Corpse Bride
About the Film
In a gloomy Victorian village, the shy and accident-prone Victor Van Dort is to marry Victoria Everglot in a match arranged to unite his family’s new money with her family’s fading title. Terrified of fumbling his vows in front of everyone, Victor slips away into the woods to practise alone and, as he finally recites them perfectly, slides the wedding ring onto what he takes to be a gnarled tree root.
The “root” is the finger of Emily, a bride murdered on her own wedding night, who rises from the earth and joyfully claims Victor as her husband, whisking him down to the vibrant, jazz-filled Land of the Dead. Torn between the living Victoria he loves and the devoted, tragic Emily who has claimed him, Victor searches for a way home — until the truth of Emily’s death, and a very real threat to Victoria, forces a bittersweet resolution that finally lets Emily rest in peace.
Plot synopsis by johnny-depp.org.
Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp voices Victor Van Dort, a timid, good-natured young man from a nouveau-riche fish-merchant family. Nervous and easily flustered, Victor stumbles through his marriage rehearsal — dropping rings and even setting a dress alight — yet beneath the anxiety lies a gentle, genuinely loving heart, and he ultimately proves brave when those he cares for are in danger. Depp recorded the role at night in London while shooting Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by day.
Cast & Crew
Cast
Victor Van DortJohnny Depp
Emily, the Corpse BrideHelena Bonham Carter
Victoria EverglotEmily Watson
Barkis BitternRichard E. Grant
Lord Finis EverglotAlbert Finney
Lady Maudeline EverglotJoanna Lumley
Pastor GalswellsChristopher Lee
Elder GutknechtMichael Gough
Crew
DirectorsMike Johnson & Tim Burton
ScreenplayJohn August, Caroline Thompson, Pamela Pettler
MusicDanny Elfman
CinematographyPete Kozachik
ProducersTim Burton, Allison Abbate
StudioWarner Bros. Pictures
“With this hand, I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine.”
— Victor Van Dort, Corpse Bride
Filming Locations
- 3 Mills Studios, London, England (stop-motion production)
- Animated with Canon EOS-1D Mark II digital SLR cameras — among the first stop-motion features shot digitally
More about this film
Trivia
- The film is dedicated to executive producer Joe Ranft, who died in a car accident about a month before its release.
- The voice cast recorded almost entirely separately; only Albert Finney and Joanna Lumley performed together in the booth.
- It was the first stop-motion feature Tim Burton personally directed, having only produced The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).
- Johnny Depp shot Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by day and recorded Victor’s dialogue by night, working on both Burton films at once.
Awards
- 2005 National Board of Review — Best Animated Feature Won
- 2006 Annie Award — Ub Iwerks Award for Technical Achievement Won
- 2006 British Animation Awards — Best European Feature Film Won
- 2006 Academy Award — Best Animated Feature, nominated
