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The Nightmare Before Christmas

1993 stop motion film directed by Henry Selick

The Nightmare Before Christmas (or Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas) is a 1993 film about the inhabitants of Halloween Town, who kidnap Santa Claus and take over Christmas one year, and the chaos that follows. It was released by Disney through Touchstone Pictures.

Directed by Tim Burton. Written by Caroline Thompson.
A ghoulish tale with wicked humour & stunning animation.

Dialogue

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[Under the orange disk of the moon, in a place called Halloweenland, the creatures of the night are busy. Smirking jack-o-lanterns dance in the graveyard. Werewolves howl. Corpses, vampires and witches join their voices in a ghoulish chorus of glee. Tonight is their favorite night of all: Halloween]
[And it has been a splendid one. As they gather down in the center of town to celebrate, everyone agrees on that. They also agree that such a night will not have been possible without the help of their leader, the king of Halloween, Jack Skellington]
[Everyone cheers wildly as Jack steps into the town square]
Vampire: You were a scream, Jack.
Werewolf: It was terrifying!
Witch: You're a witch's fondest dream.
[They cheer again as the Mayor claps Jack on his rickety shoulders]
Mayor: Thanks, Jack! We owe it all to you! Why, without your leadership------
[Jack cuts him off]
Jack: Not at all, Mayor. [But the Mayor doesn't notice that anything is wrong. He is too intent on keeping the crowd's attention focused on where it shall be; on himself]
Mayor: It's now my pleasure to give out the wonderful prizes. Our first award goes to the vampires, for most blood drained in a single evening. Congratulations, Fanged Ones! Second prize is to the Dark Lagoon Leeches, who also have a real taste for blood...
[The crowd cheers again, and Jack takes the opportunity to slip off. It is strange, but all the applause makes him feel horrible. He needs to go someplace that will cheer him up. He heads for the graveyard]
[He is so preoccupied that he never notices the frail, melancholy figure of Sally the Rag Doll watching him. Sally is mournful, as well, and with nice reason. She has been created by the town's official Evil Scientist. Try as she may, and she has tried many times, Sally can't seem to escape from him. Although he is confined to a wheelchair, he guards her jealously]
Saxophone Player: Nice work, bone daddy.
Jack: Yeah, I guess so. Just like last year, the year after that, and the year before that.
Dr. Finkelstein: Sally! You came back.
Sally: I had to.
Dr. Finkelstein: For this. [holds Sally's detached arm; she causes it to wave at herself]
Sally: [smiles] Yes.
Dr. Finkelstein: Shall we then? [later, he's reattaching Sally's right arm] That's twice this month you've slipped Deadly Nightshade into my tea and run off.
Sally: 3 times.
Dr. Finkelstein: You're mine, you know! I made you with my own hands.
Sally: You can make other creations. I'm restless. I can't help it.
Dr. Finkelstein: It's a phase, my dear, it'll pass. We need to be patient, that's all.
Sally: But I don't want to be patient!
Mayor: [pulling up to the gate to Jack's house in his car in front of the instrument players who jerk awake] Morning, gents. [goes through the gate and up the stairs to Jack's front door, humming "This is Halloween" as he goes. He walks right up to Jack's door and rings his screaming spider doorbell, still humming. There is no response. The mayor still hums placidly, then rings the screaming spider doorbell again before stopping his humming] Jack, you home? [there is still no response. His happy face switches to his worried face and he knocks on Jack's door. His worried face switches to his happy face again] Jack, I've got the plans for next Halloween! I need to go over them with you so we can get started. [his face switches from happy to worried again] Jack, please! I'm only an elected official here. I can't make decisions by myself. [puts a bull horn to his mouth and yells up at Jack's tower] Jack, answer me! [over balances, trips, and rolls down the stairs, landing at the gate]
Accordion Player: He's not home.
Mayor: Where is he?
Saxophone Player: He hasn't been home all night.
[The Mayor groans and faints]
Mayor: We've got to find Jack! There's only 365 days left 'til next Halloween!
Werewolf: 364!
Mayor: Is there anywhere we've forgotten to check?
Clown: I looked in every mausoleum!
Witches: We opened the sarcophagi!
Mr. Hyde: I tromped through the pumpkin patch.
Vampire: I peeked behind the cyclops' eye. I did, but he wasn't there.
Mayor: It's time to sound the alarm!
[Sally made Dr. Finkelstein a bowl of soup with wormswort and frog's breath. Then she secretly put Deadly Nightshade into the soup]
Sally: Lunch! [served him a bowl of soup]
Dr. Finkelstein: Ah, what's that? [sniffs] Wormswort! Mmmmm... [prepares to take a bite, but then sniffs suspiciously] and frog's breath?!
Sally: [innocently] What's wrong? I thought you liked frog's breath.
Dr. Finkelstein: Nothing's more suspicious than frog's breath! Until you taste it, I won't swallow a spoonful.
Sally: [shrugs] I'm not hungry. [accidentally knocks the spoon out of Finkelstein's hand on purpose] Oops.
Dr. Finkelstein: [as she shoves the spoon aside on the floor and, still bent over, removes a slotted spoon from her sock] You want me to starve! An old man like me who hardly has strength as it is! Me! To whom you owe your very life!
Sally: Oh, don't be silly. [dips the sifting spoon in the soup and pretends to taste it] Mmmm! See? Scrumptious.
[With a second thought, Dr. Finkelstein gulps down the soup as Sally looks on smiling]
Dr. Finkelstein: [sternly to Sally] You've poisoned me for the last time, you wretched girl. [slams the door shut, then hears a loud door bell] Oh, my head. The door is open!
Jack: [enters] Hello?
Dr. Finkelstein: Jack Skellington! Up here, my boy!
Jack: Doctor! I need to borrow some equipment.
Dr. Finkelstein: Is that so? What ever for?
Jack: I'm conducting a series of experiments.
Dr. Finkelstein: How perfectly marvelous! Curiosity killed the cat, you know.
Jack: I know.
Dr. Finkelstein: Come on into the lab, and we'll get you all fixed up.
Sally: Hmm. Experiments?
Dr. Finkelstein: [enters Sally's room] You can come out now, if you promised to behave. Sally? Sally? [sees the window open] Ooh, GONE AGAIN! [throws down the lantern]
Jack: The job I have for you is top secret, it requires craft, cunning, mischief...
Shock: And we thought you didn't like us, Jack. [she, Lock and Barrel giggle at this]
Jack: Absolutely no one is to know about it, not a soul! Now... [whispers for a time] ...And one more thing...leave that no-account Oogie Boogie OUT OF THIS!
Barrel: Whatever you say, Jack.
Shock: Of course, Jack.
Lock: Wouldn't dream of it, Jack.
[The 3 giggle again, and reveal that they have all crossed their fingers]
Jack: [shows a nutcracker to Behemoth] This device is called...a nutcracker.
Lock, Shock and Barrel: Jack! Jack! We got him! We got him! [they appear with a full sack]
Jack: Perfect! Open it up, quickly! [they open the sack and the Easter Bunny leaps out] That's not Sandy Claws.
Shock: It isn't?
Barrel: Who is it?
[The Easter Bunny hops around the room and sniffs curiously at Behemoth]
Behemoth: [freaking out] BUNNY!
[The Easter Bunny is terrified, and leaps back into the bag he was kidnapped in]
Jack: NOT Sandy Claws! Take him back!
Lock: We followed your instructions.
Barrel: We went through the door.
Jack: Which door?! There's more than one! Sandy Claws is behind the door shaped like THIS! [holds up a Christmas tree shaped cookie]
[Barrel and Shock look at Lock who looks awkward for a second]
Shock: [strangling Lock] I told you!
[The trio fight in anger; an annoyed Jack roars, and makes a monstrous face, which instantly stops Lock, Shock and Barrel's fight, freezing them on the spot]
Jack: [to the Easter Bunny who still scared and in the bag] I'm very sorry for the inconvenience, sir. [to Lock, Shock and Barrel] Take him home first, and apologize again! Be careful with Sandy Claws when you fetch him. Treat him nicely!
Lock: Got it!
Shock: We'll get it right...
Lock, Shock and Barrel: ...Next time!
[in Christmas Town; Santa is reading the list]
Santa: Kathleen? Bobby? Susie? Yes, Susie's been nice. Nice, nice, naughty. Nice, nice, nice. There are hardly any naughty children this year. [hears a Jingle Bells doorbell] Now, who could that be? [opens the front door to see Lock, Shock and Barrel]
Lock, Shock and Barrel: Trick-or-treat!
Santa: Huh?
[They then jump to stuff Santa into the bag]
Sally: [examining Jack in his newly-finished Santa suit] You don't look like yourself, Jack. Not at all.
Jack: Isn't that wonderful? It couldn't be more wonderful!
Sally: [holds up the clipboard sketch of him] But you're the Pumpkin King!
Jack: Not anymore! [breaks it over his knee] I feel SO much better now!
Sally: [pulling a loose thread from his cuff] Jack, I know you think something's missing, but- [accidentally catches his finger]
Jack: [lightly] Ow.
Sally: Sorry.
Jack: You're right. Something is missing. But what? I've got the beard...the coat...the boots...the belt...
Shock, Lock, Barrel: [come in] Jack! Jack! This time we found him!
Shock: This time we really did!
Lock: He sure is big, Jack!
Barrel: And heavy!
Santa: [bursting out the bag] Let me out!
[The Halloween citizens gasp in awe]
Jack: Sandy Claws, in person. What a pleasure to meet you. [prepares to shake but then looks down when their HANDS touch] Wh-! Why, you have hands! You don't have claws at all!
Santa: [dazed] Where am I?
Jack: Surprised, aren't you? I knew you would be. You don't need to have another worry about Christmas this year.
Santa: What?
Jack: Consider this a vacation, Santy. A reward. It's your turn to take it easy.
Santa: B-But there must be some mistake!
Jack: See that he's comfortable...Just a second, fellas! Of course! That's what I'm missing! [takes Santa's hat]
Santa: B-But...
Jack: Thanks.
Santa: Hang on, you just can't- [has the bag thrown over him again] Hold on! Where are we going now? [the henchmen leave with him]
Jack: Ho, ho, ho! No... [monotone] Ho, ho, ho. Ho...
Sally: This is worse than I thought. Much worse. [having an idea] I know! [leaves to get fog juice]
[After Jack asks to make Santa comfortable]
Barrel: Where're we taking him?
Shock: Where?
Lock: To Oogie Boogie, of course! There isn't anywhere in the whole world more comfortable than that. And Jack said to make him comfortable, didn't he?
Barrel and Shock: Yes, he did.
Santa: [from inside the bag] Haven't you heard of peace on Earth and goodwill toward men?
Lock, Shock and Barrel: NO! [burst out laughing maniacally]
[As Lock, Shock and Barrel try to shove Santa Clause into Oogie Boogie's lair]
Santa:: Don't do this! Naughty children never get any presents!
Shock: I think he might be too big!
Lock: No, he's not. If he can go down a chimney, he can fit...down...here!
Kid: Santa?
Jack: Merry Christmas, and what is your name?!
Kid: I...um...
Jack: That's alright. I have a present for you anyway. There you go, sonny! [slips out up the chimney, cackling as he goes]
Mother: And what did Santa bring you, Honey?
[The kid shows his parents his present: a shrunken head. The parents scream in terror]
Jack: [flying away] Merry Christmas!
[As the military canon are kept on firing, it hits one of the reindeer skeleton, then the back of the sleigh]
Jack: They're trying to hit us. [calls to Zero] ZERO! [Zero looks back at Jack, the military canon made a target and fires. It hits the entire sleigh Jack is driving, now falling] MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NI-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-IGHT!!!
[Jack crash-lands into the cemetery. Back in Halloween Town, the Mayor and the citizens are shocked and sad for Jack's death. The wolfman howls in tears]
Mayor: [in tears; walks to his car] I knew this Christmas thing was bad idea. [gets in] I felt it in my gut. [starts the car and drives away, through megaphone] Terrible news, folks! The most tragedy of our time! Jack has been blown to smithereens! Terrible, terrible news!
Police Officer: Attention. Attention, citizens. Terrible news. There is still no sign of Santa Claus. Although the imposter has been shot down. It looks like Christmas will have to be cancelled this year. I repeat: The imposter has been shot down, but there is still no sign of the real Santa Claus... [fades off in the distance]
Sally: [to Oogie while lashed to the roulette wheel with Santa] You wait 'til Jack hears about this! By the time he's through with you, you'll be lucky if you-
Mayor: [on the speakers while driving his car] The King of Halloween has been blown to smithereens! Skeleton Jack is now a pile of dust!
[Sally gasps]
Jack: [bursting out of a tombstone in the Halloween Town Cemetery] Come on, Zero. Christmas isn't over yet! [runs through Halloween Town countryside]
Oogie: [to Sally while leering at her] What's that you were saying about luck, ragdoll?
[Jack arrives at Oogie's lair and sees Sally and Santa tied up]
Santa: [from a distance] You monster! You fiend!
[Jack hears her cries for help and sneaks into Oogie's lair]
Oogie: [from a distance] 7! Well, guess what? Looks like it's Oogie's turn to boogie now! [Sally screams; with short jerks of the table lever] 1, 2, 3, 4... [with fast jerks of the lever] 5, 6, 7! [laughs maniacally]
Santa: This can't be happening!
Oogie: Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust. [mockingly] Oh. I'm feeling weak...with hunger! One more roll of the dice...ought to do it. [laughs and throws the dice into a skull; the dice come out and read Snake Eyes] What, Snake Eyes?!?! Grugh! [bangs his fist on the table and the dice read 11] 11! [laughing Menacingy] Looks like I won...the Jackpot, by cheating! [waves farewell to Sally and Santa] Bye-Bye, Dollface and Sandman! [laughs, then notices Sally and Santa haven't fallen in] What the...? [turns over the trap, revealing Jack instead] Aah!
Jack: Hello, Oogie!
Oogie: J-J-J-Jack! But they said you were dead. You must be... [steps on a button that unleashes his King of Spades cards that swing their swords] DOUBLE DEAD!!
Oogie: [jumps onto the spinning shredder] So long, Jack! [laughs] AH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!
Jack: [pulls a string that opens Oogie Boogie's arm, releasing his bugs] How dare you treat my friends so SHAMEFULLY!! [tears Oogie's burlap sack clean apart]
Oogie: NO! NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE!! MY BUGS, MY BUGS...!!! [his repetitive shrieks of "My Bugs!" get distorted as the bugs spill into the pot and are incinerated, except for the last one, which is trying to escape, and is planning to return with his revenge, but Santa squashes it with his foot]
Jack: Forgive me, Mr. Claus. I'm afraid I've made a terrible mess of your holiday.
Santa: Bumpy sleigh ride, Jack?! The next time you can get the urge to take over someone else's holiday, I'd rather listen to her! [indicating Sally] She's the only one who seems to make any sense in this insane asylum! [grumbling to himself] Skeletons, boogeymen...
Jack: I hope there's still time!
Santa: ...To fix Christmas? Of course there is! I'm Santa Claus! [flies off through the tube]

Cast

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  • Ed Ivory — Santa Claus/Sandy Claws
    • Vincent Prince (originally)
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