Tim Burton’s The Nightmare before Christmas ***** (1993, voices Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara) – Classic Movie Review 521

Director Henry Selick’s 1993 ‘stop-motion’ animation, produced by Tim Burton and based on a story and designs by him, is a beautifully realised, uniquely entertaining comic fantasy.

Chris Sarandon provides the voice of Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king of Halloween Town, who is fed up with boring old Halloween. So, via a woodland tree door, he discovers Christmas Town and moves on to join the Christmas revellers.

But he soon upsets everyone in happy Christmas Town with his Halloween nightmare visions, bats, ghouls and goblins but especially with his plan to abduct Sandy Claws and install himself as Yuletide boss in his place.

The Nightmare before Christmas is delightful, dark and deliriously inventive all the way for its adorable 75 minutes.

Visually it’s glorious, and there’s a lovely, witty screenplay by Caroline Thompson and Michael McDowell. But Dannny Elfman’s superb score, 10 show-tune-type songs (‘Just see how I transform this old rat into a most delightful hat!’) and his sweet singing voice as Skellington are high among the film’s major contributions.

Selick’s direction is unusually inventive, exuberant and fast-paced. A work of love, The Nightmare took over two years to make. This is that rare thing – a mainstream animation made mainly for adults – so enjoy everybody! Kids will probably love it too, of course. It’s got a PG certificate.

Catherine O’Hara (Sally/Shock), William Hickey (Dr Finklestein), Glenn Shadix (Mayor) and Paul Reubens (Lock) are also in the voice cast.

Burton planned to direct, but gave Selick the direction as he was busy working on Batman Returns (1992) and Ed Wood (1994). Selick says Burton was present only eight to 10 days during production.

Henry Selick is also the director of James and the Giant Peach (1996), Monkeybone (2001) and Coraline (2009).

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© Derek Winnert 2013 Classic Movie Review 521

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