<P> Having been struck by the cinematic qualities of Sondheim's musical while still a student, Burton had entertained the notion of a film version since the early 1980s . However, it was not until 2006 that he had the opportunity to realize this ambition, when DreamWorks announced his appointment as replacement for director Sam Mendes, who had been working on such an adaptation . Sondheim, although not directly involved, was extensively consulted during production . Depp, not known for his singing, took lessons in preparation for his role, which producer Richard D. Zanuck acknowledged was something of a gamble . However, Depp's vocal performance, despite being criticized as lacking certain musical qualities, was generally thought by critics to suit the part . </P> <P> Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street was released in the United States on December 21, 2007 and in the United Kingdom on January 25, 2008 to largely positive reviews from critics . The film was chosen by National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2007 and won a number of awards, including Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture--Musical or Comedy and Best Actor--Musical or Comedy, as well as the Academy Award for Best Art Direction . Carter was herself nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress--Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, and Depp received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor . Although it was not an outstanding financial success in the U.S., it performed well worldwide, and has spawned a soundtrack album and various DVD releases . </P> <P> In 1846, Benjamin Barker, a barber, arrives in London, accompanied by sailor Anthony Hope . Fifteen years earlier, he was falsely convicted and exiled by the corrupt Judge Turpin, who lusted after Barker's wife Lucy . Barker adopts the alias "Sweeney Todd" and returns to his old Fleet Street shop, situated above Mrs. Nellie Lovett's meat pie shop, where she sells the "worst pies in London". Lovett tells him that Turpin raped Lucy, who then poisoned herself with arsenic . The couple's daughter, Johanna, is now Turpin's ward . Todd vows revenge, and re-opens his barber shop after Mrs. Lovett, who loves him unrequitedly, presents him with his old straight razors . Anthony becomes enamored with Johanna, but is caught by Turpin and driven away by his henchman, Beadle Bamford . </P> <P> Todd denounces faux - Italian barber Adolfo Pirelli's hair tonic as a fraud and humiliates him in a public shaving contest judged by Bamford . A few days later, Pirelli arrives at Todd's shop, with his boy assistant Tobias Ragg . Pirelli identifies himself as Todd's former assistant, Davy Collins, and threatens to reveal Todd's secret unless Todd gives him half his earnings . Todd kills Collins, and hides his body in a trunk . </P>

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