In 1982, Disney had a surprise success with a stop-motion animated short called VINCENT, which was the brainchild of one the many animators on their payroll. This animator had another idea that he had been kicking around for years, and started developing it as a 30 minute television special. The development stalled after a while, as these things so often do, and the animator eventually left Disney in 1984 to produce and direct his own films. The idea never went away, however, and when this now-successful film director found out that Disney still owned the rights to his idea, he approached the studio to see if they would be interested in producing it as a feature film. They were, and production started right away. The animator was Tim Burton, and the film that he could not let go of was the now classic Halloween/Christmas film THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
Slide down below the squiggle!
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS tells the story of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown. After Halloween night, Jack, feeling lonely and misunderstood, takes a long walk as he contemplates the rut he feels caught in. He eventually finds himself in a forest filled with trees that have doors on them which lead to other holiday towns. He stumbles into Christmastown and finds himself newly inspired by what he finds there. He decides to “take over” the holiday and enlists his friends in Halloweentown to give Santa a vacation and craft their own Christmas. Though his intentions are good (and oddly innocent), Jack is a creature of Halloween, and his Christmas is not at all what the rest of the world has in mind.
Though it is regarded as a Tim Burton film, the director of the movie was actually Henry Selick; Burton’s friend and fellow animator from his Disney days. Selick was a part of the project’s development from the very earliest days as was Rick Heinrichs, another Disney alum who helped Burton create the concept art and storyboards. Though clearly a Tim Burton brainchild, the subsequent work of Henry Selick makes it clear that the design of THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS was due in no small part to his contribution. The film is directed with great energy and style - never slacking in its pace over 76 minutes.
Just as much as the visual artists, however, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS also belongs to the great film composer Danny Elfman, who wrote all 10 of the film’s songs as well as the score. The darkly whimsical music presented in this movie became instantly iconic and represents the some of the very best thematic writing heard in a film musical. The opening song “This is Halloween” is probably the greatest Halloween song ever written, and many of the songs rise to that level. The music is not perfect, however. Though the tunes and ideas expressed in these songs are top-notch, the lyrics are wanting - in several places suffering from unfocused structure and lazy rhyming. It was an issue even during production. Tim Burton and Danny Elfman famously had a nasty falling out during the process - Elfman not returning to score Burton’s next film, ED WOOD. Fortunately, the rift didn’t last long, and it is an interesting study in how a clashing of ideas can produce greatness.
Christmas ultimately allows Jack to accept who he is and find inspiration in Halloween again. It also shows us that joy and the spirit of giving resides in even the darkest of places. It is, strangely, a film that understands Christmas way better than most traditional holiday movies do. So is THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie? It has been argued both ways and will continue to be. But you know, here is really no good reason that it can’t be both.
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS fun facts - The small guy inside the upright bass in the street band is modeled after Danny Elfman and Behemoth (the big guy with the cleaver in his head) is based on Tor Johnson - one of Ed Wood’s usual actors.
The concept began as a poem Tim Burton wrote after watching Halloween decorations removed from a store window display and replaced by Christmas merchandise. The juxtaposition of the two holidays’ styles inspired the idea.
Both Vincent Price and Patrick Stewart recorded the film’s opening narration - which was significantly longer that what ended up on film. Both were discarded for varying reasons and replaced by a shortened reading by Edward Ivory.
Mayor - Jack, please! I’m only and elected official here! I can’t make decisions by myself!
Jack Skellington - How dare you treat my friends so shamefully!!!
Behemoth - BUNNY!!!