We’re just one day away from the release of Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd DVD, and the movie blogs are buzzing about it. Thrillpeddlers are featured in the documentary Grand Guignol: A Theatrical Tradition, which seems to be a stand-out among the DVD’s bonus features.

From Dread Central:

Grand Guignol: A Theatrical Tradition, takes a look at the birth of horror theatre in France and the impact it had on both the Broadway musical and, of course, the film itself. As a huge fan of everything Grand Guignol, seeing its history documented from its birth in 1897 to present day was an absolute dream for me! Riddled with still photos and lots of insight, this is one part of this set you just don’t want to miss.

From ING:

Perhaps the most interesting and slightly off-topic featurettes is Grand Guignol: A Theatrical Tradition. Grand Guignol chronicles the history of a horror theater in France and its influence on the Broadway production of Sweeney Todd.

From Obsessed With Film:

Grand Guignol: A Theatrical Tradition - LOVED this nice doc about the history of the Grand Guignol, which very much informs this musical and film adaptation. Once again, many of the old sites that once housed Grand Guignol plays still stand in London to this day, which just amazes me.

From DVD Maniacs:

Grand Guignol: A Theatrical Tradition (19:12) is a fascinating featurette that explores the origins of the Parisian theatrical tradition that started in 1897 in an old deconsecrated chapel and became a phenomena. There are some great pictures of various productions and footage from the theater itself, and some interesting interviews with authors and experts who have written about the history of Grand Guignol. We learn how the theater managed to capture the atmosphere of horror and in turn made a mark for itself. From there the differences between Grand Guignol and English Melodrama are covered before Sweeney Todd’s place in both traditions is covered. Also discussed how sometimes social commentary would creep into the plays and how the French Grand Guignol plays influenced early American horror films.

From DVD Movie Guide:

Grand Guignol: A Theatrical Tradition lasts 19 minutes and 14 seconds. In it we hear from Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries Professors Richard J. Hand and Michael Wilson, The Grand Guignol: Theatre of Fear and Terror author Mel Gordon, “Le Theatre du Grand-Guignol” director Charles Nonon’s great-grandson Eric Horton, “Thrillpeddlers Hypnodrome” producer Russell Blackwood, and “Thrillpeddlers” co-founder/playwright Daniel Zilber. We get an examination of the history of Grand Guignol theater and aspects of the genre. “Tradition” digs into the subject well and proves quite informative.

From Soundtrack.net:

Grand Guignol: A Theatrical Tradition is a 19-minute exploration of the old 19th century Parisian tradition of macabre theater. It’s very in-depth and takes us from the back alleys of Paris where the theater found its roots (reminding me very much of the Théâtre des Vampires in Interview with the Vampire) to the modern day incarnation in San Francisco.

And finally, from DVD File:

Grand Guignol: A Theatrical Tradition (19:14) is my favorite featurette; it focuses on a particular style of theater and film, which began in Paris in 1897 and eventually evolved into today’s horror genre.

Please note, the Grand Guignol bonus feature is only on the special 2-Disc Collector’s Edition.