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| “ | Because you asked me to. | „ |
| ~ Edward to Kim |
Edward Scissorhands is the titular main protagonist of the 1990 film of the same name.
He was portrayed by Johnny Depp, who also portrayed Dean Corso in The Ninth Gate, Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow, Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Victor Van Dort in Corpse Bride, Tarrant Hightopp in the live-action Alice in Wonderland films, the title character in Rango, Barnabas Collins in the Dark Shadows film, Tonto in the The Lone Ranger film and the title character in Sherlock Gnomes.
Biography[]
Past[]
Scissorhands was made by a very old inventor. His inventor gave him everything but one thing: hands. Sadly, the inventor died before Edward could be completed.
The Present[]
Seventeen years later, an Avon lady named Peg Boggs finds Edward and brings him to a colorful land called Suburbia. There, Edward shows his true talent by cutting hair, grooming pets, making beautiful ice and topiary sculptures. He also falls in love with Peg's beautiful teenage daughter, Kim Boggs.
Most of the neighborhood grows to accept and love the strange newcomer, but his innocent morals and unusually kind nature makes it clear that he does not fit in within the 'normal' world.
There is a dramatic showdown with Jim, Kim's abusive boyfriend and a series of confusions lead the town to alienate him as a dangerous outsider.
At the end, Edward goes back to his lonely castle home and Kim kisses him which she tells him that she loves him.
Later, Kim tells the town that Edward and Jim killed each other, ensuring that Edward will be left in peace forever. The last moments of the film reveal how much Edward's brief presence changed the town and Kim.
The future[]
Edward spends his immortal life continuing to tend to his garden. Even somehow acquiring blocks of ice to turn into sculptures. All the debris from his sculptures blows down to the town, creating fake snow. Unknown to Edward, Kate is still alive but old. She still dances in the snow thinking of him.
Trivia[]
- Before Johnny Depp was cast, Jim Carrey, and Robert Downey, Jr. were all considered for the role of Edward Scissorhands.
- Tom Cruise was considered for the role, but ultimately did not take it, because he wanted a happier ending.
- Gary Oldman was offered the title role, but he also turned it down.
- The late Michael Jackson was rumored for the part of Edward.
- When Edward runs away back to his house, Johnny Depp collapsed from heat exhaustion due to the extreme temperatures and the leather costume.
- Edward is wearing a 1990 University of Virginia baseball cap during the burglary.
- Johnny Depp had to lose a reported 25 pounds for the role of Edward Scissorhands.
- Johnny Depp stated that he "cried like a baby" when he first read the script.
- Johnny Depp was determined to nail the character and refused any cooling agent, even in his all-leather costume.
- This film marks the first time that Tim Burton and Johnny Depp worked together. They ended up becoming good friends since this film.
- Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder dated throughout filming of this movie, and became engaged during the same year (1990).
- When Edward goes to have his hands sharpened, the storefront was that of an actual hardware store called Crowder Brothers in the Southgate Shopping Center. At the time of the filming, they did offer a sharpening service, and they did have a giant motorized Wenger in the window.
- Though Tim Burton was unfamiliar with Johnny Depp's then-popular performance in 21 Jump Street, he had always been Burton's first choice. At the time of his casting, Depp was wanting to break out of the teen idol status which his performance in 21 Jump Street had afforded him. Fox studio executives were so worried about Edward's image, that they tried to keep pictures of Depp in full costume under wraps until release of the film. To prepare for his role, Johnny Depp watched the films of silent movie actor Charles Chaplin to get an idea of how to emote without dialogue.
- Johnny Depp's wardrobe and prosthetic makeup took 105 minutes to apply.
- During the scene where Edward is cutting the neighborhood ladies hair, the song playing is from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Johnny Depp would later go on to play Sweeney Todd in another collaboration with Tim Burton.
- Edward's odd hands mean he is unable to touch others physically, which becomes a problem when he falls for Kim. The film suggests there are ways he could gain ordinary hands, but that never comes to pass. Ultimately, it matters more to him that she understands and reciprocates his love.
- The character is parodied in Munchkin Steampunk. There is a Level 10 monster that is called Edward Blenderhands. He wears an outfit whose sleeves cover his hands, which carry blenders that stick out. His special quirk is his inability to attack the lowest level player, but if the lowest-level character is tied with someone else, Blenderhands will still attack. His bad stuff is death as one of his blenders goes to purée and his other one goes to blend. Mechanics are at +3 versus Blenderhands.
