Simply Perfect

Sadly Over-hyped

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

This version, to me, takes Washington Irving's classic tale and really brings it to life in a family friendly, lighthearted vein. It's not a horror movie, it's not even suspenseful because you know who is doing what, but there is an element of wonder and the superstitions of the rural communities in upper New York make it a lovely treat to watch. If Jeff Goldblum was born to play a role, this was it. He is the scrawny, hawk-faced beanpole sort that you picture when you read Irving's classic. Meg Foster's simply beautiful in this version. I like the fact that they added another female character to give Katrina someone to play against even though it's not in the original. I love the setting with the deep snow and the bare trees. So many times shows 'pretend' to be set at a certain time of year but if you pay attention to the surrounding trees they are lush and green when they should be bare or it should be dreary and it's sunny and bright. It says it was filmed in Utah so it would be easy to build the primitive rural structures required for the shoot. The use of John Sylvester White as a confidante for Ichabod is wonderful. He is best known for his role as Principal Woodman in "Welcome Back, Kotter" and this role allows him to be gruff and comedic but not ridiculous. Dick Butkus is likewise perfect for his part. He is big and kind of dumb--a bit ox-like--but he's not without sympathy. You can easily see him bullying people in the area and being possessive of the fair Katrina Van Tassel. Still, he isn't so horrible that you want him to get hurt or killed. You simply want him to stop being so mean. The other members of the supporting cast: Paul Sand, Laura Campbell, James Griffith, and Tiger Thompson just add more layers to a well-known story.

The 1980 version of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is a great version to watch if you are in the mood for a light Halloween tale. This video is on YouTube in different places. The writer's stay somewhat close to the original text except in the end Katrina and Ichabod do fall in love and it is implied that they will get married and live happily ever after. I would have liked to have seen more interaction between Brom and Ichabod throughout the movie. However, the setting, acting, and overall atmosphere of the movie is sufficient for a good and nostalgic viewing of the story! Lastly, although Meg Foster gets a lot of the attention for her role, one can not overlook the beautiful Lauren Campbell. Also, in this version we meet an old school master named Winthrop Palmer. I do not believe he is in the original text. His role fits well in this version. Enjoy.

I remember watching this on TV as a teen. This movie is a fun flashback to the early 80's for those who grew up then, but despite what other reviewers have said, this version is NOT EVEN CLOSE to Washington Irving's short story.Prior to visiting Sleepy Hollow, NY recently, I re-read the original story. Great great fun---great descriptions!! But most movies stray from the story. Personally, I love Tim Burton's version, but I don't consider it Irving's story, but Burton's.It's too bad that all we have are old VHS copies of this. The copy I obtained from a local library was damaged beyond belief. There's gotta be a master somewhere--maybe someone can clean it up a little and put out a DVD--please?

I've loved this movie since its first airing back in 1980. Actually I only caught the ending that night because of being out late trick or treating..lol. Great cast, especially Jeff Goldblum and Dick Butkus. For a lot of the movie you get so wrapped up in the characters that you almost forget about the real headless horseman. There's just something very nostalgic about this film. The clothing, the log cabins, the small community, the nice manners, the ghost tales, the hospitality, the music, the location..so much to enjoy! The story is a little modified from the original but that's okay, it still works very well. I don't think much of it was filmed in a studio which gave it that more realistic feel. Just a wonderful film from beginning to exciting end. Yes a DVD release would be very nice.