Sweeney Todd

Question: In Mrs. Lovett's song "By the Sea," near the end she sings "Bring along your chopper!" What is the word "chopper" supposed to mean? Sweeney can bring his what?

Answer: His knife/razor/sharp edge to kill someone with.

Question: In the scene where Johnny sings the song "My Friends", it seems he is singing "and we're togever" rather than "and we're together". Is this a colloquial pronunciation from the time period of the movie?

Answer: It's a common colloquialism in England, particularly with London and East Midland accents - people often pronounce 'th' as 'v'. It's poor english but very common, and certainly would have been common in the lower classes in London at that time.

Question: After Sweeney knocks out Signor Pirelli and Toby comes up, how does he have water in his kettle after it has all spilt on the floor?

jamie5d

Chosen answer: Even though water started coming out of the kettle when it was on the floor it is possible there was enough left inside.

Question: Is there any particular reason why the chorus lyrics were cut from a number of the songs? They used all of the lyrics in the verses, but not the chorus', which I found odd.

Answer: From what I heard, the chorus songs (known as "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd") were cut due to time and inability to make the chorus work on-screen. Actors were set up to play "ghost narrators" at first, so that indicates that the filmmakers did want to include the songs. They were just not able to find a way to make them work satisfactorily for them. Also, I think (can't verify) I also heard that Stephen Sondheim, the show's original creator and composer/lyricist, agreed that these cuts needed to be made for the film to work.

Question: In Sweeney Todd (the musical with the actor Johnny Depp), there's a bit in the pie shop when Sweeney Todd and Miss Lovett go into the attic. In the attic there's a cot in the corner. In the cot there is a weird skeletal baby thing. What/who is it? It doesn't explain.

Answer: It's a doll that Johanna used to have when she was little. It's her baby bed, and Mrs. Lovett has simply not had the heart to throw it out.

Twotall

Question: Is the montage of murders before the re-opening of the restaurant supposed to be shot in real time or is it going over days around the same time of different days?

Movieman123

Chosen answer: It is over several days.

Phixius

Question: After Sweeney kills Signor Pirelli, why isn't Toby curious about where he is/why he's missing?

Cubs Fan

Chosen answer: Because Toby is glad to be free of him; Toby doesn't care where he is, just so long as he's gone.

Phixius

Answer: Mrs. Lovett is secretly in love with Todd. However there is no indication he has any romantic feelings for her. He is entirely focused on revenge, much to Mrs. Lovett's disappointment.

Sweeney Todd mistake picture

Continuity mistake: While Sweeney is upstairs with Pirelli, Mrs. Lovett gives Toby a meatpie downstairs. On a closeup, half the pie is gone, but when the shot widens right after, only a couple nibbles are gone from the cake.

More mistakes in Sweeney Todd

Judge Turpin: Oh yes... Such practices. The Geishas of Japan, the concubines of Siam, the catamites of Greece, the harlots of India. I have them all here, drawings of them. Everything you've ever dreamed of doing with a woman. Would you like to see?
Anthony Hope: I think there's been some mistake.
Judge Turpin: I think not. You gandered at my ward, Johanna. You gandered at her. YES, sir, you gandered!
Anthony Hope: I meant no harm.
Judge Turpin: Your meaning is immaterial. Mark me! If I see your face again on this street, you'll rue the day you were born.

More quotes from Sweeney Todd

Trivia: During its first month of production in London, Johnny Depp had to take a ten-day leave of absence when his daughter, Lily-Rose, was rushed to a hospital due to a severe illness (which was never disclosed by the media). To accommodate his absence, director Tim Burton filmed scenes that didn't feature Depp's character.

More trivia for Sweeney Todd

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