Sleepy Hollow

Theatrical Release Date: 1999 11 19 (USA)

UPC: 097363296249

Studio: Paramount

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Graphic Violence, Not For Children, Sexual Situations, Suitable for Teens]

Summary: Washington Irving's tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman gets a few new twists in a screen adaptation directed by Tim Burton. In this version, Ichabod (Johnny Depp) is a New York City detective whose unorthodox techniques and penchant for gadgets make him unpopular with is colleagues. He is sent to the remote town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of bizarre murders, in which a number of people have been found dead in the woods, with their heads cut off. Local legend has it that a Hessian ghost rides through the woods on horseback, lopping off the heads of the unsuspecting and unbelieving. Ichabod refuses to believe in this legend, convinced that there must be a logical explanation for the murders. In time, Ichabod becomes smitten with a local lass, Katrina Van Tassel (Christina Ricci), who is the sweetheart of the burly Brom Bones (Casper Van Dien), and he becomes determined to capture the murderer to prove his bravery and win her heart. Christopher Walken, Jeffrey Jones, and Christopher Lee highlight the supporting cast; Lee's appearance is particularly apt, since Burton has cited the Hammer films of the 1960s as a major influence in making this film. Andrew Kevin Walker and Tom Stoppard contributed to the screenplay. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Category: Horror

Awards: Best Production Design – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Costume Design – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Production Design – Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Art Direction – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Art Direction – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Cinematography – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Costume Design – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Cinematography – American Society of Cinematographers

Features: Widescreen version enhanced for 16x9 televisions
Dolby Digital: English 5.1 Surround; English Dolby Surround; French Dolby Surround
English subtitles
Interactive menus
Scene selection
2 theatrical trailers
Exclusive cast and crew interviews
Exclusive "Behind the Legend" featurette
Commentary with director Tim Burton
Selected cast biographies
Photo gallery

Sleepy Hollow

Format: DVD

Release Date: 05/23/2000

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, DDS Dolby Digital Surround

Runtime: 105 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French

Subtitles: English

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side#1--
0. Scene Selections
1. The Fate of Peter Van Garrett. [3:48]
2. Constable Crane. [3:30]
3. Sleepy Hollow. [4:14]
4. The Headless Horseman. [2:04]
5. Masbath's Terrible Death. [5:37]
6. Five Victims, Four Graves. [7:49]
7. A Wakeful Night. [:22]
8. Magistrate Philipse. [2:17]
9. The Western Woods. [2:59]
10. Tree of the Dead. [3:53]
11. The Killian Family. [2:41]
12. "You have bewitched me". [2:52]
13. The Secret Conspiracy. [4:35]
14. An Angry Wound. [5:34]
15. Murder Begets Murder. [5:47]
16. Evil Eyes. [:26]
17. The Archer. [4:43]
18. A Head For A Head. [6:47]
19. A New Century. [4:37]

Jason Buchanan

Often cited as an homage to the infamous films of Hammer Studios, upon deeper investigation into the influences of director Tim Burton, it becomes increasingly clear that, while the film does indeed have much in common with the British horror classics, the majority of visual influence is instead derived from the lush, gothic films of Mario Bava. Bearing a striking resemblance to 1960s Black Sunday in particular, Burton's muted color palate, vividly splashed with abundant amounts of blood so unnaturally red it seems to drip from the screen, represents a masterful command of color scheme rarely seen since Bava's color-era heyday. While Sleepy Hollow may not retain the masterful balance of a striking visuals and solid characterization as skillfully as Burton's early efforts, Sleepy Hollow remains a remarkably beautiful film which offers both dark humor and some breathtaking set pieces. Burton's cast does as much as humanly possible to bring scribe Andrew Kevin Walker's characters to life, though without the proper foundation, the means to define the characters much further beyond the occasional meaningful gesture or enduring quirk are unfortunately absent. Despite this minor flaw, those willing to judge Sleepy Hollow on its own terms and forego the stratospheric expectations with which Burton films are generally greeted will find themselves in for a sumptuously visual and giddily macabre interpretation of an enduring tale that has chilled the bones of children for generations. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Tim Burton  Director 
Francis Ford Coppola  Executive Producer 
Danny Elfman  Composer (Music Score) 
Scott Rudin  Producer 
Andrew Kevin Walker  Screenwriter 
Adam Schroeder  Producer 
Larry Franco  Executive Producer 
Johnny Depp  Actor 
Christina Ricci  Actor 
Miranda Richardson  Actor 
Michael Gambon  Actor 
Casper Van Dien  Actor 
Jeffrey Jones  Actor 
Christopher Lee  Actor 
Richard Griffiths  Actor 
Ian McDiarmid  Actor 
Michael Gough  Actor 
Christopher Walken  Actor 
Marc Pickering  Actor 
Lisa Marie  Actor 
Steven Waddington  Actor 
Claire Skinner  Actor 
Alun Armstrong  Actor 
Mark Spalding  Actor 
Jessica Oyelowo  Actor 
Ray Park  Actor 
Peter Guinness  Actor 
Orlando Seale  Actor 

Country: USA