- Published: January 3, 2022
- Updated: January 3, 2022
- University / College: University of Sussex
- Level: Secondary School
- Language: English
- Downloads: 19
Running Head: SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street of Your institution
Discussion
“ Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” tells the story of London’s Benjamin Barker who loves his young beautiful wife and child only to have them taken away from him when he is unjustly sent to prison in Australia. The life of Barker’s wife is destroyed by the corrupt judge who wrongly sends him to prison, rapes his wife and takes Barker’s child as his ward. After fifteen years of wrongful imprisonment, Barker escapes from prison and makes his way back to London.
Once back home, Barker returns to his barbershop where he meets up with the landlady still there after all those years and who sells the worst meat pies in London. The landlady tells Barker of the fate of his wife and child. Barker changes his name to Sweeney Todd and reopens his barbershop with a different take on the business.
Barker/Todd is so enraged that he becomes psychotic. The refurbished barber shop has a newly built chute that sends his customers down to the basement dead with their throats freshly
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slashed. The landlady uses the dead bodies to cut up and to make what is now the best tasting bestselling meat pies in London.
Johnny Depp plays the title character and does a fine job singing and dancing. Oh? Did I forget to mention this is a musical/dance film? It is! Amidst the murder and mayhem is the showcasing of Depp’s talents as a singer. Johnny Depp’s first ambition was to be a rock singer, not an actor. In Sweeny Todd he combines both talents very effectively.
Though no one can say whether Sweeny Todd actually existed, the film has bits and pieces of historical basis. 85% of London was destroyed in a great fire in 1666. When rebuilding was accomplished by 1750, it was done quickly due to a population surge and the resulting haphazard design was a perfect setting for criminals lying in wait. This is the setting for the film. Additionally, up until the mid-1800’s many a barber also functioned as a surgeon. (Taylor 2001).
Sweeney Todd the 2007 film adaption of a successful Broadway musical combines murder, gore, comedy, music, dance and romance and does so quite effectively due to strong performances by all the actors. It also leaves the moviegoer somewhat stunned that a tale combining so many oddball elements can be so entertaining.
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REFERENCES
Taylor, Mark. 2001. Attend the tale of Sweeny Todd. Retrieved from http://www. pbs. org