I’m so glad that Sondheim was able to live such a long and abundant life in which he got to witness his masterpiece translated brilliantly to film. The fact that he loved what Tim Burton did with his material is very endearing to know.
There is quite a bit of difference between the stage show and the movie. But, the changes that were made reflect the different mediums. In the stage show, the Ballad of Sweeney Todd is needed to bookend the show and provide seamless transitions throughout the show. The movie did not need such bookends or transitions. The song 'Look at me' needed to be after 'Greenfinch and linnet bird' to show the love connection. With the movie, only a look was needed to express this emotion. Etc. Etc.
You know your stuff Jon. Stage and film are two very different mediums with different requirements. A single visual can do the work of lots of a dialogue or even a whole song, if properly handled.
I love the fact that he touched on Bernard Herman. I believe there's a reference to the classic Violin part in Psycho, you can find it towards the beginning of Epiphany.
When Mrs. Lovett is reprising Wait, there are similar stabs behind her. There's also a minor second, the Psycho interval, that pretty prominently appears in Greenfinch
3:50 truly brilliant staging. If I were to have directed a film adaptation of Sweeney, Epiphany would be marked by a literal break in the fourth wall and Sweeney staring down the camera. Having him move about like a ghost unseen in the London streets was a stroke of genius.
This man is a genious. I love love love this movie, but almost all the kudos go to Steven Sondheim for being the mastermind behind Sweeney Todd. Burton perfected it in his own way. And Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Edward Sanders..all the actors in this are completely amazing! Without Sondheim though, the musical never would've even existed. ...I wanna meet him!
I'm talking about the film version in comparison to the original stage show, which at the time of the film, was the only stage version there was. The "revisal" is a combination of the stage and screen versions. That's my point, is that the film version of Cabaret actually took complete songs out and replaced them with entirely new ones. The story is completely shifted, characters and their relationships with each other are different, etc. Sweeney Todd is an incredibly faithful adaptation.
I lvoe how he says that this is a different "film on stage musical" hes right, It really does depend on what you saw first, If you saw the movie first, and haven't seen the stage production then ya your going to have a different opinon about it. Its just like the 2004 version of The phantom of the Opera. everyone has their views. I love all of it.
It depends on what version of Cabaret you saw. The latest vogue in revivals of past shows on broadway and the subsequent small theatre productions is to do what many are referring to as a "revisal." This was done to the revival of Cabaret in 1998. Between the film version of Cabaret directed by Bob Fosse and the "revisal" of Cabaret, the former would be the most faithful to the original version produced and directed by Hal Prince on broadway in 1966.
Wow. That's cool. I didn't even know who Sondheim was, and I went on Wikipedia and read all about the origin of Sweeney Todd. I discovered that Sonheim wrote one of my favorite songs from a different musical. Small world.
I think it depends whether you can approach things with a totally open mind. I loved the film and I love the stage musical too and I'm happy to mix opinions rather than have it in black and white. For example I liked the way they used actors without singing expirence so that it became about acting as much as it was about singing but on the other hand I still think Patti Lupone is the best Mrs. Lovett ever.
I agree with you. They changed much more in the "Cabaret" film than they did in the "Sweeney Todd" film actually...But, you know, Sondheim doesn't really like "Cabaret", I think...*grins*
@JollyMe08 Oh don't be silly. Burton first approached Sondheim about his adaptation idea almost 2 decades ago. He wasn't known in film as he is these days.
Amazing how people who love the musical, just as people who love Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory curse Johnny Depp and Tim Burton up and down, and yet they were given the thumbs up by the people close to (if not THE) source of the original inspiration. Isn't that odd?
Ahhhh! I love just getting a peak into that genius' mind. I liked how he was very objective about his view on the movie. He didn't quite say whether he liked that his masterpiece was altered and cut, but remained professional and used great tact.
Tim had a lot of freedom to make the story more cinematic but Sondheim selected the orchestrator and had cast approval. So he had a lot of input that was contractually guaranteed but he didn't try to interfere too much. I think he wanted to see how a top notch film director who absolutely loved the musical would handle it.
Sondheim is probably the greatest broadway composer in hipstory. His other credits include West Side Story, Follies, Gypsy, Into the Woods and many more. Check out his wikipedia biography, it's breathtaking.
Theater is supposed to be over the top. If you see a UA-cam video where Sondheim is teacher a master class you’ll see him telling the students playing Sweeney and Lovett, “Don’t be afraid to overact.”
My order would be Lansbury, Bonham Carter, and then LuPone. Lansbury because even though her interpretation isn't my fave, she's undeniably good and has a different approach. Bonham Carter I LOVE the drama and I'm a bit biased towards her, but Lansbury originated the role. LuPone is talented of course, but I just really prefer less humor for Mrs. Lovett. These are just my personal opinions.
Rest In Peace, Stephen Sondheim. He will always be my favorite Broadway composer.
I’m so glad that Sondheim was able to live such a long and abundant life in which he got to witness his masterpiece translated brilliantly to film. The fact that he loved what Tim Burton did with his material is very endearing to know.
There is quite a bit of difference between the stage show and the movie. But, the changes that were made reflect the different mediums. In the stage show, the Ballad of Sweeney Todd is needed to bookend the show and provide seamless transitions throughout the show. The movie did not need such bookends or transitions. The song 'Look at me' needed to be after 'Greenfinch and linnet bird' to show the love connection. With the movie, only a look was needed to express this emotion. Etc. Etc.
You know your stuff Jon. Stage and film are two very different mediums with different requirements. A single visual can do the work of lots of a dialogue or even a whole song, if properly handled.
I love the fact that he touched on Bernard Herman. I believe there's a reference to the classic Violin part in Psycho, you can find it towards the beginning of Epiphany.
When Mrs. Lovett is reprising Wait, there are similar stabs behind her. There's also a minor second, the Psycho interval, that pretty prominently appears in Greenfinch
3:50 truly brilliant staging. If I were to have directed a film adaptation of Sweeney, Epiphany would be marked by a literal break in the fourth wall and Sweeney staring down the camera. Having him move about like a ghost unseen in the London streets was a stroke of genius.
This man is a genious. I love love love this movie, but almost all the kudos go to Steven Sondheim for being the mastermind behind Sweeney Todd. Burton perfected it in his own way. And Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Edward Sanders..all the actors in this are completely amazing! Without Sondheim though, the musical never would've even existed.
...I wanna meet him!
HE IS A GENIUS!! SUPER TALENTED AND UNDERSTANDS WORDS SO PERFECTLY FOR MUSIC!!
Stephen Sondheim: may his memory be a blessing
I'm talking about the film version in comparison to the original stage show, which at the time of the film, was the only stage version there was. The "revisal" is a combination of the stage and screen versions. That's my point, is that the film version of Cabaret actually took complete songs out and replaced them with entirely new ones. The story is completely shifted, characters and their relationships with each other are different, etc. Sweeney Todd is an incredibly faithful adaptation.
I lvoe how he says that this is a different "film on stage musical" hes right, It really does depend on what you saw first, If you saw the movie first, and haven't seen the stage production then ya your going to have a different opinon about it. Its just like the 2004 version of The phantom of the Opera. everyone has their views. I love all of it.
It depends on what version of Cabaret you saw. The latest vogue in revivals of past shows on broadway and the subsequent small theatre productions is to do what many are referring to as a "revisal." This was done to the revival of Cabaret in 1998. Between the film version of Cabaret directed by Bob Fosse and the "revisal" of Cabaret, the former would be the most faithful to the original version produced and directed by Hal Prince on broadway in 1966.
Wow. That's cool. I didn't even know who Sondheim was, and I went on Wikipedia and read all about the origin of Sweeney Todd. I discovered that Sonheim wrote one of my favorite songs from a different musical. Small world.
I think it depends whether you can approach things with a totally open mind. I loved the film and I love the stage musical too and I'm happy to mix opinions rather than have it in black and white. For example I liked the way they used actors without singing expirence so that it became about acting as much as it was about singing but on the other hand I still think Patti Lupone is the best Mrs. Lovett ever.
+Samantha Walsh Uh, yeah, Sondheim also did Into the Woods, which was also really great.
I agree with you. They changed much more in the "Cabaret" film than they did in the "Sweeney Todd" film actually...But, you know, Sondheim doesn't really like "Cabaret", I think...*grins*
Brilliant, but the film version of Cabaret is nothing like the stage version. It takes far more liberties than Sweeney Todd did.
Nice interview.
Wow he's brilliant
@JollyMe08 Oh don't be silly. Burton first approached Sondheim about his adaptation idea almost 2 decades ago. He wasn't known in film as he is these days.
He's such a genius!
Amazing how people who love the musical, just as people who love Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory curse Johnny Depp and Tim Burton up and down, and yet they were given the thumbs up by the people close to (if not THE) source of the original inspiration. Isn't that odd?
He is extremly cool :)
Ahhhh! I love just getting a peak into that genius' mind. I liked how he was very objective about his view on the movie. He didn't quite say whether he liked that his masterpiece was altered and cut, but remained professional and used great tact.
Tim had a lot of freedom to make the story more cinematic but Sondheim selected the orchestrator and had cast approval. So he had a lot of input that was contractually guaranteed but he didn't try to interfere too much. I think he wanted to see how a top notch film director who absolutely loved the musical would handle it.
Not Wicked! - That's Stephen Schwartz!
Does anyone know what else Sondheim did? I'm only familiar with Sweeney Todd.
Sondheim is probably the greatest broadway composer in hipstory. His other credits include West Side Story, Follies, Gypsy, Into the Woods and many more. Check out his wikipedia biography, it's breathtaking.
its mr. filch from harry potter
Omg he's so hot
@boooohoo9 carousel was written by rodgers and hammerstein
genius!
Of course he is. He's even Jewish.
@boooohoo9 Carousel??
less
@emmyrossumfn101 WICKED, Into the Woods, Assassins, Company, .. a ton of stuff. worth looking into
Brittni Campbell And Sunday in the Park with George!!! Cole Porter's true successor.
Hahahaha! No it's definitely not!
Julia Mackenzie is the best Mrs Lovett I have ever seen.
Lansbury is over the top.
H.Bonham Carter is nowhere.
Lupone.Terrible.
madgeson I absolutely agree!!!
madgeson They have different interpretations on playing Mrs. Lovett.
Theater is supposed to be over the top. If you see a UA-cam video where Sondheim is teacher a master class you’ll see him telling the students playing Sweeney and Lovett, “Don’t be afraid to overact.”
My order would be Lansbury, Bonham Carter, and then LuPone. Lansbury because even though her interpretation isn't my fave, she's undeniably good and has a different approach. Bonham Carter I LOVE the drama and I'm a bit biased towards her, but Lansbury originated the role. LuPone is talented of course, but I just really prefer less humor for Mrs. Lovett. These are just my personal opinions.
Lupone killed it in the 2005 revival! I wasn't a fan of her in the Lincoln center concert video.