Not your typical Ichabod Crane meets the headless horseman tale . . .
In most
Sleepy Hollow stories I've read or heard Ichabod is a bumbling school teacher who is tricked into riding out at night and falls victim to the famed headless horseman (Christopher Walken) who rides through the woods in the night searching for his head - or anyone else's for that matter. In this story however, Constable Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) is a man of science, forensic science to be exact, and he is sent to Sleepy Hollow to solve the case of the murders that have been taking place there.
In the course of all of the head loppings, Ichabod falls in love with Katrina Anne Van Tassel (Christina Ricci) who happens to be the daughter of the richest man in Sleepy Hollow. She and Young Masbath (Marc Pickering) assist Ichabod in what most of the other townsfolk are too afraid to do - confront the horseman and find out what flesh and blood person is behind these murders.
Tim Burton outdoes himself in the telling of this tale in his own dark world style. Although I have to admit, the first time I saw Sleepy Hollow I was a little bit disheartened by the change in the old tale but it is a great story nonetheless. Johnny Depp is fabulous as Crane with just the right amount of bumbling mixed in to showcase his vulnerability and Christina Ricci as Katrina is both beautiful and bewitching. I also can't forget to mention Christopher Walken as the Hessian Horseman. It's amazing how without saying a word he can still be terrifying.
I do highly recommend this film, my only word of warning is - this ain't your momma's
Sleepy Hollow.
Sleepy Hollow Movie Cast and Credits
Directed by
Tim Burton
Writing credits (WGA)
Washington Irving (story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow)
Kevin Yagher (screen story) &
Andrew Kevin Walker (screen story)
Andrew Kevin Walker (screenplay)
Cast (in credits order)
Johnny Depp .... Constable Ichabod Crane
Christina Ricci .... Katrina Anne Van Tassel
Miranda Richardson .... Lady Mary Van Tassel/The Western Woods Crone
Michael Gambon .... Baltus Van Tassel
Casper Van Dien .... Brom Van Brunt
Jeffrey Jones .... Reverend Steenwyck
Christopher Lee .... Burgomaster
Richard Griffiths .... Magistrate Samuel Philipse
Ian McDiarmid .... Dr. Thomas Lancaster
Michael Gough .... Notary James Hardenbrook
Marc Pickering .... Young Masbath
Lisa Marie .... Ichabod\'s Mother
Steven Waddington .... Mr. Killian
Christopher Walken .... The Hessian Horseman
Claire Skinner .... Midwife Elizabeth \'Beth\' Killian
Alun Armstrong .... High Constable
Mark Spalding .... Jonathan Masbath
Jessica Oyelowo .... Sarah, The Servant Girl
Tony Maudsley .... Van Ripper
Peter Guinness .... Ichabod\'s Father
Nicholas Hewetson .... Glenn
Orlando Seale .... Theodore
Sean Stephens .... Thomas Killian
Gabrielle Lloyd .... Dr. Lancaster\'s Wife
Robert Sella .... Dirk Van Garrett
Michael Feast .... Spotty Man
Jamie Foreman .... Thuggish Constable
Philip Martin Brown .... Constable #1
Sam Fior .... Young Ichabod Crane
Tessa Allen-Ridge .... Young Lady Van Tassel (as Tessa Allen-Ridge)
Cassandra Farndale .... Young Crone
Lily Phillips .... Girl #2
Bianca Nicholas .... Little Girl
Paul Brightwell .... Rifleman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Layla Alexander .... Widow (uncredited)
Martin Landau .... Peter Van Garrett (uncredited)
Keeley O\'Hara .... Widow Emily Winship (uncredited)More Reviews of Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow Movie Review and Information Page at The Internet Movie DatabaseRoger Ebert's Review of Sleepy Hollow
