I have a couple questions about the sweeney todd ending...?

Question

I've seen the movie about 500 times one of the questions is to clarify and the other is just for your thoughts...

1 - when Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett are in the cellar searching for Toby, did they really have the attentions of killing him? I thought about it and in a way, it doesn't make sense, the way Mrs. Lovett was like a mother to him, and a mother should never want her child dead... (unless you're Casey Anthony or something)...

and

2 - what do you think happens to the only 3 known survivors (Toby, Anthony, and Johanna)?

Answer 1

I think Sweeney wanted Tobby dead because he knew too much now and would blab if they let him go. Mrs. Lovett probably did not want him dead, but she's afraid of/ in love with Sweeney so I think she would have allowed Sweeney to kill Toby, but she'd be angry about it and briefly try to stop him.

Also I think Anthony and Johanna run far away and live happily ever after, just cause I can't think of anything else.

My friend saw the broadway play of Sweeney Todd and she says the play begins at Sweeney's funeral. Then it cuts to an insane assylum where Toby is being kept because he was found with all these dead bodies in the cellar. He sounds crazy and the police don't believe him, so he tells the story of Sweeney Todd, the demon barber of fleet street. Then he begins his story which starts at the scene in the beginning of the movie.

Answer 2

Well, haven't seen the movie but I've seen the play many times, and know it quite well.

It might be different in the movie, but most versions of the play ususally take the attitude that Mrs. Lovett would do anything to get what she wants - putting dead bodies in pies, lying, or even killing Tobias. Everything is a means to an end with her.

In the original Broadway production (the one in 1979, not the most recent one in the assylum. The original was set in a London full of machinary and the rubbish of the industrial revolution. Harold Prince was the director, and it was FANTASTIC) she was depicted as the ultimate capitalist. There was definately a class element in that particular production. But even in other productions, she's usually shown to do whatever it takes to get what she wants.

Answer 3

I thought that Sweeny had the intention of killing him but mrs. lovett just wanted to find him.

Answer 4

I love this movie.  Great Questions.  Now you have me thinking.