| Product Summary | | Publisher: Warner | | Format: DVD | | UPC: 00883929017683 | | Buy.com Sku: 207325624 | | Item#: V2NWK2 | | Buy.com Sales Rank: 5250 | | Category Keywords: Murder Revenge | | Rating: NR |
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| | | A Musical Thriller!
Features: DVD, Aspect Ratio 1.33:1, English, Spanish, French, Subtitled
Times are hard in 1846 London and one must make do. So Nellie Lovett adds something extra to the meat pies she peddles on Fleet Street. The secret ingredient: freshly murdered victims of her partner in crime, barber Sweeney Todd.Composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim refashions a macabre tale into a musical masterwork in this dazzling performance of the 1979 Broadway hit originally staged by Harold Prince. In her Tony-winning role (one of eight the show earned, including Best Musical), Angela Lansbury plays Nellie. George Hearn turns his stage role of twisted Sweeney into an Emmy-winning triumph. The score coils around itself in ever-tightening spirals. The lines ripple with black humor and madness. Enter Sweeney's tonsorial parlor. Attend the tale.
"...the music and lyrics are amazing...Sondheim is an accomplished composer, but this is arguably his best work." Angela Dalecki, NightsAndWeekends.com
"...[finds] the proper center between cabaret and slasher film, opus and bawdy sing-along...the cast is superb." Bill Gibron, DVD Verdict
Editor's Note
Angela Lansbury and George Hearns star in this updated version of the classic macabre musical. Benjamin Barker (Heard) returns from prison and assumes the name of Sweeney Todd. But when he finds out that a judge is tormenting his wife and daughter, Sweeney decides it's time to cut more than just the judge's hair. Lansbury is Mrs. Nellie Lovett, the downstairs neighbor who concocts a scheme that will give both of them what they want. Featuring music by Stephen Sondheim.
| Features | Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound | | Interactive Menus | | Scene Selection | | Subtitles: English, French, Spanish |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Warner |
| Release Date: 4/1/2008 |
| Running Time: 140 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1982 | | Catalog ID: 1000038411 | | UPC: 00883929017683 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | Standard 1.33:1 [4:3] |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Winner (1985) | | | Emmy, Terry Hughes, Outstanding Directing in a Variety or Music Program | | | Emmy, George Hearn, Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program | | | Emmy, Jimmy B. Frazier, Outstanding Videotape Editing for a Limited Series or a Special | |
Nominee (1985) | | | Emmy, Angela Lansbury, Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program | | | Emmy, Doug Nelson, et. al., Outstanding Live and Tape Sound Mixing and Sound Effects for a Limited Series or a Special |
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| | Professional Reviews | Edward Copeland on Film 10 of 10
I love Stephen Sondheim and Sweeney Todd is my favorite musical of his. I admit that I have great trepidation about what Tim Burton will do to it in his upcoming film version...The Los Angeles production of the original Broadway tour was filmed for a defunct entity known as The Entertainment Channel, but I saw it when it aired on Showtime. There were cast differences from the Broadway production: George Hearn replaced Len Cariou in the title role, Cris Groenedaal took over the role of Anthony from Victor Garber (known to you kids as Sydney's father on TV's Alias) and Betsy Joslyn played Johanna instead of Sarah Rice. However, most of the other roles were played again by the Broadway cast, most importantly Angela Lansbury re-creating her triumphant Tony-winning turn as Mrs. Lovett, seen to the right with Ken Jennings, the show's original Tobias. If you are only familiar with Lansbury as crime-solving mystery novelist Jessica Fletcher on TV's Murder, She Wrote or as the malevolent manipulator Mrs. Iselin in The Manchurian Candidate, you owe it to yourself to watch Sweeney Todd. Lansbury sings, Lansbury dances and Lansbury wows. Her Mrs. Lovett is a hard act for anyone to follow. - Edward Copeland
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