An elderly woman tells her granddaughter the bedtime story of a young man named Edward (Johnny Depp) who has scissors instead of hands. It begins with an Avon Lady named Peg Boggs (Dianne Wiest) who wants to sell something at the decrepit Gothic mansion where Edward lives. Edward is the creation of an old inventor (Vincent Price) who died before finishing him. He had put scissors at the end of his arms as placeholders, but before he could replace them with the hands that were ready, the old man died.
Peg finds the innocent young lad and takes him home with her. She introduces Edward to her husband Bill (Alan Arkin), their son Kevin (Robert Oliveri), and their teenage daughter Kim (Winona Ryder). Edward has never seen anything like Kim, of course, and falls for her instantly. She is afraid of him to start with but soon discovers that he is innocent and harmless. Since all the neighbors are fascinated with Edward, Biggs throws a neighborhood barbecue to introduce him to suburban society. Everyone likes him but Kim’s boyfriend Jim (Anthony Michael Hall) and the religious fanatic Esmeralda (O-Lan Jones).
Edward finds some things about the world problematic, such as a waterbed (a scene that Depp invented), but soon realizes he has talents. He can trim hedges into brilliant topiaries and is a born hairstylist. While scouting for a location for a hair-salon, Joyce Monroe (Kathy Baker) tries to seduce him but that scares him. Joyce responds by spreading rumours about him. The bank will not give him a loan.
Jim is jealous over Kim and talks Edward into picking a lock, which triggers a burglar alarm and Edward is arrested. The police believe his isolated existence has left him with no grasp of reality or common sense. He is shunned by everyone but the Boggs family. At Christmas, he carves an angel ice sculpture with Kim’s face. The ice flies like snow and Kim dances in it, until Jim shows up, surprising Edward and causing him to cut Kim’s hand. Jim accuses him of attacking her, but she breaks up with Jim. Edward flees, destroying his works as he goes.
Kim’s parents go out looking for him. Edward returns, finding Kim at home. She asks him to hold her, but he can’t. Jim’s drunken friend nearly runs over Kevin, but Edward pushes him out of danger, cutting him. Witnesses accuse him of attacking Kevin. Edward runs away to his mansion. Kim goes after him and so does Jim, with a gun. Jim attacks Edward, who will not fight back until Jim slaps Kim. Then he stabs Jim and pushes him out a window. Kim confesses to Edward that she loves him and leaves him behind, telling the neighbors that Jim and Edward killed each other. The elderly woman telling the story is Kim. She knows Edward is still up there because he carves ice sculptures and the snow flies from the castle.
The film was directed by Tim Burton, produced by him and Denise Di Novi, written by Burton and Carole Thompson from her story. It was conceived during Beetlejuice and fast-tracked after the financial success of Batman. The music, of course, was by Danny Elfman and it was Vincent Price’s last film role. Critics and audiences loved it, and it won a Hugo and a Saturn, as well as several Oscar nominations. It is Tim Burton’s favorite work. It must remind you of Frankenstein (not to mention Beauty and the Beast) and it seems appropriate that Vincent Price be in it. It all began with a drawing of Edward that Burton made as a child, expressing his loneliness and isolation. Stan Winston created the Scissorhands. He and Ve Neil were nominated for the makeup. An extinct sea creature with claws like scissors is named Kootenichela Deppi after Johnny Depp.
This was the first time that Tim Burton and Johnny Depp worked together and they did several more films. Depp was anxious to break out of teen idol status. He watched films of Charles Chaplin to learn how to express emotion without words. He lost 25 pounds for the role. In high school, Winona Ryder had a crew cut, wore grunge, and liked the Sex Pistols. She was bullied by girls who looked exactly like her character Kim. The role of The Inventor was created for Vincent Price. If he could not do it, Leonard Nimoy was second choice. It was supposed to be a bigger role, but Price was sick with emphysema and Parkinsons. He fainted at one point under the lights. His daughter Victoria Price is also in the film. Burton had sent a copy of his film Vincent to Price, who was the first person of status who liked Burton’s work. The death scene was his last scene on film.
Trailer
Vincent Price Thriller Rap Live 1987