The Nightmare Before Christmas June 16, 2011

A Halloween classic beloved by children of all ages, The Nightmare Before Christmas finds Tim Burton returning to his roots in stop-motion animation. Though directed by Henry Selick, the film bears the indelible stamp of Burton’s style. Taking inspiration from Rankin-Bass TV specials, from yuletide staples like Rudolph to the proto-Burton romp Mad Monster Party?, Nightmare Before Christmas was developed by Burton over a decade. With his wide, hollow eyes, pin-stripe suit, bat bowtie and stitched-up mouth, Jack Skellington is among Burton’s most iconic creations. When Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween, naively decides he wants to take a stab at playing Santa Claus, mayhem ensues. A tour-de-force for longtime Burton composer Danny Elfman, who provides Skellington’s singing voice, Nightmare Before Christmas is not just a staggering technical achievement but also a soulful fairy tale.

This program is in conjunction with the current Tim Burton exhibition on view at LACMA.

Official Website: http://www.lacma.org/event/nightmare-christmas