The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Yes, I realize that this is a made-for-TV film with a less- than-stellar budget. And yes, I realize that it deviates a bit from Washington Irving's original short story.

HOWEVER, this remains my single favorite version of Sleepy Hollow committed to film! Who better to play Icabod Crane than lean, lanky, bumbling Jeff Goldblum at his early and most Goldblum- y? I love the development of all the characters, the setting, the costuming, and the banter. I love the superstitious, but well-meaning, townspeople. You can truly feel the connection of a community that knows one another perhaps a bit too well. Even the music score has a haunting, albeit distinctly 80s, atmosphere.

This is the version I grew up on. It is a point of nostalgia and personal taste for me, and I REALLY, REALLY wish it was available on DVD!

I strongly believe that Sunn Schick Productions did posterity a great service. This film and Deerslayer are only two of the many films they did in the 1970's. Do you remember the Life & Times of Grizzly Adams ? They made that too.

Legend of Sleepy Hollow is as clear to Washington Irving's story as I can tell and they kept it in tact without this SDFX mess that so many newer films use now. Jeff Goldblum shines as Icabod and the cast are all favorites, including Mr. Woodman from Welcome Back Kotter as the elderly helper who looks after the school building.

I would rank this and all the Sunn Schick films a 10++ See if whenever you can get a copy.

I loved this one! Icabob Crane is here and Brom Bones (Dick Butkus) is angered that Katrina Van Tassel, his "girl" is taking a fond interest in Crane. When poltergeists appear, Crane still doesn't believe until one fateful night... My only problem with this is that it does not remain trueful to the book by Irving.

I think because this movie is based on one of the best short stories ever is what made it decent. This the story of Icabod Crane. And how a dark night he runs into a ghost the Headless Horseman. This is a very spooky movie. It has a great story line. It also has great acting. The 1949 version the Bing Crosby is better. But still this is a good movie. The 1999 version with Johnny Deep is also better. But still this a good movie. Jeff Goldblum is a great actor. Meg Foster is a great actress. The 1972 short cartoon is better. But still this a good horror film. Is pretty scary. Dick Butkus is a great actor. Laura Campbell is a great actress. This movie is a must see.

When I was little this for me was the definitive version of the story. It did not matter I never actually read it until I was in my teens. This was Halloween appointment television for me. By the time I remember encountering this I was familiar with Jeff Goldblum's turn in Invasion of the Body Snatchers and I love that movie so catching him in this was a real treat for me. I think this cemented my fandom of Jeff Goldblum.

And who better to play the character of Ichabod Crane other than Jeff Goldblum. Goldblum fits the literary description of Crane perfectly. He is tall, thin, and lanky just like the character is described. When it comes to Goldblum, it is clear by this movie that he had his acting technique down pat. Every nervous tick and stutter and inflection that he is famous for was on full display here.

In the book Ichabod was a believer in the supernatural as well as seeking a bride to better his station in life. Here he is a fervent doubter who eventually becomes convinced who is good guy just trying to make his way in the world. This is one of several differences between this TV movie and the source. As a child I was unaware of this but now that I am, I can forgive it. I just cannot see Goldblum pulling off being a believer in this role.

Meg Foster was cast as the object of Ichabod's love, the young Katrina Van Tassel. That woman has some of the most fascinating eyes I have ever seen. She is a deep voiced actress with very pale blue eyes. She turns in a fine performance as she often does. In the book Katrina is supposed to be 18 and I believe at this point Foster was in her early 30s.

Aside from the performances of Goldblum and Foster, the acting is pretty mediocre. Dick Butkus, while entertaining, was no great actor here. He was a well-known name, so I am assuming that is why he got cast. I will say though that further down the road his acting did improve. By the time Blue Thunder rolled around, which was not too far from this, he was much better than he is here. There was no emotion or inflection in his delivery. He sounded like a dad reading to his kids a story he hated.

We have an original character in the form of widow Thelma Dumkey (Laura Campbell). Her inclusion gives what can best be described as a romcom subplot to the film as she plots with Katrina. Katrina wants Ichabod while Thelma wants Brom. Why I am not sure. It just is. Brom is no catch here.

At times the film bordered on camp. In particular the actor playing the previous schoolmaster Winthrop Palmer (Michael Ruud) was just goofy in his performance. He was quite the ham here and not in the good John Colicos way. It was in a cringy, bad community theater by someone who does not realize it is just community theater way. Palmer is supposed to be crazy by the time of the film, but it just does not work.

The script though was better than expected. Even when I am unaware of changes to the source material, I tend to react poorly when it is done. It rarely works on any level. I never reacted like that. The changes fit in with the narrative and did not cause any significant deviations or halt the film's flow. Ichabod remaining in Sleepy Hollow and getting a happily ever after with Katrina worked largely because this change was not abrupt but rather the groundwork had been laid for it from the beginning.

I do not know if it is because of when this TV movie was made or what but during the day it is really bright in this movie and at night it's very poorly lit. It is the difference between 20/20 vision and Helen Keller at times. When filming, there is dark because it is night and dark to set a mood at night and dark because the budget limited the number of lights. I think the issue was the third item.

I do give them that the costumes looked good here. Not great but better than cheap costume shop items. My issue was that they were so dark in color that at night the characters tended to disappear into the blackness. It made the already difficult task of visually following the action that much harder.

The Legend of sleepy Hollow was a childhood favorite of mine that has not aged too badly. While it tries nothing new or inventive, it is a good piece of comfort food to watch. It is available in its entirety on YouTube.