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Sweeney Todd
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Sweeney Todd is a fictional character who first appeared as the protagonist of the Victorian penny dreadful The String of Pearls (1846–47).The tale became a staple of Victorian melodrama and London urban legend, and has been retold many times since, most notably in the Tony award-winning Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler.
Claims that Sweeney Todd was a historical person are strongly disputed by scholars, although possible legendary prototypes exist.
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Filmography of Sweeney Todd (4 films)
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, 1h56Directed by Tim Burton
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Horror, Musical
Themes Inspiré de l'univers des contes et légendes, Films about magic and magicians, Films about music and musicians, Théâtre, Serial killer films, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals
Actors Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Jayne Wisener, Sacha Baron Cohen
Rating72%
In 1846, a barber named Benjamin Barker arrives in London, accompanied by sailor Anthony Hope ("No Place Like London"). Fifteen years earlier, he had been falsely convicted and sentenced to penal transportation from London by the corrupt Judge Turpin, who had lusted after Barker's wife Lucy ("The Barber and His Wife"). Barker adopts the alias "Sweeney Todd" and returns to his old Fleet Street shop, situated above Mrs. Nellie Lovett's meat pie shop ("The Worst Pies in London"). From her, he learns that Turpin raped Lucy, who then poisoned herself with arsenic. The couple's daughter, Johanna, is now Turpin's ward, and, like her mother before her, the object of Turpin's lust ("Poor Thing"). Todd vows revenge, and re-opens his barber shop after Mrs. Lovett returns his straight razors to him ("My Friends"). While roaming London, Anthony becomes enamored of Johanna, but is caught by Turpin and driven away by his corrupt associate, Beadle Bamford ("Green Finch and Linnet Bird", "Alms! Alms!", "Johanna").
The Tale of Sweeney Todd (1998)
, 1h38Directed by John Schlesinger
Genres Drama, Thriller, Horror
Themes Serial killer films
Actors Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Campbell Scott, Katharine Schlesinger
Rating60%
Set in 19th Century London, the story focuses on Sweeney Todd (Ben Kingsley), a murderous barber whose business provides him with two profitable sidelines, the sale of his victims' jewelry and the disposal of their bodies to his mistress Mrs. Lovett (Joanna Lumley), who uses them to prepare meat pies for her unsuspecting clientele.
, 1h16Directed by George King
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Horror, Historical
Themes Serial killer films
Actors Tod Slaughter, Eve Lister, Bruce Seton, Davina Craig, Jerry Verno, Norman Pierce
Rating57%
Sweeney Todd (Tod Slaughter) is a barber with a shop near the docks of London.
Sweeney Todd (1928)
Directed by Walter West
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Horror, Crime
Themes Films based on plays
Actors Moore Marriott, Harry Lorraine
Rating63%