Watch Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a 1982 musical thriller movie directed by Terry Hughes and Harold Prince. The movie is based on the 1979 Broadway play of the same name, which itself is based on the 19th-century play The String of Pearls. The movie is set in the gloomy and poverty-stricken London of the 19th century. The main character, Sweeney Todd, is a barber who was wrongly convicted and spent 15 years in prison. He returns to London seeking revenge on the people who wronged him, including the corrupt judge who sentenced him and the lecherous rival barber who stole his wife and daughter.

Sweeney Todd is played by George Hearn, who delivers a breathtaking performance in the role. He is a haunted and brooding figure, a man consumed by his thirst for vengeance. He is aided in his quest by Mrs. Lovett, played by Angela Lansbury, a pie maker who runs a bakery below his barbershop.

Mrs. Lovett is one of the standout characters in the movie. She is a jolly and gossipy woman who is hopelessly in love with Sweeney Todd. She is also a diabolical figure who comes up with the idea of using Sweeney Todd's victims to make meat pies, which become wildly popular in London. Lansbury's performance is a tour de force, and she brings both humor and menace to the role.

Another notable character is Anthony Hope, played by Cris Groenendaal. He is a young sailor who falls in love with Johanna, Sweeney Todd's daughter. He also becomes entangled in Sweeney Todd's dark plans, and his fate is inextricably linked with the barber's.

The movie is a musical, and the score is by Stephen Sondheim, one of the greatest Broadway composers of all time. The songs are haunting and beautiful, and they capture the mood of the movie perfectly. Some of the standout songs include "My Friends," "Johanna," and "Not While I'm Around."

The movie is also visually stunning. The set design and costumes are elaborate and authentic, and they transport the viewer to 19th-century London. The movie is shot in a dark and shadowy style, which adds to the eerie atmosphere.

Overall, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a masterpiece of musical theater. The performances by Hearn and Lansbury are breathtaking, and they bring their characters to life with depth and nuance. The score by Sondheim is unforgettable, and it adds to the haunting mood of the movie. The movie is a must-see for fans of musical theater and anyone who loves a good thriller.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a 1982 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 20 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.4.