Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Director: Tim Burton
Synopsis[]
Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the decapitations of three people; the culprit is legendary apparition The Headless Horseman (Christopher Walken).
Male Deaths[]
- Michael Gambon [Baltus Van Tassel]
- Michael Gough (I) [Notary James Hardenbrook]
- Richard Griffiths [Magistrate Samuel Philipse]
- Jeffrey Jones [Reverend Steenwyck]
- Martin Landau [Peter Van Garrett]
- Ian McDiarmid [Dr. Thomas Lancaster]
- Robert Sella [Dirk Van Garrett]
- Mark Spalding [Jonathan Masbath]
- Sean Stephens [Thomas Killian]
- Casper Van Dien [Brom Van Brunt]
- Steven Waddington [Killian]
- Christopher Walken / Ray Park [The Hessian/The Headless Horseman]
- Sandro Pellegrini [Baltus Van Tassel (italian version)]
- Vittorio Congia [Notary James Hardenbrook (italian version)]
- Otto Mellies [Baltus Van Tassel (german version)]
Female Deaths[]
- Lisa Marie (I) [Lady Crane]
- Jessica Oyelowo [Sarah]
- Miranda Richardson [Lady Mary Van Tassel / The Crone Witch]
- Claire Skinner [Beth Killian]
Gallery[]
Posters[]
Trivia[]
- Johnny Depp adopted Goldeneye, the horse that played Gunpowder, Ichabod Crane's horse in this film, when he heard it was going to be put down.
- The idea of The Headless Horsemen actually dates back to the Middle Ages in Europe, largely in Celtic and German folklore. While Washington Irving's horseman can be considered the most famous, most areas of the United States during the time of the story's publishing had their own stories of headless horsemen. Irving's is said to be inspired by the headless body of a Hessian Jägers (renowned sharpshooters and horsemen), who was found in Sleepy Hollow. The real Van Tassels buried him in Old Dutch Burying Ground in an unmarked grave.
- Johnny Depp did all of his own stunts for the final scene where he is dragged by the horse. He had bullet-proof clothing underneath his wardrobe.
- Johnny Depp initially found the idea of Christina Ricci being his love interest in this film to be rather odd, seeing as he's known her since she was nine years old. They first met on the set of the 1990 film Mermaids, as Depp was dating Ricci’s co-star Winona Ryder at the time.
- Historically, Ichabod Crane was a very unattractive man. Johnny Depp offered to add prosthetics to his face to make himself look ugly, but director Tim Burton wanted to base the character on Crane's more unattractive personality traits, his reported squeamishness and eccentricity.
- Christina Ricci revealed on The Rosie O'Donnell Show that Christopher Walken was very shy and quiet so the other cast members had a competition over who could get him to say the most words. Miranda Richardson won by making him answer lots of questions.
- Lisa Marie who played Ichabod Crane’s (Johnny Depp) mother in the flashbacks was in a relationship with the film’s director Tim Burton at the time.
- Miranda Richardson during filming improvised the line "Watch your head!".
- During the fight scene which involved Ichabod and Brom against the Headless Horseman, Casper Van Dien broke the index finger of his left hand. Although it was extremely painful, he carried on without telling anyone, as he didn't want his part cut short.
- The exteriors were shot with a blue filter. So for the blood to appear red, the liquid used had to be bright orange.
- Michael Gough, who played Notary Hardenbrook in the film, came out of retirement to play the role.
- The crew of the film built the small town of Sleepy Hollow complete with rooms, floors, and stairs. The town was dismantled after filming was completed.
- Director Tim Burton says the film was inspired by the Gothic horror films of Mario Bava and Hammer Film Productions. Burton brought Hammer veteran Michael Gough out of retirement for a small role, and recruited Sir Christopher Lee, a veteran of both Hammer and Bava's films, for a cameo.
- Johnny Depp has never seen the film because he hates the way he acts in it.
- In real life, Casper Van Dien has relatives named Van Tassel, the name of a prominent family in the Sleepy Hollow story.
- The dress worn by Katrina Van Tassel (Christina Ricci) in the last shot of the film has the same pattern as Michael Keaton's outfit in the climactic scene of the 1988 comedy horror film Beetlejuice, which was also directed by Tim Burton.
- Winona Ryder was offered the role of Katrina Van Tassel, but turned it down.
- Sir Christopher Lee received prominent billing in the opening credits. However, his only scene occurs before the opening credits.
- The opening scene is the only one actually filmed near the location of Sleepy Hollow.
- Sleepy Hollow is a real-life village, located in Westchester County, New York. Washington Irving, writer of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" (1820), used to live in the nearby village of Tarrytown.
- Although Sleepy Hollow is in the state of New York, filming was done entirely in England. The majority of filming was done on sound stages at Leavesden Studios but also a month of location shooting was done on the Hambleden estate in Buckinghamshire, where an outdoor village set with 12 buildings was constructed. Some re-shoots were however done in New York.
- Liam Neeson, Brad Pitt, and Daniel Day-Lewis were all considered for the role of Ichabod Crane. Johnny Depp was eventually chosen for the role.
- There are five people who were also in the Harry Potter film franchise: Miranda Richardson, who played Rita Skeeter; Sir Michael Gambon, who played Professor Albus Dumbledore; Richard Griffiths, who played Uncle Vernon; Johnny Depp who played Gellert Grindelwald, and Tony Maudsley, who voiced Grawp.
- Both Johnny Depp and Sir Christopher Lee would later work together in the 2005 film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, in which the film was also directed by Tim Burton.
- 5 actors in this film have passed away since its making. Martin Landau, Sir Christopher Lee, Michael Gough, Richard Griffiths, and Sir Michael Gambon.
- There are two future knights in the film. Sir Christopher Lee and Sir Michael Gambon (who is actually Irish).
- Marlon Brando was the first choice to play the Headless Horseman.
- The film cast includes two Oscar winners: Christopher Walken and Martin Landau; and two Oscar nominees: Johnny Depp and Miranda Richardson.