Frankenweenie

Infobox Film
name = Frankenweenie


image_size = 175px
caption = Opening title card
director = Tim Burton
producer = Julie Hickson
Rick Heinrichs (associate producer)
writer = Tim Burton
Leonard Ripps (as Lenny Ripps)
narrator =
starring = Shelley Duvall
Daniel Stern
Barret Oliver
music = Michael Convertino
David Newman
cinematography = Thomas E. Ackerman
editing = Ernest Milano
distributor = Buena Vista Pictures
released = December 14, 1984
runtime = 29 mins.
country = USA
language = English
budget = US$1,000,000
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0087291

"Frankenweenie" (1984) is a short film directed by Tim Burton, and co-written by Burton with Leonard Ripps. It is a parody of, and homage to, the 1931 film "Frankenstein" based on Mary Shelley's book of the same name. Burton is currently working on a full-length stop motion remake for cinematic release.

Plot

Victor Frankenstein (played by Barret Oliver) is a young boy who creates movies starring his dog, Sparky (a bull terrier). After Sparky is hit by a car, Victor learns at school about electrical impulses in muscles, and gets the idea to bring his pet back to life. He creates elaborate machines which bring down a bolt of lightning that revives the dog. While Victor is pleased, his neighbors are terrified by the animal, and when the Frankensteins decide to introduce the revitalized Sparky to them, they become angry and afraid. Sparky runs away, with Victor in pursuit, and they find themselves at a local miniature golf course, and hide in its flagship windmill. The Frankensteins' neighbors, now an angry mob, arrive on the scene, and while using a cigarette lighter to try to see in, the windmill is accidentally lit on fire. Victor falls and is knocked out, but Sparky rescues him from the flames, in time to be crushed by the windmill. The mob realizes its error, and use their cars, along with jumper cables, to "recharge" Sparky. He is revived, and all celebrate. Sparky later falls in love with a poodle with a hairstyle strangely resembling the Bride of Frankenstein's.

Cast

*Shelley Duvall ... Susan Frankenstein
*Daniel Stern ... Ben Frankenstein
*Barret Oliver ... Victor Frankenstein
*Joseph Maher ... Mr. Chambers
*Roz Braverman ... Mrs. Epstein
*Paul Bartel ... Mr. Walsh
*Sofia Coppola ... Anne Chambers (as Domino)
*Jason Hervey ... Frank Dale
*Paul C. Scott ... Mike Anderson
*Helen Boll ... Mrs. Curtis
*Sparky ... Sparky
*Rusty James ... Raymond

Controversy

Burton was fired by Disney after the film was completed; the studio claimed that he had wasted company resources and felt the film was too scary for young audiences. After the mainstream success of Burton's features, "Beetlejuice", "Pee Wee's Big Adventure", and "Batman", the film was given a home video release in 1994. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title ="Trivia"
work =Internet Movie Database
publisher =
date =
url =http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087291/trivia
format =
doi =
accessdate =2007-10-30 ] It is currently available as an extra, along with "Vincent", on the "Nightmare Before Christmas" DVD, Blu-Ray, and UMD for PSP.

Remake

In November 2007, Tim Burton signed a deal with Disney to remake the film as a feature length, 3D stop-motion film. [cite news | author = Marc Graser | title = Burton, Disney team on 3D films | publisher = Variety | date = 2007-11-15 | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117976106.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 | accessdate=2007-11-16] The film is produced by Allison Abate and Don Hahn and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, the first since "James and the Giant Peach".

Notes

External links