Sondheim on Sweeney (Film)

[Julian2]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 9:52pm

"IT has got a lot of blood in it and that's fine by me," says Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim of director Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd. The film version of Sondheim's musical about the demon barber of Fleet Street finished filming in Britain a couple of weeks ago.
A self-confessed movie buff, Sondheim says writer John Logan asked him for his opinion on the screenplay. He understood that filming the whole musical would make the film too long: some of the cuts were judicious and some not. "There are songs that have been cut, and cuts within some of the songs, but generally it is pretty much the score," he says. He was speaking at Sydney's Theatre Royal last Friday. "The plot is very little changed ... It is pretty faithful." Johnny Depp sings his way through the title role: the actor played in a rock band before becoming a star of television, then film. The cast includes Helena Bonham Carter (as Mrs Lovett), Alan Rickman (Judge Turpin), Timothy Spall (Beadle Bamford) and Sacha Baron Cohen (Signor Adolfo Pirelli). Sondheim says he has never been tempted to write for film: "Film is a director's medium and I would not have the patience to direct even if I had the talent for it."



All The Stuff on Sweeney I Posted, But Here's The Link.

Updated On: 7/12/07 at 09:52 PM

[think_of_me2007]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:09pm

I guess this puts me a little more at ease about things and songs getting cut.
Thanks for the link/post.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:14pm

So do you get the feeling KISS ME might still be there? I can see songs like AH, MISS and WAIT getting cut. But KISS ME is just to spectacular to cut. I can kind of deal with cutting the quartet. But the duet has to be there. And if the quartet is there..I'll be one happy boy.
But if BY THE SEA gets cut..that would be a tragedy. I assume they'll keep that number. Though it doesn't really advance the plot, it's a hell of a song.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:24pm

I think "By the Sea" would stop the movie cold by that point in the film (unless it is somehow changed around). If Meryl Streep had been cast then I would really hope for it to be in the final cut just to hear her sing it but is anyone really thrilled to hear Helena Boham Carter's voice? (I know, I know, I need to get over it)

[B3TA07]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:27pm

^After hearing her sing on the "Corpse Bride" soundtrack, I feel like her singing could go either way.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:28pm

But.. without WAIT and BY THE SEA there wouldn't be much for Lovett song wise. That's cutting two of her major songs. Maybe they'll include a truncated version.

[SweeneyPhanatic]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:48pm

I imagine that most of the songs retained for the OBC hilihhgts disc would be used in the film, with the exception of the quartet at the end of "Kiss me/Ladies in Their Sensitivities." And if they were to cut any of Levett's numbers, I'd expect "Wait" to be the one to go. I hope "City On Fire," or at least part of it, makes it to the screen.

Updated On: 7/12/07 at 10:48 PM

[vfd88]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:54pm

This makes me feel more at ease, knowing Sondheim has (sort of) put his stamp of approval on it.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:55pm

I really hope they didn't cut By The Sea. It's my favorite number in the show, and I think it's really central to the character of Ms. Lovett.

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 2:08am

It's fine with me if they trim Kiss Me as long as they don't cut the part where the music swells and Anthony and Johanna finally start singing in perfect unison...everytime I hear this, I think this has to be one of the greatest bits of music ever written (you know the part, ljay889)

[musicalkid]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 8:42am

although "city on fire" is not that cinematic (very discriptive and more suitable for the stage), I can't see burton cutting that song. the lyrics are pure Burton.- so dark and macabre, i can't see burton choosing to cut that.

Posted: 7/13/07 at 8:50am

I knwo exactly the part of Kiss Me you mean and I have to agree--it's one of those bits of music that can give me the shivers--and I always have to repeat the cd after it's played

E

[Kringas]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 9:04am

You should ask SeanMartin. He knows all when it comes to Sondheim. He reads between the lines.

[Pippin]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 12:22pm

I hope that whatever does get cut ends up in the DVD extras- and lots of it.

I have such high hopes and optimism for this film, that I don't want to be let down.

[Kringas]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 12:24pm

Does anyone know how they will excuse the singing in this? Will all songs take place on the stage at the Globe?

[Pippin]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 12:28pm

I'm not sure, Kringas, but since the prologue easily lends itself to the show within a show concept, I would think so.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 12:30pm

That's simple enough.

When they sing "He heard the music that nobody heard," Johnny will look straight into the camera and wink.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 12:54pm

Oh Kringas, so sweet. Thanks for thinking of me yet again.

:: insert eye roll here ::

Updated On: 7/13/07 at 12:54 PM

[Kringas]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 12:55pm

You're welcome!

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 1:09pm

Of course, you and I will not discuss exactlhy *what* cuts Sondheim allowed, because God knows, we wouldnt want you to find yourself in something you cant get out of, would we. Never mind that when we had this "discussion" a couple of months ago, I noted a few things about what I couldnt see Sondheim allowing to be cut that you were ADAMANT would be (Am I wrong, or was it you who claimed to be in the ensemble in the recording studio for the soundtrack? I could of course be wrong, but do please correct me on that point if need be.). Thus far, no specifics have been cited, so kindly keep whatever gloating you feel necessary in cheque until the film actually makes it out of the can.

[Kringas]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 1:13pm

Nope, wasn't me. I was never adamant. I just allowed that sometimes people are right on this board and that it had been mentioned that the shooting script that was going around had some cuts in it. Never claimed to be in a recording studio. Never claimed to be able to read between the lines, either.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 1:57pm

Has Sondheim written and credit songs for Oscars noms?

[B3TA07]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 2:07pm

^No, I heard they're just going to reuse "Learn To Be Lonely."

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 2:10pm

That is stupid. Sometimes best song is the only chance these films have.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 2:13pm

How are you that gullible? Come on, it's me.