Sleepy Hollow
Looking at literature through a director's critical camera lens is an effective way to view a piece of literature as well as history. Through a visual adaptation of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", Tim Burton takes on the challenging task of effectively entertaining an audience as well as retelling a part of history. Burton tries to recapture Irving's story by combining the physical surroundings of the 18th century with the element of Hollywood. Burton's interpretation works adequately in various parts of the movie but eventually takes on a life of its own by the grandiose scene of Hollywood. This portrayal of literature neglects the literary but does attempt to situate the audience historically. Icabod Crane, characterized by Irving as a "tall, but exceedingly lank, with narrow arms and legs, hands that dangled a mile out of his sleeves" (950) dramatically changes in Burton's representation. Burton utilizes the popular young handsome face of Johnny Depp. The identity of Crane drastically changes as this element of Hollywood inserts itself, creating a barrier in portraying Irving's story accurately. The lead male, Depp, enters the town of Sleepy Hollow, not like the lanky man Irving portrays, but exudin
Throughout the movie the viewer gets a glimpse of the harsh reality of the late 1700's, sometimes even extending reality by depicting the manner in which small and large governments assemble. g professionalism and expecting respect from the townspeople. As viewers we watch the scenes as a means not to be educated, but entertained. Other historical misplacements show themselves when Burton sets the story in 1799 approximately twelve years before Irving's setting. The advantages to viewing this movie as a piece of history come from the Gothic scenery of New York in 1799 and the mysteriousness of foreign ideas. Throughout the film her character consistently looks like a person who could have lived in the 18th century. Burton uses too much freedom therefore, making the movie a factitious version of Irving's amazing tale. Irving writes Katrina "was a blooming lass of fresh eighteen. The problems with the film bringing in the past to life comes in when Burton romanticizes too much. Although Crane is inaccurately cast, the character of Katrina Van Tassel played by Christina Ricci, is similar to Irving's description. Crane is sent to investigate the decapitation of several townspeople. Along with the character of Katrina Van Tassel, the environment in which Burton chooses to set the film does represent a true depiction of a small town.
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Acceptance Essays
