Sweeney Todd: How To Adapt - Bobby Burns

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[@SoundsLikeSandy]

"Films are a completely different medium; once they're released they never change." George Lucas - "Hold my beer."

[@orfeas248]

Jam Jones lol

[@MoviesAreWesomeYeah]

Hahaha

[@cathy-pz2to]

Lol

[@Zucifer8]

I just knewww someone was going to mention Lucas...LOL

[@overdev1993]

Georg Lucas said something about art and it should never be changed >.>

[@YasugoLiehu]

I feel like the best way to distinguish between the stage production and the film is to consider this; The stage production is _telling_ you a story, whereas the film has you _watching_ the story unfold. Think about it, the exaggerated movements and expressions in the stage production are the type someone would make while they're telling you the story, whereas the restrained and grounded nature of the film is probably how the story would have actually played out, sans the embellishment that comes from secondhand retelling.

[@fangsabre]

That's rather ingenious to think of. Especially with the removing of the costumed at the end of the play. Not to mention it explains the tone difference too. The play is a play about the tale of Sweeney Todd, the movie IS the story of Sweeney Todd

[@ZeranZeran]

You just perfectly summed up why I hate Plays. So over-dramatic. But makes a lot of sense.

[@rosemargie257]

Pretty fuckin Genius

[@stingerjohnny9951]

@@jswid2251 You say that as if anyone these days has common sense.

[@Haze-xr9rc]

It also depicts Sweeney Todd's mental state very well with the lighting. You mentioned the fiery colors to depict rage, but there'a flashback to when he was happy with his wife and daughter where London is bright and cheerful with people wearing flowery outfits. This grimy, disgusting city really shows what he meant by "no, there's no place like *London*."

[@ackee39]

I think you can distinguish the two just from their openings: The stage version is the tale of sweeney todd, while the movie *IS* sweeney todd.

[@atngo15]

Thanks for praising the Sweeney Todd film without disdaining the original musical or musical theatre in general.

[@fixthesegames6303]

One of my favorite movies. Shame it didn't get higher recognition than it did

[@ZeranZeran]

Literally the ONLY musical I've ever enjoyed to this day in my late 20s. I hate musicals, but I love this movie deeply. I think I know every song.

[@AgentRedgrave]

I never saw it in theaters. I did rent the DVD. Got my own copy, and rewatched it a few times. Recently rewatched it on Netflix, and it's on my "list" of movies I wanna get on blu ray.

[@benbrian9884]

It got an Oscar but still it feels underrated

[@onlookerofthings6029]

Seems a downright shame...

[@JorgeGomez-hx5uu]

@@onlookerofthings6029 seems an awful waste

[@bennyboii14]

Tim Burton's use of color correction never ceases to amaze me. (btw great vid keep it up)

[@michaeledwards6683]

It's a little overzealous at times, but I usually like it.

[@dante224real1]

sweeney todd is probably tim burton's best film. every moment and feeling in its approach and rewatchability. it has a thorough knowledge of its setting, placement in time, and its core motivation for the show being presented. its a fantastic tale. i think its his best movie because it was an embrace of the original creator's love for their work with the authors and tim getting to meet for the first time.

[@BrianDePalmaII]

I fuckin' love Tim Burton's version

[@Fargoth_Ur]

I can't believe that this movie is already gonna be 10 years old...

[@chloeburbank_]

you'd be surprised

[@StephenLeGresley]

I once did an essay like this for a class at my college and honestly I think you surpassed me on this subject. And as a former film student I want to tell everyone, if you have friends who are into film making, watch this vid because Bobby has it down perfectly and you will learn valuable information on adaption. Thanks for a great vid.

[@linkfan160]

"Tim Burton doesn't enjoy musicals". WOW. That is surprising, considering what a great job he did with Sweeney Todd. Great video!!

[@Skye_Writer]

According to Burton, he has always loved this particular musical and this was a passion project of his for a long, long time. I just wish he had stuck with his original decision to NOT give Helena the role of Lovett. She acted it just fine, but she was in no way vocally capable of it. Lovett's role has always been one of the most demanding and difficult ones for musical actresses because of the way Sondheim wrote it. It requires a powerful voice with lots of range, and Burton originally told Helena that she just couldn't manage it. He was right. I think Catherine Zeta-Jones might have been a better fit for the role. Depp, however, who does have the vocals for it has not been confident with his own voice since Crybaby, when the director decided to dub his musical numbers, and had said he would never do another musical. He had to be talked into this role and did it only because Burton was such a good friend and was hounding him. In some behind the scenes clips, you can hear Burton telling Depp during a cut "It does not sound as bad as you think it does." Personally, when I listen to the soundtrack of this movie, I tend to skip Lovett's and Joanna's solos and stick to Anthony and Todd's songs. Everyone else sounds off-key.

[@theomerta2012]

This film is definitely underrated. I wasn't hoping for much when I searched for a review, but not only was there one, Bobby made it! I'm really glad he likes it too!

[@MyNamesChai]

Insightful as always.

[@shooteroffuture]

"Once they are released they are never change" someone please inform mister Lucas

[@cromulentwords]

Though I thought Depp's version of the title character was appropriate for the film adaptation, what with the detached attitude, voice that has no middle ground between monotone and yelling, and the utter blindness to anything irrelevant to killing Judge Turpin, the stage performances, at least the ones with George Hearn, possess a gleefulness that make him seem both more relatable and more insane. The "A Little Priest" number is a highlighted example of this contrast. Onstage, Sweeney is smiling joyfully, full of excitement about Mrs. Lovett's new plan, and swaps punny jokes with her while actually making eye contact. If Sweeney Todd made eye contact with you in the movie, it usually meant he was about to kill you gruesomely. Johnny Depp looked miserable the entire film. George Hearn looked like he was having the time of his life every moment he was onstage.

[@fangsabre]

Yeah. Someone pointed out to me in a different comment that the easiest way to differentiate the movie and the musical is that in the musical, they perform it as a play. Like they take off their costumes, theres 4th wall breaks. They play the story as a play telling the story of Sweeney Todd. The movie is supposed to BE the story of Sweeney Todd, not a telling of the story. It makes sense for the play yo have a more animate and joyful depiction off effectively a sociopathic murderer villain. And in the movie it's just showing a man who is so driven by a desire to kill, and kill for vengeance, that hes miserable and hates everyone and everything

[@somedumbass3307]

I'm simple girl. I see Sweeny Todd in the title, I click.

[@spookylad1367]

LOL same

[@fearsomefivefilms]

This is one of your best written video essays to date. Thank you for your thoughtful contribution to KZbin conversation.

[@hbkslazyeye8865]

This is my favorite musical adaptation ever and i appreciate your commentary about such

[@ZeranZeran]

Literally the ONLY musical I've ever enjoyed to this day in my late 20s. I hate musicals, but I love this movie deeply. I think I know every song.

[@aracnariser9779]

I LOVE YOUR CHANNEL. I know your gonna be big someday and i cant wait to be able to say ive been here since day one

[@lucybrooks9780]

Aracnariser he did it.

[@declanfraney6372]

Kiss Me is an important song though. It’s literally the only thing that connects the two lovers. Also, the “attend the tale of Sweeney Todd” doesn’t just mean attend, as in watch or pay attention to. At the end, we realize that it also means attend, or use it as a warning

[@supershepherd]

"Attend The Tale of Sweeney Todd" was cut because it simply didn't fit the direction the movie was going in.

[@supershepherd]

And for "Kiss Me", it wouldn't have made sense since the plan to run away was already made when Johanna through her key to the boy

[@tieflingcorpse9817]

Personally I'd love to see a Tim burston adaptation/reboot of a Christmas carol

[@orfeas248]

doctour two skull yesssss

[@theGagarianplanet]

that sounds absolutely genius

[@crackedbatstudios]

theGagarianplanet I'd like him to reboot Haunted mansion.

[@2010Wilde]

he should do it as a stop motion film. I've always wanted to see a stop motion adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Imagine how much fun he could have with the set designs and what not.

[@fenster666]

I said the same thing about Alice in Wonderland once.

[@eloise8644]

Damn Bobby, for a person who regularly covers non-musical topics, this is extremely insightful. I got from Nope that you liked Sweeney but never expected this. These type of musical/musical-movie analysis videos should become a series or even a separate channel. Well done!

[@teddypattinson5772]

I've been waiting for someone to make a video essay on Sweeney Todd for years!!!!!! thank u for recognising good adaptations. i know the soundtrack back to front

[@anneklj]

I miss this Bobby

[@CityofFilth]

7:39 - 7:56 Let us take a moment and appreciate that awesome syncing. I could mouth along perfectly with adaption's Sweeney, and still be exactly on point when the original Sweeney Todd actually sings. Nice bit of symbolism. That's a perfect note to end on for this video.

[@idontwantahandlewhymustidothis]

Damn Bobby, this is probably your best video

[@GuavaThyme]

Sweeney Todd is definitely one my favorite adaptations. You really hit the nail on the head with this one, good stuff as always man.

[@thewillsterpro3051]

A bobby burns review on my favorite movie, sounds great

[@Andrew_Franklin]

Love it. Sweeney Todd should really be in the conversation more for best musicals. Great video

[@nutellabuttercups4127]

I always enjoy these essay type videos of yours. They're very interesting and well edited. Sweeney Todd is one of my personal favorite musicals.

[@immieb9860]

I love it! I always thought this adaption went under appreciated and now I can perfectly explain why its good to even the fussiest of musical fans.

[@balls3444]

Booby you and Ralph are too talented and funny to be on KZbin

[@friendlyfiddler5727]

REZZY Or is it that many others in KZbin aren't talented enough?

[@Slax305]

REZZY Yeah I love booby

[@josh.0220]

REZZY well n-not really, yeah they're funny but what other platform do they deserve?

[@danyul4u186]

I think while they both have some flaws, I do overall agree

[@ratman9220]

TV would throttle his format though too many people in suits telling creators what they can and can't do because the quality of the content comes second to ratings and money in the TV industry that's why KZbin is the best platform for video creators imo, there's comparatively very little restriction on what they can do

[@ThatOneGuy7550]

Awesome video essay, Bobby!

[@JoshEssex]

This is really well thought out and articulate. As you seem to be doing a lot with these video essays, you nailed it!

[@austinsop7434]

This was fantastic. It's my problem with most films adapted from plays (and though I liked it, my main problem with Fences). They feel like plays, not like movies. Thanks for finding a better way to articulate it lol.

[@Little1Cave]

Austin's OP I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who thought that about Fences. Lol. Washington is great and Davis is spectacular, but it is shot WAY too much like a play and could’ve been more stylized to fit the language of film.

[@seretonindealer9440]

This is an old video, but I really liked this. I've liked Sweeney Todd since I was ten, but was never able to articulate my feelings for this movie. This video took the words out of my mind, and the movie will always have a special place in my heart.

[@benvillegasrandle]

Small fact check. The Opening number and subsequent version through the narrative were going to be in the movie, with Christopher Lee playing the lead Ghost of Sweeney's victims, who would sing the song. But Depp's daughter almost died, he flew back to France and the scenes were cut to allow the film to go on hiatus without running behind schedule, something which Burton is celebrated (and frequently re-hired) for not doing.

[@VoidBoi420]

Wow I was thinking about yesterday. I love Burton's adaption and I wanted to figure out what he did it make it so good.

[@rosendomunoz3872]

I think this is your best video essay so far. Congrats man! You can tell in every video the amount of effort poured into the making of it.

[@dragonbowrghr5937]

Ayy Sweeney Todd is one of my favorite movies.

[@hollynicole5667]

This is an amazing film

[@duvan.deschain]

Not only is this a great adaptation (I've only seen the original show online) but it is also, in my opinion, Burton's last good film. Good video man!

[@sg5372]

Never thought I’d be watching sweeny todd then finding bobby burns making a video about it 😂

[@ashleyanne929]

i saw Johnny Depp in his Sweeney outfit pop up in my suggested and as i clicked on a different video my mind kind of clicked and i was like "wait. was that bobby?" so i quickly flicked back and i nearly squealed because Sweeney Todd is one of my favourite movies, its just such a wonderful adaptation with the dramatic and off coloured blood giving a nod back to its theatre roots i just love it so much. oh yeah. and I've completely forgotten what the other video i clicked on was.

[@user-kz5vh4it5k]

Sweeney Todd is literally my favorite movie as well as musical

[@tearoses9940]

The problem with the whispering is the fact that even with the volume turned up, I still had trouble hearing what they were saying. I only knew what was going on because I’m so familiar with the musical. The Beadle was one of the few characters I could actually hear perfectly.

[@laurenmitchell6452]

This video is so interesting, totally holds your attention! love the new format to the videos, please do more like this Bobby!!

[@daveflowers9320]

I love films and musicals so this was very lovely to watch. 😊

[@nicolle2126]

Got here from a shoutout by Sideways. Your stuff is really good man

[@davidalex8403]

I just love your videos bobby. I bet you were great at school presentations. At least I've adapted your method of communication to my school reports and they've been awesomely accepted

[@aaron999st]

Talk to me about fight club please

[@ridwana4037]

That's against the rule, isn't it?

[@aaron999st]

fuck! you're right!!!

[@hse970]

Oh my god someone is talking about Sweeny Todd. Good video as always :)

[@thatonepunkguy]

Nice to see someone who likes an adaptation of a musical show while still acknowledging its differences for once

[@EpictasticJoshuaYT]

I love the movie version, Bobby.

[@tamerebel]

This is one of my all time favourite films, fantastic analysis!

[@pamelawalton8394]

Wonderful job here! Great work!

[@SoFrec]

Great video! Appreciated the perspective. Knew very little about the play, so that was insightful new detail. helped me look at the movie through a new lens.

[@reelterrors5504]

Great vid on one of my favorite movies Bobby

[@PrimeHylian]

Another amazing video Bobby. I recently saw an excellent Sweeney Todd performance a few months ago, so this is really resonating with me. I might have to give Burton's adaption a try. Thanks for an great and interesting watch!

[@bernardocosta01123]

Great video Bobby!

[@JulietteVeronica1201]

What I would love is if a director gave Sweeney Todd the tone and feel that the movie gave, but the additional story/songs that the stage version gave. I absolutely adore both versions for obvious different reasons, but if I was forced to choose I would go with the movie. As a writer and a performer-in-training, I'm very much engrained in the entertainment industry (not professionally, but based of the amount of experience I've had(I've been in 17 shows in my life, started performing when I was 2, and self taught myself how to write stories/poems/songs for 9 years)) so I'm very picky on my taste with stories and that goes for movies, books, musicals, anything really. I always look for rich plots, and most of the time they tend to be a bit richer when they're tragic or dramatic. That doesn't mean I don't love comedies or light hearted stories, it's just deeper ones tend to stand out more in my personal preference.

[@doctorpig5617]

I absolutely loved watching the movie version recently, even though I was terrified of this story as a kid.

[@KuroChris5]

Love your video essays and thanks, now I can't stop singing Sweeney Todd songs.

[@MorphingReality]

Great content as always!

[@theGagarianplanet]

I loved this! I love Sweeney Todd as well, and I couldn't agree more with what you said.

[@gilliangilliangillian]

My freshman year of high school, we performed Sweeney Todd for our spring musical and I was cast as Johanna. It's a really fun production to take on, even if it is massive and technically difficult. A few friends and I watched the movie together at one point, and I thought almost the same things you mentioned in this video. I'm really happy that I found someone who likes the movie adaptation!

[@Razzanonymous]

Bobby if you don't become a film director, you've got the perfect skills for being a film theory teacher

[@99thTuesday]

Great video, Bobby

[@thejoevandotcom]

Yeah you got it you are one of the smartest KZbin critics today

[@friendlyfiddler5727]

Keep the good work Bobby

[@strawberrygamgee2744]

On point as usual, man!

[@MatthewCaunsfield]

Brilliant essay - I now really want to see the stage play!

[@jiffyb333]

Fantastic video!

[@timothydenyer2346]

This was fantastic! Thank you!

[@aspiringjoker2883]

Really would've liked to see my man Johnny take home that Oscar for his performance here, but there was some stiff competition that year. We all knew that it was going to be Daniel Day Lewis in "there will be blood."

[@FlashUltra_]

Love these essays

[@lukehills9833]

Great video!

[@heylookitsbailey15]

I LOVED THIS I LOVE BOBBY

[@mollykoenig7009]

This is the last live action picture from Burton that's any good. Damn I miss him.

[@amandalopes3048]

Love this video!

[@GizmosMonster]

havent seen the play, but Sweeney Todd is my favorite musical that isnt an animated disney movie :p it's great!

[@allmachtigenallergroter5298]

2:33 Okay, but I realllly wish this song was in the movie. Probably wouldn't have fit the tone though

[@soraya-lb4fb]

I loved this so much omg

[@Piuca17]

this is amazing, keep it up!!

[@corvus1374]

damn, Bobby, what an awesome breakdown.

[@vww3606]

The murder she sang

[@supershepherd]

I love this musical soooo much!!!!!!

[@sage4566]

love ya video bobby

[@theeguy9022]

I hate musicals but this one was really moving I think its something to do with the grim and grey feel both if which I live in and love I hate things that are overly bright and happy

[@qlwl8721]

I really like your videos. They're entertaining and interesting.

[@DamienFatePlays]

Great video.

[@victorialombardi5057]

great analysis 👏👏👏👏

[@imrubberandgumhisoka8342]

This is my favorite movie and Musical "Besides Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts" and im glad you made a video about it

[@aname7353]

Please do more videos about musical and/or musical adaptations!

[@jasminkaur5855]

I love this musical

[@TheCoasterrus]

I love Sweeney Todd, both the stage production and film. I do prefer the film because of it's subtleties which for me actually make the film funnier, although I do have a very dark sense of humour. It's my favorite musical film and is definitely my favorite Tim Burton film.

[@LopezTalks]

favorite musical by far. Almost did my own video on it as well, good work.

[@jeskvell3254]

i love this video