1980 | Color | 104 Min | 1:33:1 | G | Comedy | Mono | NBC
Directed by Henning Scheller
Cast:
Jeff Goldblum as Ichabod Crane
Jeff Goldblum as Ichabod Crane
Paul Sand as Frederic Dutcher
Meg Foster as Katrina Van Tassel
Laura Campbell as Thelma Dumkey
Dick Butkus as Brom Bones
A TV adaptation of Washington Irving's classic ghost story. Jeff Goldblum is a nerdish Ichabod Crane that supplies the show with its lite hearted comedic edge, Dick Butkus is appropriately nasty Brom Bones, and Meg Foster as spirited Katrina van Tassel. Angered that Katrina has grown fond of schoolmaster Crane, Brom Bones determines to scare off the interloper by filling his head with spooky tales of a Headless Horseman. Crane pooh-poohs the legends, until one fateful ride home in the dark of night.
I picked up this VHS (yes I still have a working VCR) for a very low price. I never heard of this version so I felt it was a no-brainer. What an amazing and fun way to watch a classic tale. Steering clear of the traditional story you get that look and feel of an after-school special. I was immediately drawn into this movie's atmosphere. And the stellar cast was a hoot. Goldblum and Butkus are fantastic together. The comedy is not over the top and the ghost story behind it all is very tame and family-friendly.
Why is this movie not on DVD or shown on TV today? It holds up well to the test of time. And I would really love to see the television broadcast from that Halloween Night back in 1980 hosted by Steve Allen and Gary Coleman who performed skits at the commercial breaks. If you can find this little spooky gem I say pick it up, pop some corn and watch it this holiday season.
The VHS is going for anywhere around $5.00 to $40.00! And to think I picked this up for a wild 10 cents. Personally, I will be pulling this out for years to come around Halloween.
Make sure to check out the other blogger's counting down to Halloween at www.countdowntohalloween.com.
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| 4 Bloody Brains out of 5 |
*Full Movie is on YouTube for those of you with a Roku or Apple TV. Or the Patience to sit at your computer and watch it.
I actually did see this when it was originally broadcast and I loved it. I think it was my first exposure to Jeff Goldblum and I was sweet on Meg Foster. I also found the video for cheap at an estate sale a few years back. Thanks for reminding me, I need to dig it out and watch it with my kids. Yes, I still have a working VCR as well! And you're right. Why *isn't* this out on DVD?
ReplyDeleteAlthough not quite true to the Washington Irving story, it is an excellent teleplay and holds up well to the test of time - perhaps the best video experience of the story. Most VHS copies of this have two critical scenes missing. VHS tapes by Magnum and Starmaker are the offenders, while a rare VCI tape contains the full presentation and is now posted on Youtube. The first missing scene is the introduction that contains the stars’ names. The second is in the middle that has a ghostly sequence with furniture moving and other strange happenings. In the Magnum and Starmaker versions, only a chair is seen moving and you are left wondering why the scene is there. In the full VCI version it is all explained as a dream sequence. It’s unfortunate that a DVD producer hasn’t picked up this gem for cleaning and upgrading.the
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