Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, nominated for three Academy Awards and celebrated as one of the most popular spy thrillers of all time, NORTH BY NORTHWEST comes to life on the big screenwhen it plays at The Wildey Theater in Edwardsville, IL ( 252 N Main St, Edwardsville, IL 62025) at 7:00pm Tuesday June 8th. $3 (or free with proof of vaccination) Tickets available starting at 3pm day of movie at Wildey Theatre ticket office. Cash or check only. (cash, credit cards accepted for concessions) Lobby opens at 6pm. Attendance limited to 150.
Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason and Martin Landau give fast and furious chase across the country, from the skyscrapers of Manhattan to the dizzying peaks of Mount Rushmore, set to the music of Bernard Herrmann, don’t miss your chance to see NORTH BY NORTHWEST on the big screen
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, nominated for three Academy Awards and celebrated as one of the most popular spy thrillers of all time, NORTH BY NORTHWEST comes to life on the big screen Monday July 22nd as part of the ‘Classics on the Loop’ series. Showtimes are 4pm and 7pm. Admission is $7.A Facebook invite can be found HERE
Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason and Martin Landau give fast and furious chase across the country, from the skyscrapers of Manhattan to the dizzying peaks of Mount Rushmore, set to the music of Bernard Herrmann, don’t miss your chance to seeNORTH BY NORTHWEST on the big screen
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, nominated for three Academy Awards and celebrated as one of the most popular spy thrillers of all time, NORTH BY NORTHWEST comes to life on the big screen at Powell Hall in St. Louis (718 N Grand Blvd). Join the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra as they perform Bernard Hermann’s exhilarating, gentle, pulsating and moving score live!
The performances are Saturday, February 24, 2018 7:00PM and Sunday February 25th at 3:00PM. Tickets can be purchased HERE
Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason and Martin Landau give fast and furious chase across the country, from the skyscrapers of Manhattan to the dizzying peaks of Mount Rushmore, set to the music of Bernard Herrmann, vibrant VistaVision cinematography — and, in this special presentation with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Blockbuster action-adventure season has arrived at the movies … but this year it comes with a classic twist from Fathom Events and the TCM Big Screen Classics series:
Alfred Hitchcock‘s often-imitated but never-duplicated thrill ride NORTH BY NORTHWEST— the granddaddy of all non-stop action movies — is returning to theaters around the country for two days only on Sunday, April 2, and Wednesday, April 5, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. (local time) each day. Tickets are available now at the Fathom Events website.
Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason and Martin Landau give fast and furious chase across the country, from the skyscrapers of Manhattan to the dizzying peaks of Mount Rushmore, set to the music of Bernard Herrmann, vibrant VistaVision cinematography — and, in this special presentation, new commentary from TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz both before and after the film.
The trailer for this in-cinema event is at
Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant) gets mistaken for a murderous spy and embarks a suspense-filled adventure in Alfred Hitchcock’s whirlwind classic North by Northwest,returning to the big screen for two days this April as part of the yearlong TCM Big Screen Classics series.
With stunning VistaVision cinematography and a remarkable score by Bernard Hermann, North by Northwestis one of those rare films that expertly encapsulates all the favorite plot devices and themes that have marked a film director’s entire career. A star-studded cast includes Eva Marie Saint as Thornhill’s not-so-unwilling accomplice Eve Kendall, James Mason as the nefarious Phillip Vandamm, Martin Landau as Vandamm’s henchman Leonard, and Jessie Royce Landis as Thornhill’s exasperated mother (though she was just eight years older than Grant). Audiences will also enjoy specially produced commentary by Turner Classic Movies (TCM) host Ben Mankiewicz before and after the feature.
WHO:
Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies and Warner Bros.
WHEN:
Sunday, April 2, 2017; 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local time)
Wednesday, April 5, 2017; 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local time)
WHERE:
Tickets for “NORTH BY NORTHWEST” can be purchased online by visiting FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in more than 700 select movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website(theaters and participants are subject to change).
A24 Films has released the powerful trailer for REMEMBER, directed by Atom Egoyan, starring Christopher Plummer, Dean Norris, Martin Landau, Heinz Lieven, and Henry Czerny.
HeyUGuys (Jo-Ann Titmarsh) called it “an entertaining and intelligent Holocaust thriller.”
Christopher Plummer gives a “poignant lead performance,” said Variety (Guy Lodge).
REMEMBER tells the story of Zev Guttman (Academy Award® Winner Christopher Plummer), a 90-year-old struggling with memory loss who is living out his final years in a serene retirement home. A week following the death of his beloved wife Ruth, he suddenly gets a mysterious package from his close friend Max (Academy Award® Winner Martin Landau), containing a stack of money and a letter detailing a shocking plan. Both Zev and Max were prisoners in Auschwitz, and the same sadistic guard was responsible for the death of both their families—a guard who, immediately after the war, escaped Germany and has been living in the U.S. ever since under an assumed identity. Max is wheelchair-bound but in full command of his mental faculties; with his guidance, Zev will embark on a cross-continental road-trip to bring justice once and for all to the man who destroyed both their lives.
Academy Award nominated director Atom Egoyan creates a thrillingly fast-paced revenge story that, in a highly original and deeply intimate way, deals with the aftermath of one of the most deplorable and significant events in recent history. With an incredible lead performance from Christopher Plummer as the frail but unstoppable Zev, REMEMBER manages to keep audiences on the edge of their seats while giving them something to think about long after the film is over.
With the release of FRANKENWEENIE just a few days away, I was invited to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA to talk with stars Winona Ryder (voice of “Elsa van Helsing”) and Martin Landau (voice of “Mr. Rzykruski”).
From creative genius Tim Burton (“Alice in Wonderland,” The Nightmare Before Christmas”) comes FRANKENWEENIE, a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life—with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous.
I can safely say that this was a lively roundtable! Only a few questions were asked by the press in the 20 minutes that we had with Ryder and Landau. The two not only led the discussion, but also had a lot to talk about with each other. There was definitely a high energy level circulating the room. Check it out!
What was the experience working with Tim Burton again?
WINONA RYDER: Oh, it’s always amazing. I mean, I’m trying to think of like new adjectives to use, because I, um… it, it truly is just such a special experience all every time and, and even also just being around him when just he’s one of my favorite people I think in the world that – just to be around.
WINONA RYDER (Cont): So, it never really feels like work in that way even though it is very creative and, and, um… but working with him is very different than, uh, you know, uh, different than other, uh, directors, in the, in the sense other wonderful directors I… that I love, but Tim is very, uh, unique in the way that he, um, he’s very… he was very expressive. I don’t know if you… have you talked to him yet today?
Yeah, Yeah.
WINONA RYDER: So, like, yeah, well he does this and he’ll kill… we’ve been talking to this [CHUCKLES]. He’ll come up to you and go, you know, just if you, g-… um, you know. And you’ll go oh, yeah, okay. [CHUCKLES] And, and that’s all, all it is. It, it… Marin, you know, you had that experience too.
MARTIN LANDAU: I mean we nev-… we never finish a sentence, you know. [CHUCKLES] You… you’d rehearse and he’ll come at you and say, you know, I, I… we just rehearsed and, and you, you know what’s missing for Tim without having him tell you. So, then you, you, you again. You know, again. [CHUCKLES] And then you do it and you add that element, and he comes oh, he’ll say exactly. And then he… he… let sh-…shoot it. Yeah, I know. Clean. Okay.
MARTIN LANDAU (Cont): So, if anyone’s standing there, uh, say to you, you — no one’s finishing his sentence for God sakes. [CHUCKLES] I mean… this is a… but it’s kinesthetic and you know what he wants.
MARTIN LANDAU (Cont): And, and but he creates a playground for the actors, and, and it’s so much fun. And even in this instance where you’re alone and a… you know, you’re not working with another actor, but you’re visualizing it and Tim’s there. And, and it’s just pleasant. Now, g… all good directors create a playground, but they’re all a little different. You know, and they speak differently, uh, but a good director he doesn’t direct a whole lot. He hires the right actor and then he lets them go. And, and the ones that direct too much are usually film students who haven’t directed before. [CHUCKLES]
WINONA RYDER: Yeah, but what’s, uh, uh, another thing just because I know this is, uh, print and then, and stuff, and I sometimes, you know, I just wanna make sure to say that e-… even if he’s not verbal, even if it is this I… you always feel very safe. And if you want you can’t… you have… you feel like if you wanna talk about it…
MARTIN LANDAU: Oh, yeah.
WINONA RYDER: Yeah, you know…
MARTIN LANDAU: Oh, you can talk about it.
WINONA RYDER: You can. You just don’t.
MARTIN LANDAU: Add nauseum, if you want.
WINONA RYDER: You just don’t need to, ’cause you’d know it’s the telepathic thing that happens. And, and his, his… all of his movies it… to me have… you know, with all the darkness that’s associated with him [COUGH], Tim Burton, it… there’s so much heart in all of his movies. In, in Ed Wood I sobbed. You know, I… it, it… and Frankenweenie, which I just saw the other night I was crying, and Edward Scissorhands I always cry.
WINONA RYDER (Cont): And, and, and it’s like he — there’s always, you know, there’s always someone with, with an incredible amount of, of purity even if they don’t — if they look a certain way. Like I, I do feel that, that Lydia from Beetlejuice, which sort of based Elsa a little bit on, the reason that she could see the ghosts was because she was actually, a young… she did have a purity with all of her obsession with, with death, you know, because she was not caught up in everything the way her parents were.
WINONA RYDER (Cont): And, and that’s why, you know, with little, little kids still today, like little, little kids, when they come up and they, they say are you the girl from Beetlejuice like it’s a [CHUCKLES] such a wonderful, warm, like amazing feeling for me. And, and, and when… when we’re associated with, with those associated with those films it’s — it like literally like I’m — you can probably see it in me right now.
WINONA RYDER (Cont): I’m a get… I… it makes me so happy and, and [LAUGHS], you know, even doing a, uh, a junket, we’ve all been here and like yeah [SIGHS], you know. [COUGH] And I’m so happy to, to be here and to, to be taught… ’cause this film is so special and, and to be here with Martin, too, you know.
MARTIN LANDAU: Well, it’s, it’s a joy to work with Tim and…
Martin, do you love your character and everything he stands for?
MARTIN LANDAU: Rzykruski, yes I love Rzykruski. [CHUCKLES] When I read him I loved him. I… if he wasn’t born in Europe I would like to be President of the United States [CHUCKLES], because he’s so honest. And he’d be the only honest man in Washington. [LAUGHS] So, by the same token I, I love this character, and I, I — you know, he’s a great teacher who’s completely misunderstood, but he sees in Victor himself as a child. I mean he, he’s the most undiplomatic character, ’cause he can’t lie. And, you know, you’re not gonna keep your job if you say, uh, to the parents of your students, you’re stupid [CHUCKLES], you know. I mean that’s not a… uh, he… he’s not, he’s not Henry Kissinger. [CHUCKLES]
MARTIN LANDAU (Cont): I’m of a, of a mind with Rzykruski, yes. I think, I think, I think in many areas we are ignorant of, of the things we should be aware of. And, and what he’s saying basically is that he loves science, and he loves life, and he loves the human condition, and he thinks that he doesn’t tolerate fools well. And I… basically I, I… I feel pretty much the same way.
MARTIN LANDAU (Cont): I mean I studied with tough teachers as an actor with Lee Strasberg, Leah Kusan, Howard Clurman, guys who were eccentric, passionate [GASP], talented, and tough task masters who raised the bar. And this is a guy who’s, you know, we’re way down on the totem pole when it comes to our education in this country. There was a time when we were… we produced scientists. We produced less, and less, and less, and less, and that’s what he talks about.
And the fact that the parents are ignorant, uh…
WINONA RYDER: And they like it that. It seems like they, they, they…
MARTIN LANDAU: They, they like it that way.
Winona, can you recall your first impressions of working with Tim back on Beetlejuice and what you might’ve learned from him as an actor?
WINONA RYDER: Um, I mean I, I remember vividly, vividly, you know, meeting him in a waiting… I, I was… been… didn’t look on life really. I had black hair and was wearing and I was waiting, and I was talking to someone in the waiting room for a while and just about, you know, movies and music, and then after about 30 minutes I was what… do you know when this Tim Burton guy is showing up, [CHUCKLES] ’cause I may be in the wrong building. And, and he’s like oop, that’s me. [LAUGHS] And I was like what? I had no idea that a director could be so like cool in that way. And, uh, like just like, you know, I had only worked with sort of more, uh, authority.
MARTIN LANDAU: Austere.
WINONA RYDER: Austere, yeah. [CHUCKLES] But, um, you just… I just find what Martin is saying so interesting and too, because the, the — when he says science is here, but it’s also here. (Points to head and heart) And it d– it, it just in, in he means — it means so many things, and what he’s saying about, you know, that it can be used for (SIGHS), you know, it’s, it’s like… with anything, with technology with the internet, which, which I’ve always, you know, been a little bit afraid of, but I do acknowledge the great that it could do in, in, in terms of like exposing corruption and giving voices to people, but then there’s this other side of it that’s like a little creepy. And, and so, it… but yet it’s… it is… advancing it’s technology. It’s, it’s going… moving real fast. I, I think I’m a little old-fashioned, and I…
MARTIN LANDAU: That’s all right.
WINONA RYDER: I like eye contact and books, and, and [LAUGHS], and, uh, I’m… well, I have LPs still, you know. I, I, uh [LAUGHS]… you, you know.
MARTIN LANDAU: You had a — you had to go to a library to look up something and it was usually a couple of miles away. Now it’s at your fingertips and you don’t use it properly.
WINONA RYDER: Yeah. I… it’s true. I mean I, I… you know, my best friend was my library card, you know. [CHUCKLES] I spent so much time… that’s where I, I learned, you know.
MARTIN LANDAU: Well, scientists, you know, again we, we have to acknowledge them. I was mentioning earlier that it, it, uh, uh, Man and Superman, a, a play that, uh, George Bernard Shaw wrote, and the other half of it, which is Don Juan in Hell. He wrote it in 1903, which was before the Wright Brothers invented the airplane, and he talks about the megaton bomb. And the devil says things like, uh, man’s greatest inventions come out of trying to destroy his fellow man. The greatest advances in science come from destroying people, not… I mean those kinds of things are what, uh, Rzykruski things about.
MARTIN LANDAU: You know. Uh, he’s, he’s so aware of, of, uh, the importance of, of knowledge and science. And, and…
WINONA RYDER: And exploring.
MARTIN LANDAU: As, as, as Winona says, he, you know, he’s got a big heart, and he’s completely misunderstood, because he doesn’t compromise. And he doesn’t soft-soap anything. He’s got the fastest brain mouth coordination. I mean anything comes into his head comes out of his mouth.
WINONA RYDER: Yeah.
MARTIN LANDAU: And, and…
WINONA RYDER: No, filter.
MARTIN LANDAU: And I had this vision as I say of, of, of him lasting at each school for two months before they [LAUGHS] fire him, and he’s probably the best teacher they’ve ever had. And he seems himself in that little boy… as a young man. And…
WINONA RYDER: I mean what a thing to hear, you know, you’ve just… you know, that whole the… it’s just…
MARTIN LANDAU: He’s a catalyst. You know, he’s what inspires the kid to make the movie. [LAUGHS] Uh…
WINONA RYDER: Yeah.
MARTIN LANDAU: I mean and, and, an…
WINONA RYDER: And, and then to Tim is, uh, inviting his teacher who from, uh, who’s, uh, 82 to the premiere. So, I can’t wait to meet that teacher. And thank that teacher…
MARTIN LANDAU: Tomorrow…
WINONA RYDER: …for giving us…
MARTIN LANDAU: … tomorrow night literally the…
WINONA RYDER: Yeah.
MARTIN LANDAU: …one of Tim’s teachers is coming to the premiere. I mean… and, and if he has an accent…
WINONA RYDER: …the reason why you’re here.
MARTIN LANDAU: …like my character… I’m gonna run out. [LAUGHS]
Science teacher?
MARTIN LANDAU: I don’t know wheth– whether it is or not.
WINONA RYDER: I don’t know.
MARTIN LANDAU: I didn’t ask him, but, but it’s one of his teachers from Burbank.
Winona, can I ask, um, you’re always kind of, you are often gravitated towards dark films and dark characters. Sparkling, very beautiful. You’ve never really tried on… or, you know, [CHUCKLES] inherited that kind of real Hollywood sex symbol role. Can I ask why?
WINONA RYDER: Um, well, I think I just… well, thank you [LAUGHS] first of all. Um, I, it’s interesting, because I did the first, you know… even with Beetlejuice, you know, I wasn’t, uh, considered. I was sort of an awkward kid. I sort of started at puberty and, uh, went through it on film. And, um, but, but Lydia was a big… you know, one of my favorite roles, because I, I related a lot to her. And then that did lead to Heathers, but I had to really fight quite hard to be, uh, cast in Heathers, because I wasn’t considered attractive enough to, uh, be in a… the… that sort of popular girl click. I wasn’t the… but I, I, uh, I, I just have been really lucky, and, and the directors that I’ve worked with, and, and I think, um, I’m not… I don’t gravitate… you know, there’s like a [CHUCKLES] there’s a line that I just… I was watching, uh, you know, First Wives Club last night, and there’s this line where she’s like there are three roles in Hollywood for women, babe, district attorney, and Driving Miss Daisy. [LAUGHS] And I was like oh, my God, to see like what Tim has given me [LAUGHS]… that’s not funny.
MARTIN LANDAU: It’s funny. It is funny.
WINONA RYDER: Like it, it… what Tim has given me is the in between [LAUGHS] ones, you know. And, and, and, um, and I remember think… you know, thinking that oh, you know, being offered like the rookie cop on the trail of a serial killer. And I was like I… but I don’t by myself as a rookie cop. You know, there were just… I did have a few opportunities to try to go that way, but I, I just didn’t… it didn’t, uh, make sense for me.
WINONA RYDER (Cont): Um, I always… what I… I just did what I found interesting. I was so lucky that I was able to do that especially like in the ‘90s. You know, I was really able to… and then I, then I sort of like, you know, learned that you have to have a, uh, a life to go back to, because you just can’t pin everything on, uh, on Holly… you know, and that’s what’s so wonderful about Tim is that it is a very… and listening to Martin, too, is that it, it’s a… it… the experience itself is the reward. It’s being present in, in that moment. And even here with you guys I’ve never been this happy at a junket, [LAUGHS] never been like so excited about… um, you know, being here and talking about this. This is like not like… and you guys I’m sure have, have been in that boat [CHUCKLES] way more times than me, but it’s… I’ve been very, very blessed. And, um, and then also in my… what I find interesting in my personal life I think probably does have, you know, an effect, you know, but I’ve been very lucky.
What is your biggest change after working on this film… with Tim Burton?
MARTIN LANDAU: Well, it, you know, change is, you know, it’s a… I think… I approach each character I’ve ever played as a new person coming from a different environment, physiologically, uh, geographically, emotionally. Uh, I’ve never had to people that were the same, but the, the fun of this character, uh, reminded me again while I was working on it of my teachers and the ones that are impelled me to be better at anything I tried to do, to excel. And, uh, I… and I, I think that’s an important thing. Um…
WINONA RYDER: And to always be learning.
MARTIN LANDAU: … uh, you know, I mean… to be willing to stand up for what you believe. I’m offered a lot of parts for the old guy. You know, the guy that sits at a table and grunts, uh, where the young people, uh, uh, make fun of. You know, the guy who sits there like this guy here.
WINONA RYDER: And I’m waiting for like the big Jane roles, which I’m…
MARTIN LANDAU: You know, and, and I turn those down [CHUCKLES], uh, because I want a character who’s alive, and rich, and, and still has goals, and, and, and has an arc. And Tim I mean when he presented this to me I, I just loved the character. I just loved him. Uh, you know, it’s a unique character. [CHUCKLES] This entire picture is a… an animated film, but it… it’s loaded with characters. It’s a character driven movie. I see movies nowadays all the time with real actors that are… well, you don’t know the character. You don’t know who they are. You don’t care about them. As she said she was moved by this, and I was moved by this. This I mean it’s, it’s a… something that is… doesn’t have a real [CHUCKLES] person up there, but everyone is real. And you walk away being moved, laughing and enjoying it. And the 3-D isn’t used to attack you. It’s used to allow you to come into the world. And it’s, it’s ter… a terrific film. I mean it’s a good movie. Forget that it’s an animated movie. And it’s something that tear… has been burning inside of Tim Burton for 30 years. And he finally got to make it, and I’m so happy to be a part of it. I’m like pinch me. [LAUGHS] Is this real? Am I really… it’s wonderful.
Hey kids, Melissa here with some exciting news. This week I made the journey to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA to sit down with Tim Burton and the cast of FRANKENWEENIE.
Stay tuned, because starting next week I will be posting roundtables with Tim Burton (Director), Winona Ryder (voice of “Elsa van Helsing”), Martin Landau (voice of “Mr. Rzykruski”), Martin Short (voice of “Mr. Frankenstein”), Catherine O’Hara (voice of “Mrs. Frankenstein”), Atticus Shaffer (voice of “Edgar ‘E.’ Gore” ), Charlie Tahan (voice of “Victor”), Don Hahn (Executive Producer), John August (Writer), Allison Abbate (Producer) & Trey Thomas (Animation Supervisor). That’s a whole lot of FRANKENWEENIE talk!
Did you know that this is the third time Winona Ryder and Tim Burton have worked together? Their first film was BEETLEJUICE, followed by EDWARD SCISSORHANDS. It has been 21 years since the two worked together.
Tim Burton’s original short FRANKENWEENIE was made in 1984. This marks 28 years from the original short to the full length feature.
While you wait for the press day goodness, here is the FRANKENWEENIE trailer to hold you over:
In Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie, young Victor conducts a science experiment to bring his beloved dog Sparky back to life, only to face unintended, sometimes monstrous, consequences.
What was your relationship to monsters as a child? Were they the boogeymen under your bed, or were they the things of wonder that fueled your imagination? My experience growing up follows the latter, filling my young mind with freakish fascinations. Clearly, the same goes for Tim Burton, who has taken his popular 1984 short film of the same name and expanded it into his newest feature film. FRANKENWEENIE (2012) is still a stop-motion animated film, in 3D this go ’round, adding even more of Burton’s uniquely dark charm to the semi-autobiographical story of a strange loner of a boy and his undead pooch.
FRANKENWEENIE is shot in glorious black and white, capturing the moody universe of Burton’s imagination. Much like the original short, the story begins by painting a picture of young Victor’s daily life, his time at school, his personality. Victor, voiced by Charlie Tahan (CHARLIE ST. CLOUD), is an intelligent loner with a knack for science. His best, and only friend, is his dog Sparky. Mr. Rzykruski, voiced by Martin Landau (ED WOOD), is the new science teacher whom has the town of New Holland’s parents and Mayor up in arms, proves to be a major influence on young Victor.
Victor’s father encourages him to get outside and try sports, but in doing so results in a tragedy that will forever change Victor’s life. Poor little Sparky meets his unexpected demise, but after Mr. Rzykruski demonstrates an experiment with electricity, Victor’s focus immediately becomes applying this new knowledge to bringing his beloved Sparky back from the dead. His success sparks a chain of events amidst his schoolmates and neighbors that slowly spirals out of control and provides a hilariously enjoyable, nostalgic adventure through multiple eras of monster movies classics.
As always, the animation in Burton’s film is awe-inspiring. The pace of FRANKENWEENIE is charged with energy and kept my eyes fixed on the action and the antics of the loyal Sparky. Combined with Danny Elfman‘s quirky trademark style of composing, the film resembles a fun house amusement ride of Gothic proportions. Seeing Burton’s creativity and love of monster films take shape in this film is a real gem. Inspirations varies widely, but I can say that it spans from the gargantuan in 1954 to the reptilian mischief of 1984, and beyond.
FRANKENWEENIE comes full circle in a fairly conventional fashion, lacking any significantly jaw-dropping moments, but the film as a whole is a marvelous experience for fans of the horror genre of all ages. Backed by Disney, Burton provides another film to the pool of monster films suitable as introductory fare to the youngest of blossoming fans. While the story is obviously most connected to that of FRANKENSTEIN, and Mr. Rzykruski is clearly inspired by Vincent Price, be prepared to pick out all the other winks and nods to genre classics.
In addition to Landau, FRANKENWEENIE also features Burton regulars Wynona Ryder as the voice of Elsa van Helsing, and Catherine O’Hara voicing Victor’s mother as well as two other characters. Having failed to keep Sparky’s return a secret, Victor must overcome the Mayor’s hatred for his dog and the bigger danger of classmate Edgar E. Gor’s irresponsibly fiendish plot to win the science fair by employing Victor’s experiment for selfish purposes. In the process, Victor learns a valuable lesson.
FRANKENWEENIE is being presented in IMAX 3D — as well as in 2D — but the 3D provides an added dimension to the film that is welcome, blending in rather than popping out as merely a gimmick. The short running time of 87 minutes also lends itself well to younger viewers.
FRANKENWEENIE opens nationwide on Friday, October 5th, 2012.
See the electrifying new trailer and character banners (along with the descriptions) for Tim Burton’s FRANKENWEENIE.
From creative genius Tim Burton (“Alice in Wonderland,” The Nightmare Before Christmas”) comes FRANKENWEENIE, a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life—with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous.
A stop-motion animated film, FRANKENWEENIE was filmed in black and white and rendered in 3D. The talented voice cast includes: Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell and Winona Ryder.
Presented by Disney, FRANKENWEENIE is directed by Tim Burton, produced by Tim Burton and Allison Abbate, from a screenplay by John August, based on an original idea by Tim Burton. FRANKENWEENIEreleases in U.S. theaters on October 5, 2012.
Victor Frankenstein is a clever and industrious 10-year-old boy who is inspired by science. He lives with his parents and dog, Sparky, in the town of New Holland. Victor immerses himself in making films and inventing in his attic workshop. When Sparky dies in a car accident, Victor uses scientific ingenuity to bring him back to life.
(voiced by Winona Ryder)
Elsa Van Helsing is a soulful and somber classmate of Victor. She lives next door to him with her tyrant uncle, Mayor Burgemeister, who forces her to be this year’s “Little Dutch Girl” at the town’s celebration of Dutch Day. Elsa also has a beloved pet, her poodle Persephone, and truly empathizes with Victor when he loses Sparky.
(Voiced by Catherine O’Hara & Martin Short )
Mr. Frankenstein is a travel agent, friendly and social, who likes to dispense roundabout advice to his son. He is proud of Victor’s accomplishments, but is concerned he doesn’t have any friends other than Sparky. He would prefer his son be more social and encourages him to join the baseball team. Mr. Frankenstein has a playful and loving relationship with his wife, Victor’s mom.
Mrs. Frankenstein is a loving and supportive mother who encourages her son’s scientific pursuits, even when her kitchen appliances end up in his attic lab. She is an avid reader and loves to watch movies with her husband and enjoys the company of her family and her books.
Persephone is a perfectly groomed black poodle with an enormously large poof of hair on her head. She is curious and flirtatious with Sparky and fiercely loyal to Elsa, her owner. When Persephone and Sparky first meet in the backyard, the attraction is instantaneous and electrifying.
(voiced by James Hiroyuki Liao)
Toshiaki is over-achieving and mega-competitive. He delights in beating Victor at his own game and like a power-hungry, mad scientist, Toshiaki will stop at nothing to win the top prize in the school’s science fair—even if it means stealing Victor’s ideas to do it.
(voiced by Conchata Ferrell)
Bob’s Mom is a plump, suburban housewife who is prone to panic and hysteria when things go awry. She has very simple, stereotypical views on life, which she isn’t shy about sharing with the community. She dotes on her son Bob and believes her actions, though often misguided, are in his best interest.
(voiced by Robert Capron)
Bob is a momma’s boy who is the brawn to Toshiaki’s brains. He is agreeable and never mean-spirited, but on the flip side he’s easily led and gullible. Bob follows Toshiaki everywhere, but is the first one to run to Victor for help when he gets in over his head.
Tim Burton’s new film FRANKENWEENIE might not come out until October, but we have the new one sheet to try and hold you over!
From creative genius Tim Burton (“Alice in Wonderland,” The Nightmare Before Christmas”) comes “Frankenweenie,” a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life—with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous.
Starring Winona Ryder, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Robert Capron, and Conchata Ferrell, FRANKENWEENIEhits theaters October 5th.
