Stage vs. Movie: What's the best Sweeney Todd
It's been a 12-year debate for the Sweeney Todd fandom: which is the better production, Tim Burton's 2007 movie version, or the original version on Broadway? This post is here as a way to compare the two to one another. Enjoy!
PLOT:
Movie-
-same as stage production, but still cuts some minor plot points for times purpose
-does help make the plot more streamline and fit for a movie
-cuts some scenes where Johanna is a badass
Stage production-
-MUCH longer production
-doesn't skip over parts of subplot
-makes for a very long, but still entertaining musical
MUSIC:
Movie-
-far fewer songs (cut for time, mostly)
-good singing! I actually really like the voices in this! Helena Bonham Carter, Johnny Depp, Alan Rickmen, and all the other singers in this are actually really good, and their voices fit the tone of the movie
-has almost all the main songs, but also doesn't have the opening and chorus songs, e.g., there is no SWING YOUR RAZOR HIGH, SWEENEY
Stage Production-
-has many songs
-has the awesome opening and chorus songs!
-not great for people who don't love the more or less obscure songs, but that really varies from person to person
ACTING (MRS LOVETT):
Movie-
-I personally really like Helena's more dark take on the role. She's a lot more subtle than Angela Lansbury or Patty Lupone (or most of the stage actresses who have played this character) in part because Tim Burton himself asked that she was a lot less dramatic with the role bc it wasn't a stage production.
-has pretty apparent infatuation with Todd, mixed with a scary and darker feeling to her, and a cleverness, while also having this kind of naive feeling.
-I. Love. Her. Voice. Like. It's so pretty.
-however, the fact that she is a lot less expressive loses a lot of the sort of all-over-the-place-ness that makes the character so iconic
Stage Production-
-while this could apply to any of the actresses who have played Lovett in a show, I'm comparing the movie to the original Lovett, Angela Lansbury.
-She's so charming! She's just so...everywhere!
-the worst pies in London is her best song!! She's insanely expressive and funny, and I would argue a lot more interesting than Todd's character a lot of the time
-While her singing voice is good, It isn't a lot less smooth to listen to than Helena's
-this is made up for tho due to the acting
-some people aren't a huge fan of the extreme acting, and find it too "everywhere"
ACTING (SWEENEY TODD):
Movie-
-a very dark version of Sweeney, a bit more so than the stage version
-Johnny Depp does not have a trained singing voice, though his singing isn't bad
-I actually really like the way he performs a lot of his songs, and think he really sells the part
-acting is really good
-Hot Topic Emo Barber. Fight me.
-I love the dynamics between him and Lovett
Stage Production-
-Len Cariou has a great singing voice!
- Honestly so great matching Angela Lansbury
- Just...great with her. Honestly.
- Doesn't have as dark of a feeling to his part as Depp does
OTHER DETAILS:
Movie-
-JOHANNA ISN'T AS BADASS AND IT PISSES ME OFF LIKE WTF
-love the general aesthetic!! I love how dark it feels. It's not very comedy-like, unlike the stage Production
-TOBY
-TOBY IS ADORABLE AND I LOVE HIM
-The movie just has like...a cast of entirely Harry Potter characters
-have I mentioned how much I love Helena Bonham Carter in her role??
Stage Production-
-cool set pieces!!
-Johanna is really cool omg
-she. She kills a man.
-I know I've mentioned her a lot, but Angela Lansbury is so hilarious! She and Cariou are a perfect match for their roles
OVERALL VERDICT:
Overall, it's honestly unfair to compare the two, to a certain extent. The art of movie acting vs live acting is super different, and both are super respectable. I don't think one Production is really better than the other! But as far as the one I (Mod Wrenn) like the most? I love the movie. In part because it's the most accessible and I love the aesthetic and the actors who sing in it, but this doesn't make it the "better" Production. If I actually compared all my points, the original stage Production would probably come out on top, but it's unfair to compare a two act show to a shorter movie.
Let us know which version of this awesome musical you like best in the tags, via comment, or by adding onto the post when you reblog!
Have a great day!
-Mod Wrenn
