“Stephen Joshua Sondheim (/ˈsɒnd.haɪm/) (born March 22, 1930) is an American composer and lyricist known for more than a half-century of contributions to musical theatre. Sondheim has received an Academy Award, eight Tony Awards (more than any other composer,[1] including a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre), eight Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, the Laurence Olivier Award, and a 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has been described by Frank Rich of The New York Times as “now the greatest and perhaps best-known artist in the American musical theater.”[2] His best-known works as composer and lyricist include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, and Into the Woods. He wrote the lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy.
Sondheim has also written film music, contributing “Goodbye for Now” to Warren Beatty’s 1981 Reds. He wrote five songs for 1990’s Dick Tracy, including “Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)” by Madonna, which won the Academy Award for Best Song.
The composer was president of the Dramatists Guild from 1973 to 1981. To celebrate his 80th birthday, the former Henry Miller’s Theatre was renamed the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on September 15, 2010, and the BBC Proms held a concert in his honor. Cameron Mackintosh has called Sondheim “possibly the greatest lyricist ever.””–WIKIPEDIA
Back in the day I was a playwright– 20 years worth. But even then I wasn’t a “musicals” guy. Only two got to me– Sweeney Todd and West Side Story. Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics for both. His plays kicked my ass but the movie adaptations were even better.
This is a screenwriting blog so I’ll stick to that angle, looking at Sweeney Todd today, and West Side Story another day. Above the movie clip I’ll put the corresponding screenplay (full screenplay here) so you can compare. The screenplay was written by John Logan.
- THE WORST PIES IN LONDON
9 INT. PIE SHOP -- DAY 9
Behind the dusty counter is...
MRS. LOVETT, a venal, vigorous and slatternly woman in her
40's.
She is currently busy chopping a loathsome mess of suet with
a wicked looking knife, her greasy hair hanging down over her
face.
(CONTINUED)
PAGE 9.
9 CONTINUED: 9
The moment Todd enters -- and the bell at the door sounds --
her head snaps up and her eyes are on him like a bird of
prey:
MRS. LOVETT
A customer!
Todd is startled, starts to go--
MRS. LOVETT
Wait! What's yer rush?
What's yer hurry?
(She sticks the knife into
the counter)
You gave me such a--
(Wipes her hands on her
apron) )
Fright. I thought you was a ghost.
Half a minute, can'tcher?
Sit!
Sit ye down!
(An order)
Sit!
(He obeys)
All I meant is that I
Haven't seen a customer for weeks.
Did you come here for a pie, sir?
(Todd nods. She flicks a
bit of dust off a pie
with a rag)
Do forgive me if me head's a little vague--
Ugh!
(She plucks something off
the pie, examines it)
What is that?
But you'd think we had the plague--
(She drops it on the floor
and stamps on it)
From the way that people--
(She flicks something off
the pie with her finger)
Keep avoiding--
(Spotting it moving)
No, you don't!
(She smacks it with her
hand)
Heaven knows I try, sir!
(Lifts her hand, looks at
it)
Tsk!
(She wipes it on the edge
of the counter)
But there's no one comes in even to inhale--
(CONTINUED)
PAGE 10.
9 CONTINUED: (2) 9
Tsk!
(She blows the last dust
off the pie as she brings
it to him)
Right you are, sir. Would you like a drop of ale?
(Todd nods)
Mind you, I can't hardly blame them--
(Pouring a tankard of ale)
These are probably the worst pies in London.
I know why nobody cares to take them--
I should know,
I make them.
But good? No,
The worst pies in London--
Even that's polite.
The worst pies in London--
If you doubt it, take a bite.
(He does. It's horrible)
Is that just disgusting?
You have to concede it.
It's nothing but crusting--
Here, drink this, you'll need it--
(She gives him the ale)
The worst pies in London.
- THESE ARE MY FRIENDS
Haunting music begins as she opens the case...
And we see it contains a beautiful set of razors.
He stands for a long moment, gazing down at his beloved
razors.
MRS. LOVETT
Those handles is chased silver, ain't
they?
TODD
Silver, yes...
These are my friends,
See how they glisten.
(He picks up a small
razor)
See this one shine,
How he smiles in the light.
My friend, my faithful friend.
(Holding it to his ear,
feeling the edge with his
thumb) )
Speak to me friend,
Whisper, I'll listen.
(Listening)
I know, I know--
You've been locked out of sight
All these years--
Like me, my friend.
Well, I've come home
To find you waiting.
Home,
And we're together,
And we'll do wonders,
Won't we?
Mrs. Lovett leans over him, in her own kind of trance as
well. They now sing simultaneously:
TODD
(Picking out a larger
razor)
You there, my friend,
Come, let me hold you.
Now, with a sigh
You grow warm
In my hand,
My friend,
My clever friend.
(Putting it back)
Rest now, my friends.
Soon I'll unfold you.
Soon you'll know splendors
You never have dreamed
All your days--
MRS. LOVETT
I'm your friend too, Mr. Todd.
If you only knew, Mr. Todd--
Ooh, Mr. Todd,
You're warm
In my hand.
You've come home.
Always had a fondness for you,
I did.
TODD
--My lucky friends.
Till now your shine
Was merely silver.
Friends,
You shall drip rubies,
You'll soon drip precious
Rubies...
- THE JUDGE RETURNS FOR A SHAVE
TODD
(joyfully)
Pretty women!
JUDGE
What we do for
They sing simultaneously as Todd smoothes bay rum on the
Judge's face and then reaches for his razor:
JUDGE
Pretty women!
Blowing out their candles
Combing out their hair--
Then they leave--
Even when they leave you
And vanish, they somehow
Can still remain
There with you there...
TODD
Pretty women!
Blowing out their candles
Or combing out their hair,
Even when they leave,
They still
Are there,
They're there...
The music builds dangerously as:
JUDGE
How seldom it is one meets a fellow
spirit!
TODD
With fellow tastes -- in women, at
least.
JUDGE
What? What's that?
TODD
The years no doubt have changed me,
sir. But then, I suppose the face of a
barber -- the face of a prisoner in
the dock -- is not particularly
memorable.
JUDGE
(a horrified realization)
Benjamin Barker!
TODD
BENJAMIN BARKER!
