in his shop. |

Plot Keywords:

Barber | 18th Century | 1700s | Trapdoor | London England

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Ray Winstone	...	Sweeney Todd
Essie Davis	...	Mrs Lovett
David Warner	...	Fielding
Tom Hardy	...	Matthew
David Bradley	...	Sweeney's Father
Roger Frost	...	Customer
Anthony O'Donnell	...	Gaoler
David Foxxe	...	Rector
Ben Walker	...	Tobias
Jessica Hooker	...	Polly
Paul Currier	...	Thornhill
Mircea Drambareanu	...	Mr Lovett
Gabriel Spahiu	...	Thief
Vlad Radescu	...	Sailor
Bogdan Cotlet	...	Youth

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:18 (DVD rating) | Australia:MA (TV rating) | Argentina:18 | South Africa:18 | USA:TV-MA (cable rating)

Filming Locations:

MediaPro Studios, Bucharest, Romania

Company:

Box TV

Trivia:

Part of the plot involves a string of pearls. The Sweeney Todd story first appeared in a story entitled ‘The String of Pearls: A Romance’.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Matthew is left on the steps after his death he opens his eyes right before the scene fades.

Quotes:

Matthew Payne: There's a ring here. I could take that to his wife. See if it's his.
Sir John Fielding: Yes.
Matthew Payne: Oh, it won't give. I'll have to cut the finger off.
Sir John Fielding: I don't think his immortal soul will mind one more little division to his earthly remains.

Movie Connections:

Version of Bloodthirsty Butchers (1970)

Interesting But Somewhat Slow Variation On The Famous London Story

Although some have tried to argue that he was an actual person, it seems likely that the story of a throat-cutting barber named Sweeney Todd arose first as a bit of urban myth that was developed into an 1846 story titled THE STRING OF PEARLS by writer Thomas Prest. A year later the story was adapted to the stage as SWEENEY TODD, THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET. It proved a popular ticket, and in age that knew little of copyright law, versions of the play were soon springing up all over the place, each one tweaking the story a little bit in the process. Consequently, it is almost impossible to say that any one particular version is "more authentic" than any other.

In this particular version, filmed for BBC in 2006, Todd (Ray Winstone)is a barber who spent twenty years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Released, he finds himself shaving a prison guard and on sudden impulse slits the man's throat. One thing leads to another, as you might say, and he soon makes the acquaintance of bake-shop worker Mrs. Lovett (Essie Davis); his fondness for her not only leads him to set her up in her own business, but to supply the occasional cut of meat as well. The twist to this particular version of the story is in the relationship between Todd and Lovett, the latter of whom is more sinned against than sinning.

The script is quite clever, essentially winding most of Todd's motives (including his interest in Mrs. Lovett) around his own mistreatment while an inmate of the notorious Newgate prison, and both Winstone and Davis are extremely impressive in their performances. But for all the blood, and there is aplenty, and for all the sex, and there is some, the film looks exactly like what it is: a made-for-television movie. It is also rather slow and quite often a bit too "stiff upper lip" for its own good.

The DVD release offers a good transfer but, excepting cast credits, nothing in the way of bonus material. Those interested in the various directions the story has taken will find it intriguing, but most others will likely be only mildly interested.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer