'Edward Scissorhands' "...isn't perfect. It's something better: pure magic" (Travers, 1990) is created

and directed by Tim Burton in 1990 tells a Frankenstein-inspired story where an inventor creates

himself a son-like figure. However, to the boys’ misfortune the inventor dies before finishing off his

creation and the boy (Edward) is left with scissors for hands, alone in an empty mansion next to an

unknown and very different neighbourhood.

The derelict mansion that Edwards lives in looks like a haunted building with the church-stylized

windows, decaying stone and the slightly elongated and deformed animal statues, all of which are

coloured in grayscale. This set of darkness and mystery echoes in Edward's character (played by

Johnny Depp) with his unkempt dark hair, chalky skin and fear of human communication.

We see how unaware of the world Edward is when we come to his personal garden filled with

colourful flowers and hedges trimmed and cut into various animals, with this in hand we can

understand that his loneliness has given him a child-like naiveness about him. He is creating the

world he idealises. As described by Empire Online a "dreamlike world" (Berry, Anon).

When we come to the 'flawless' pastel-coloured strewn neighbourhood we can identify heavy

contrasts and big influences from the 60's. As mentioned by the Victoria & Albert Museum the 60s

era was "vivid, clashing colours" (Anon). This Stepford-like town acts as a blueprint for consumerism

and 'non-identity’ due to the repetitiveness layout of the apartments. (See images below).

Figure 1 - Edwards Mansion

Figure 2- Edwards Garden

Overall, the set and sound design (created by Danny Elfman) have created a "perennial tale, a gothic-

goofy twist" (Howe 1990). Which gives this abnormal romance the upper-hand and delightful charm.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anon, http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/h/history-of-1960s-fashion-and-textiles/

(Accessed on 9/11/13)

Berry . J, Anon, http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?DVDID=6549

(Accessed on 9/11/13)

Howe . D, 1990

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpsrv/style/longterm/movies/videos/edwardscissorhandspg13ho

we_a0b2c5.htm

(Accessed on 9/11/13)

Travers . P, 1990 http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/edward-scissorhands-19901214

(Accessed on 9/11/13)

Figure 3- American estate Figure 4 - Neighbourhood

Figure 5 – Edward embracing Kim

ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1 – Edwards Mansion, Edward Scissorhands, 1990, Tim Burton, Film Still, United States, 20th

Century Fox http://fogsmoviereviews.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/edward_scissorhands_hill.png

(Accessed on 9/11/13)

Figure 2 – Edwards Garden, Edward Scissorhands, 1990, Tim Burton, Film Still, United States, 20th

Century Fox http://www.alicia-logic.com/capsimages01/esc_017Castle.jpg

(Accessed on 9/11/13)

Figure 3 – American estate, photograph, Anon,

http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2010/1008/360_whomeowner_0906.jpg

(Accessed on 9/11/13)

Figure 4 – Neighbourhood, Edward Scissorhands, 1990, Tim Burton, Film Still, United States, 20th

Century Fox

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xDCOhtRz8E/SwIJzYsgE8I/AAAAAAAAAxg/c7C2waJclLo/s1600/33160_51

2x288_generated__ZoVyyLEhHU%2BIY-69Fcuk-Q.jpg

(Accessed on 9/11/13)

Figure 5 – Edward embracing Kim, Edward Scissorhands, 1990, Tim Burton, Film Still, United States,

20th Century Fox http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/Edward-Scissorhands.jpg

(Accessed on 9/11/13)