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Okay, I just saw Rat Race on DVD and was thoroughly convinced (and thrilled) that Danny Elfman composed the filmscore… but alas, I was wrong. Dead wrong! The score was penned by John Powell, and comes as close to stylistic plagiarism as any ever has. I just knew the score WAS Elfman… I heard reminiscences of Beetlejuice, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Mars Attacks, and several others. Am I the only insane one here, or were others of you duped by a clever dopelganger?
There are some similarities in tone, but I don’t really think RAT RACE is a direct rip of any of Elfman’s music. It’s actually more in line with Rachel Portman’s comedic stylings like ADDICTED TO LOVE.
Ryan
I saw Rat Race and, though I knew ahead of time that Elfman hadn’t scored it, had the same thought that it did have a bit of Elfman feel to it… or at least a lot of similarities in terms of the traits and general fun that I really like about Elfman’s music.
I recommend getting the Rat Race CD even if you’re mostly an Elfman-exclusive fan; I bought it and I really love it. It’s a lot of fun.
check out EVOLUTION by John Powell as well if ur into that zany Elfman sound which is much more apparent in that score
The score to “Rat Race” exhibited a lot of Elfman characteristics except for coherence. Powell is all over the place! Even “Pee-wee” had moments of restraint! Incidentally, Powell was not the first composer attached to that project. Jerry Goldsmith was signed on but had to bow out to due to an appendectomy. Elmer Bernstein wrote and recorded a score only to have it rejected (as has become the norm it seems). It is a shame that Elmer had to see his music jettisoned considering his wonderful scores to “Animal House,” “Ghostbusters,” and “Airplane!” fitted the silliness of those films so well.
John Powell is great!
Konsti
Jerry Goldsmith was dropped from rat Race would have been good too
I think a Goldsmith or Bernstein score would have been interesting (especially after being reminded of such classics as Ghostbusters and Airplane!), but I loved Powell’s score for Rat Race.
Evolution is also one of my favorites, and for those who liked both, check out Antz by Powell and Henry Gregson-Williams.
I guess they all have their Elfman-esque moments, but I think Powell is really establishing himself among the top brass of film composers (maybe in a decade or so he will be one of the top, like Goldsmith, Williams, Zimmer, and, of course, Elfman.)
Speaking of Bernstein’s score for Rat Race being rejected, rejected scores have become sort of an obsession for me right now.
I own Bernard Herrmann’s rejected score for Torn Curtain (not one of his best, but still interesting) and John Ottman’s for Cruel Intentions.
I’ve heard that Alan Silvestri’s score for Mission: Impossible was recorded but rejected and he was replaced by Elfman. Even though Elfman’s Mission: Impossible is one of my all-time favorites, I’m interested in hearing Silvestri’s score.
I’ve also heard that Silvestri himself has replaced Angelo Badalamenti’s score for Identity. I think I heard that Badalamenti’s score was recorded, and since Badalamenti is one of my favorites, I would really like to hear that.
Does anyone know any other rejected scores and/or composers or where I might be able to find some of these recordings?
Here’s a repeat for you of a couple postings from the “Elfman to score HULK smash?” topic:
And of course, Alex North (Spartacus; A Streetcar Named Desire; Good Morning, Vietnam) wrote a complete original score for 2001: a Space Odyssey before the decision was made to use the classical selections that are so famously associated with the film today. North’s original score, fortunately, is now available on CD. I’d be interested to watch the film along with it.
Actually, North had only scored the film up to the intermission. Even though the CD is available, it is a concert-style rerecording that does not synch up entirely to the film.Oh that Powell……… Chicken Run ha!
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