Heads are going to roll

by Terry Cipollini

staff writer

With the passing of Halloween will go the ghosts and goblins. right? Lucky for us the answer is wrong. On Nov. 19 the Headless Horseman will come to life on the big screen. The movie version of the classic tale, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." will star Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci and Christopher Walken. Depp will play the role of Ichabod Crane and Ricci will play the role of Katrina Van Tassel.

Written by Washington Irving and published in 1820, this story combines an old German legend with a touch of romance. The legend is of the Headless Horseman who roams the woods of Tarrytown, New York. He is believed to be a Hessian soldier who had his head blown off by a canon. He haunts the woods at night, waiting for travelers to cross his path. The villagers believe that if they make it throug.li the woods to the church bridge chey wiii be safe from his wrath. Ichabod Crane comes to the village as a "geeky" schoolteacher who gets caught up in his desire for the fair Katrina Van Tassel. The town hero, Brom Van Brunt, is also seeking the affections of Katrina. Late one evening after a party, Ichabod attempts to pass through the woods and is never seen again. cellence and English professor, said. In this classic tale, Irving knows more than he is telling us," Young said. The reader is not sure if the Headless Horseman killed Ichabod. Young suggests the possibility that Ichabod was scared off by Van Brunt in order to keep Katrina for himself. The movie version takes a different approach to this tale. Depp will star as a New York constable sent to investigate a series of murders in which the victims have been beheaded. Ricci plays the role of the fair maiden to be saved. Have no fear, this is not all romance. There is plenty in this movie to surprise and scare the

Love and Depp. photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

"Irving was well respected by his peers and put American literature on the map," Dr. Arthur Young, director of the Center for Academic Ex- viewers. On a scale of one to ten, Stephanie Masucci. a sophomore said, "It will be a ten on the scary scale." After seeing a brief preview of the movie. Masucci said, 'Tm looking forward to seeing the movie because it is set in a different time period which means there will be excellent costumes, sets and a different style of acting."

The movie plays in theaters Nov. 19, 1999