Movie of the Week

This week,

THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW

Starring- Bing Crosby

It is not Halloween unless I watch this Disney classic every year. Adapted from the story by Washington Irving, this cartoon does what Tim Burton never did- tell the story the way it was meant to be told. The story tells of superstitious schoolmaster Ichabod Crane who meets the legendary Headless Horseman on a dark Halloween night in the colonial hamlet of Sleepy Hollow. It is told through the narration and singing of Bing Crosby.

Crosby proves to be a good storyteller, and Disney does a fabulous job of mixing humor and suspense as the cartoon works its way to the fiery climax. This short film is from the era of great hand drawn animation, and the way in which the skinny Ichabod is depicted is great, as well as the foreboding journey through the hollow and the attack by the Headless Horseman. The songs are very catchy and memorable- the opening when Ichabod enters the town and Brom Bones' boisterous retelling of the Horseman's legend are the best examples. The structure of the film allows Crosby to both narrate, sing and voice the characters very easily.

This cartoon is very faithful to the original story (albeit with some Disney silliness thrown in) and it scares without being too spooky for the little ones. I have to see this every year out of habit, but also because it is timeless. Trying to find this classic is a bit difficult these days, but if it means as much to you as it does to me, try Amazon.

Things to watch for-

Shovels or feet- you decide
Ichabod's ability to hide food
Brom Bones feeds beer to animals
Katrina- what a babe!
Bing "boo boos"

"Odds bodkins! Gad zooks! Look at that old spook of spooks!"