Examples of Edited Dialogue
The following is a result from concomitantly reading the screenplay and viewing the film.
These are but just a few instances of editing. They are included because I feel fairly certain they once existed in full. The deleted dialogue and actions, read in the screenplay, will be underlined.
The first is a segment from the Van Tassel harvest party, when Baltus and Lady Van Tassel introduce themselves to Constable Crane.
The first is a segment from the Van Tassel harvest party, when Baltus and Lady Van Tassel introduce themselves to Constable Crane.
From The Art of Sleepy Hollow:
BALTUS (CONT'D)
Young sir, you are welcome even if you are selling something!
This pleasantry relaxes the atmosphere around Ichabod.
ICHABOD
Thank you, sir. I am Constable Ichabod Crane, sent to you from New York with authority to investigate murder in Sleepy Hollow.
This has quite an effect. A man we will know as MAGISTRATE PHILPSE looks up sharply. A man we will know as REVEREND STEENWYCK grunts skeptically. A man we have already seen, DOCTOR LANCASTER, exchanges a surprised look with another man, NOTARY HARDENBROOK.
REVEREND STEENWYCK
(rudely)
Well, what use is a constable?!
Lady Van Tassel gives the Clergyman a reroachful look.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Then, Sleepy Hollow is grateful to you, Constable Crane - I hope you will honor this house by remaining with us until . . .
BROM
Until you've made the arrest!
To Ichabod's surprise this gets a nervous laugh. Baltus frowns at Brom. Katrina looks at Ichabod with renewed interest.
BALTUS
(to his wife)
Well spoke!
The scene as it plays in the film:
An elderly, grandly dressed gentleman, Baltus Van Tassel, enters the room. His role as host is at once recognized by his general countenance and manner. He is accompanied by a similarly dressed, fair and elegant woman, his wife, who shows an interest in the unknown man.
"Young sir, you are most welcome, even if you are selling something," Baltus says, kindly.
"Young sir, you are most welcome, even if you are selling something," Baltus says, kindly.
"Thank you, sir," Ichabod replies, reaching into his jacket to retrieve his papers. He presents the documentation to his host. "I am Constable Ichabod Crane sent to you from New York to investigate murder in Sleepy Hollow."
Ichabod adjusts his jacket with no small sense of pride. Baltus' face shows surprise at his statement. Brom Van Brunt, instantly jealous, moves closer to Katrina, making certain the constable understands his status as Katrina's intended.
Lady Van Tassel speaks for Baltus as her husband examines Ichabod's paper with a combination of shock and bewilderment. "Then Sleepy Hollow is grateful to you, Constable Crane. And we hope you will honor us by remaining in this house."
"Well spoke, dear," Baltus says, rejoining the world.
Another scene from The Art of Sleepy Hollow:
EXT. DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE - DAY
Young Masbath sits waiting.
Doctor Lancaster stands with Philipse (hung over), Steenwyck and Hardenbrook, speaking agitatedly. OTHER PEOPLE have gathered in the background.
The door to the doctor's residence opens and Ichabod steps out. He is bloodied, shaken, futilely wiping at the mess with a blood-covered cloth, looking up . . .
All attention goes to Ichabod. Everyone's horrified.
ICHABOD
I am . . . finished.
STEENWYCK
What in God's name have you done to her?
(pointing) Magistrate Philipse, you are the word of law here . . . put him in irons!
Philipse and Ichabod exchange a look. Philipse nips from his flask.
PHILIPSE
And what did you find out, Constable?
ICHABOD
That there are not four victims but five. The Widow Winship was with child.
The small crowd murmers, shocked. Doctor Lancaster recovers, furious.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
What of it? She should have been left to make her peace with God and not cut to bits by Constabulary.
Ichabod is shaken for a moment, remembering the similar charge made against him in New York.
ICHABOD
The sword was thrust into the womb and no farther. A symbolic murder. We are dealing with a madman.
As it is in the film:
Young Masbath waits anxiously, sitting on the stairs outside Doctor Lancaster's practice.
The town elders stand in the empty street, speaking to one another, passing time.
The doors open and Ichabod emerges, his apron and face covered in dried blood. He wipes his hands with a cloth; his mood seems purposeful, slightly ill at ease.
The men turn. We see Killian and a few other town members walk from the shadows of a building. They too are interested.
"I am finished," Ichabod announces.
"What, in the name of God, have you done to her?" Steenwyck bellows.
"We are dealing with a madman," Ichabod states.
"What did you find out, Constable?" asks Philipse, flask in hand. He is unshaken.
"The Widow Winship was with child."
The reaction of the townspeople indicates that they are at a loss for words.
The sequence is shown out of order, as you can see. The ending, with the men standing agog, is from the same chain of footage used just seconds before.
The sequence is shown out of order, as you can see. The ending, with the men standing agog, is from the same chain of footage used just seconds before.
The final example is a portion from an intimate moment between Ichabod and Katrina. He has unintentionally interrupted Ms. Van Tassel while she reads in the sewing room of her home.
ICHABOD
There was something else too. Why did no one think to mention that Van Garretts are kith and kin to the Van Tassels?
KATRINA
Why, because there's hardly a household in Sleepy Hollow that is not connected to every other by blood or marriage. I have more cousins than fingers and toes to count them on.
A cock crows. Ichabod goes to the window to look at the edge of dawn.
ICHABOD
I see.
KATRINA
This land was Van Garrett Land, given to my father when I was in swaddling clothes.
ICHABOD
Given by the dead Van Garrett?
KATRINA
(nods)
The Van Garretts were the richest family round these parts even then. When my father brought us to Sleepy Hollow, Van Garrett set him up with an acre and a broken-down cottage, and a dozen of Van Garrett's hens. My father prospered, and built us a new house. I owe my happiness to him. I remember living poor in the cottage. Should I show you?
ICHABOD
Yes. I would like to see where you were as poor as I am.
As it is in the film:
Katrina and Ichabod are together, alone in the near dawn, the constable having stepped into the room after seeing a line of light escaping a closed door. In the sewing room, he finds the woman who owns his heart reading books she must hide.
After confiding to Ichabod the reason for her secrecy, Katrina shares information about her mother's death, and step-mother's entrance into the family. Ichabod listens, and is urged to speak. "There was something else too. Why did no one think to mention that the Van Garretts are kith and kin to the Van Tassels?"
"Because there is hardly a household in Sleepy Hollow that is not connected to every other by blood or marriage."
"I see."
Ichabod leaves the space near Katrina, moving to look out a window. The sky is still dark. Katrina rises and follows him.
"The land you're looking at is Van Garrett land, given to my father when I was in swaddling clothes," Katrina explains. "The Van Garretts were the richest family around these parts. When my father brought us to Sleepy Hollow, Van Garrett set him up with an acre and a broken-down cottage. My father worked hard for his family, and prospered and built this house. I owe my happiness to him." Katrina pauses, smiling as she remembers her past. "I remember living poor in the cottage. Should I show you?" She seems to question herself as much as Ichabod.
"Yes," is his reply.
After confiding to Ichabod the reason for her secrecy, Katrina shares information about her mother's death, and step-mother's entrance into the family. Ichabod listens, and is urged to speak. "There was something else too. Why did no one think to mention that the Van Garretts are kith and kin to the Van Tassels?"
"Because there is hardly a household in Sleepy Hollow that is not connected to every other by blood or marriage."
"I see."
Ichabod leaves the space near Katrina, moving to look out a window. The sky is still dark. Katrina rises and follows him.
"The land you're looking at is Van Garrett land, given to my father when I was in swaddling clothes," Katrina explains. "The Van Garretts were the richest family around these parts. When my father brought us to Sleepy Hollow, Van Garrett set him up with an acre and a broken-down cottage. My father worked hard for his family, and prospered and built this house. I owe my happiness to him." Katrina pauses, smiling as she remembers her past. "I remember living poor in the cottage. Should I show you?" She seems to question herself as much as Ichabod.
"Yes," is his reply.
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