Johnston - Sleepy Hollow

     Although Burton incorporates Although Burton film Sleepy Hollow contains many of the same ideas and elements found in Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, there are still many differences seen between these two works. The first obvious difference is with the character of Ichabod Crane. In the film, the role is played by none other than Johnny Depp, a tall and good-looking man, but in the story the readers are led to believe that Ichabod Crane is awkward and unattractive. The physical appearance of these portrayals of Ichabod Crane is not the only differences concerning this character. In Irving’s story, Ichabod Crane is a schoolteacher, whereas in the film, he is a constable. In the story, Ichabod Crane is an overtly superstitious, but in the film, Ichabod Crane tries to hide the fact that he is superstitious.
     Another difference between Irving’s at Burton’s works is the ending. In the story, Ichabod Crane flees the town when Brom throws a Jack-O-Lantern at Crane while he is dressed as the headless horseman. In the movie however, Ichabod does not flee because he hears Brom and his friends off in the distance laughing about what just happened.
     Burton also creates more depth in the character of Ichabod Crane by giving insight to why he is the way he is. Burton includes scenes that show some of Ichabod’s dreams, and even tells us that Crane’s mother was murdered by his father because his father believed that Crane’s mother participated in witchcraft.
     Another difference is the relationship between Ichabod Crane and Katrina Van Tassel. In Washington Irving’s story, Ichabod falls in love with Katrina, but the same feelings are not reciprocated. In Burton’s film Katrina falls in love with Ichabod, even going so far as to try to cast a spell on him in order to protect him from evil things.
     In comparing both the story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the film Sleepy Hollow, I think Burton uses Washington Irving’s idea, but elaborates on the story, and creates the story of what would have happened if Ichabod did not flee after Brom’s cruel joke. I think Burton added more depth into Irving’s characters, and created the original story to produce a story of his own.