A frosty night in London's Leicester Square was warmed up by the presence of Tim Burton and his **Frankenweenie **crew for the opening night of the BFI London Film Festival. Sparky the dog couldn't make it, presumably in stop-motion quarantine or negotiating a book deal, but Burton's legendary voice cast was out in force, with Mrs B, Helena Bonham Carter, also turning out to lend her support. Presumably she's forgiven him for not including her in this one.
Catherine O'Hara and Martin Short, long-time pals and a double-act soon to be appearing on the Empire** podcast, were joined on the red carpet by the great Martin Landau.
The voice of Vincent Price-like science teacher Mr. Rzykruski in the black-and-white animation, Landau reunites with Burton for the second time. The first, Ed Wood, snagged him an Oscar; this one is notable for inspiring young Victor Frankenstein to reanimate poor dead Sparky and setting a whole world of mayhem in motion.
Check out the trailer to wrap your mind around Burton's return to stop-motion. **Frankenweenie **arrives in your local cinema with a waggly tail and big bolts in its neck on October 17. The LFF runs from now until October 21.