Comparison and Contrast of Sweeney Todd and the Lion King Films Essay - 2

Comparison and Contrast of Sweeney Todd and the Lion King Films - Essay Example A movie is defined as a form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound and a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement. Movies usually have a plot that is either based on a novel such as the Harry Potter, The Devil Wears Prada, A Walk to Remember, etc.; or have an original screenplay such as the High School Musical, Cheetah Girls, etc. Some are even counterparts or representation of popular theatrical plays that have already been considered as classic. However, in other cases, it is the other way around. A movie might be very brilliant and magnificently done it has garnered so much glamour, that a theatrical play is created to re-enact it. Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a theatrical play by Christopher Bond which is created in 1973. It has later become a musical thriller in 1979 with music and lyrics done by Stephen Sondheim and libretto by Hugh Wheeler. The musical theater production of Sweeney Todd started at the Uris Theatre on March 1, 1979, and ran for almost 600 performances. It was directed by Harold Prince with musical staging by Larry Fuller. The musical tells the story of Benjamin Barker, alias Sweeney Todd, who returns to London after 15 years deportation and prison based on false charges. He then vows revenge after learning from his former landlady, Mrs. Lovett, that his wife poisoned herself after being raped by Judge Turpin who wrongly executed him. The musical theater production was really magnificent for it has nine nominations for Tony Awards in which it won eight including Best Musical, Best Actress in a Musical, and Best Actor in a Musical.   And then later, the film adaptation of the theatrical play Sweeney Todd was jointly produced by DreamWorks and Warner Brothers. It was released on December 21, 2007.