Monday, October 22, 2007

31 Days of Halloween - Day 22 - Movie 2












I really love the movie "Frankenweenie" (1984). Produced by Disney, when they were trying to find a niche for Tim Burton, this half hour movie is not only a wonderful, well I wouldn't call it a parody, as it's really celebrating Universal's "Frankenstein" (1931) and "Bride of Frankenstein" (1935), so I guess that would make it more of an homage. Here, young Victor Frankenstein (Barret Oliver) brings his beloved dog Sparky back to life using household appliances as a makeshift laboratory in his parents' attic. Of course Sparky's return causes all sorts of problems, and misunderstandings, with Victor's parents (Shelley Duvall and Daniel Stern) and the neighbors, who finally overcome their fears when the reanimated dog rescues his master from a burning windmill at a miniature golf course.

The movie already demonstrates Tim Burton's design aesthetic, including a clown head which would later be seen in "Batman Returns"(1992) and also features Sophia Coppola (billed as "Domino") as the neighbor's daughter Anne. Apparently, it was seeing this film that convinced Paul Reubens that burton was the director he was looking for for "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" (1985)

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