Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Non-musical Version)

Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Non-musical Version)
by George King

Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Non-musical Version)
List Price: $7.98
Our Price: $4.50
You Save: $3.48 (44%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $2.97 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details


(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

DVD details

Actor: Bruce Seton, Eve Lister, John Singer, Stella Rho, Tod Slaughter
Director: George King
Brand: Bayside ENT Dist
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 68 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-10-26
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Alpha Video

DVD Reviews of Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Non-musical Version)

DVD Review: A "Quota Quickie" Of More Historic Interest Than Actual Entertainment Value
Summary: 2 Stars

Although some have tried to argue that he was an actual person, it seems likely that the story of a throat-cutting barber Sweeney Todd arose first as a bit of urban myth that was developed into an 1846 story titled THE STRING OF PEARLS by writer Thomas Prest. A year later the story was adapted to the stage as SWEENEY TODD, THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET. The story has remained popular into the 21st Century and is today best known as a musical by Stephen Sondheim.

The 1936 English film came about due to English laws which required film studios to produce a certain number of films for every film imported. George King was among the producer-directors who specialized in "quota quickies" and Tod Slaughter was his "star." Born in 1885, Slaughter was never among the great actors of his day--but he was a stage favorite with provicial audiences, most especially when he played villians, and most especially when he played Sweeney Todd.

This particular version of the story differs a great deal from later versions, but the basic story remains the same. Todd is a London barber who occasionally cuts a throat; Mrs. Lovatt (Stella Rho) is his partner in crime, who bakes the victims up into pies. Now, make no mistake about it: this version of SWEENEY TODD is essentially one made by a pack of hacks, so you'll find no art here. It really is a "quota quickie," badly written, badly filmed, with a cast that goes from adequate to inept. Even so, Slaughter and Rho are quite entertaining, playing so broadly and with melodramatic glee that offers a window onto the playing styles of a by-gone era. The whole thing is so over-the-top, ultra-Victorian, English-gothic that it really can be quite a bit of fun if approached in the right spirit.

It would, however, be quite a bit more fun if the DVD prints available today were good quality. They are not. Indeed they are so poor that the film is barely watchable, and it goes without saying that there are no bonuses of any kind. Recommended, but really only for those who are interested in tracing the history of Sweeney Tod in his various incarnations.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer
More Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Non-musical Version) reviews:
1

Description of Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Non-musical Version)

SWEENY TODD THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET - DVD Movie
Bestsellers in DVD
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] ImageThe Story of Jeremiah [VHS]
Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS] ImageWresting With God [VHS]
by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops: $19.99
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS] ImageStudy Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]
Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops: $44.00
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS] ImageTempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]
HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops: $9.98
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/Party Video [VHS] ImageTempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]
HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Strike the Original Match [VHS] ImageStrike the Original Match [VHS]
New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops: $14.95
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] ImageMedjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]
JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008 ImageMayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008
by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops: $1,463.24
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single User ImagePediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single User
by Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops: $1,463.24
Cost Accounting [VHS] ImageCost Accounting [VHS]
by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979 Original Broadway Cast) ImageSweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979 Original Broadway Cast)
Release date: 2007-03-20; Music CD
Best price: $12.62
Price in other shops: $15.99
Sweeney Todd: Vocal Score ImageSweeney Todd: Vocal Score
Hal Leonard; Hal Leonard Corporation; Published: 2010-05-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $47.25
Price in other shops: $75.00
The Witches (Keep Case Packaging) ImageThe Witches (Keep Case Packaging)
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-09-08; DVD
Best price: $2.57
Price in other shops: $5.98
The Wolfman ImageThe Wolfman
Universal Studios; Release date: 2010-06-01; DVD
Best price: $4.07
Price in other shops: $14.98
The Haunting ImageThe Haunting
Universal Studios; Release date: 1999-11-23; Published: 1999-11-01; DVD
Best price: $2.78
Price in other shops: $8.99
Pippin ImagePippin
Video Communications Inc.; Release date: 2000-10-31; DVD
Best price: $10.39
Price in other shops: $19.99
Sweeney Todd in Concert ImageSweeney Todd in Concert
Image Entertainment; Release date: 2002-05-14; DVD
Best price: $9.78
Price in other shops: $24.98
Sweeney Todd - The Director's Cut ImageSweeney Todd - The Director's Cut
Acorn; Release date: 2007-04-10; DVD
Best price: $9.61
Price in other shops: $24.99
Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street ImageSweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Paramount; Release date: 2008-04-01; DVD
Best price: $7.08
Price in other shops: $19.99
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Broadway Version) ImageSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Broadway Version)
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-04-15; DVD
Best price: $8.20
Price in other shops: $14.97
Compare prices and read customer reviews for more than one million DVD titles.
Oscar 2005 Winners