The Whimsical World of Argus

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

of meatpies and friends

I feel you, Johanna...
I feel you...
Do they think that walls can hide you
Even now I am at your window
I am in the dark beside you
There is sweetness in your yellow hair
Johanna...

The lyrics keep ringing in my head; truly poignant, melodious, and tragic all at once.

If one asks...I must say I am quite the Tim Burton fan... just check out the list of movies by him I have watched and really liked! All these over the course of 15 years.

Beetlejuice,
Batman Returns,
Edward Scissorshand
Big Fish,
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,
Corpse Bride
and now...Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd- The Demon Barber of Fleet Street; I can relate to the movie and felt transported to the London of olden days. As the ship nears the docklands, I could see the City...the only 2 recognisable features (to me) of then London is the London Bridge and St Paul's Cathedral; both of which still stand today (I have visited them)...

The best part is, I have walked along Fleet Street (where Sweeney had his barber shop)...it is the street I walked to get to school in the summer of 2007 (the London School of Economics).

In its early days, Fleet Street was the home of the British Press, as well as Courts of Justice.

Modern day Fleet street as in the old, is populated with Courts, and now, Law Firms dominate the landscape.

And, Old Bailey a.k.a the Central Criminal Court (mentioned in the movie) is still around. Doubly cool!

Most movies by Burton captured my heart. And my all time favourite has to be Edward Scissorshand...and now Sweeney Todd; the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.


Fleet Street, Circa. 1890 (Around the time Sweeney Todd lived)


Fleet Street, 23 Jul 2007...I managed a snapshot of the busy yet charming street.

Interestingly, St Paul's Cathedral is in the backdrop of both pics...I must say its priceless (pure coincidence, but comparisons can be made; then and now).


Sir Vernon walking down Fleet Street in what looks like an auspicious colour.(St Paul's Cathedral ahead, yet again)...Sweeney Todd's barber is just a few blocks away.


Dining at Mrs Lovette's Meat Pie Store...in what is now Macdonald's... from here you a red pub which, was a chapel where the Priest used to stand at its entrance. And Antony (my buddy; not Anthony from the movie) like, Mrs Lovette's better half, gorges his food down- a symptom of Bloatation. Incidentally, Bloatation is something Mr Lovette died off. The place also serves surprisingly good Beef burgers...perhaps keeping to the tradition of Mrs Lovette's; where unbeknownst to many, human meat is truly delectable. Nasty but true.

According to Wikipedia:
Fleet Street is famous for the barber Sweeney Todd who was an early example of a serial killer, the character appears in various English language works starting in the mid-19th century. There are some records that show he actually EXISTED. (That's awesome!)

I miss London.

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