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Score Composed and Produced by:
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Mark Mancina
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Release Date:
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December, 2003
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Availability:
Promotional release by the studio only. Copies have sold at online auction houses for over $100.
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Sorry, there are no commercial ordering options for this title. However, you can
search for this title at the soundtrack specialty outlets listed on the Filmtracks Links Page. |
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Filmtracks Recommends:
Buy it... the promotional score album if you enjoyed the body of Mark
Mancina's work in the film and are willing to pay for only 20 minutes of
it.
Avoid it... if the hype and potentially high prices for the short promo
isn't worth any 20-minute album.
Filmtracks Editorial Review:
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The Haunted Mansion: (Mark Mancina) Never has
Disneyland's New Orleans Square had such overwhelmingly elegant treatment on
the big screen as in 2003, when Walt Disney Studios decided to take both of
its famed Cajun amusement park rides and translate them onto the big screen.
The summer season was dominated by Pirates of the Caribbean, an
extremely successful film with a best-selling score album despite a critical
bashing of the Media Ventures music for its mindless electronic approach.
Disney got a chance to redeem itself in the minds of that segment of the
population that values both the history of the Disney attractions and their
music when they followed with The Haunted Mansion. Ironically, the
film and its lead, Eddie Murphy (a curious choice from the outset), faded
nearly immediately from popular attention, although Mark Mancina's score for
the project was deemed a far more appropriate recording for the film than
Pirates of the Caribbean had been. The history of music for the
original haunted house attractions had always played a much bigger role in
the ride itself than had Pirates of the Caribbean, with a CD of audio
commemorating the opening of the haunted mansions in Disney parks around the
world just a few years ago. Mainstream composer John Debney had rescored the
themes for the EuroDisney Theme Park's haunted house, "Phantom Manor," in
Paris, and this grandiose piece of music (separated from the sound effects
of the ride) is a much sought after item. If the forces of the universe had
aligned themselves correctly, then Debney would have been the perfect
candidate to score the feature film version of The Haunted Mansion,
although Mark Mancina's score would end up being very similar in its level
of sustained orchestral volume as you might expect from a Debney venture.
The fully orchestral and choral recording by Mancina raises ghostly whispers
and outright orchestral terror just as a fan of the ride would expect and
admire. The final irony of all of this equation is that Mancina's score,
despite the success of Pirates of the Caribbean, was never released
on CD to the public.
As was done with Mancina's Brother Bear (another
Disney project late in 2003 that didn't present its score material very well
on the commercial album), Walt Disney Pictures pressed a fuller, score-only
promo of The Haunted Mansion specifically for the purposes of gaining
the studio a possible Oscar nomination for one of them. Had the split Oscar
score categories (drama/comedy) still been in place, this may have worked,
but predictably, neither Mancina effort was nominated. While both fuller
scores merit praise for Mancina's efforts in 2003, The Haunted
Mansion is the highlight of the year for the composer, running at full
steam through a joyride of haunting, lyrical music and the all-out crashing
of terror. Compared to Debney's interpretation of the ride, Mancina's isn't
as elegant or huge (the flighty operatic female voices in Debney's version
are missed), although Mancina does offer just enough beauty and harmonic
statements of theme to counter the appropriate level of chaos that parades
through the film's chases. The overture (or main title cue) sets a stage
that has playful, prancing rhythms from the influences of Danny Elfman and
full statements of theme that share structural ideas (including chord
progressions) with the organ music and operatic singing within the rides
themselves. In terms of instrumentation, Mancina does employ a harpsichord
and organ for the occasion, and when they are in use, the score's
authenticity is fantastic. He does fall back into more traditional
orchestral use for the majority of his score, although the omnipresent
chorus provides enough of the basic haunting necessary for the overall
effect. The highlights of the score are the majestic middle passages
presented on the promotional album, including "Going to Heaven" and
"Vacation at Last." These cues may not journey into new territory musically,
but their harmony is a welcomed change from jumpy mass of action underscore.
The promotional album only offers twenty minutes of score in one long suite
(in superb sound quality), including the "Overture" heard on the song album.
That commecial album was slammed by critics for not only neglecting more
score material, but also for its songs unrelated to the film and/or the
ride. Mancina fans will be impressed by this promo, and if you have a choice
between them, The Haunted Mansion offers more quality, unreleased
music than the concurrent Brother Bear promo album. The length of the
former is, however, a substantial detraction. ***
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Viewer Ratings and Comments:
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1. Suite: (19:10)
• Main Title (0 - 2:43)
• Try Again/Rescue/Sara Runs to Jim (2:44 - 5:00)
• Get Away From Her/Sara Passes Out (5:01 - 9:02)
• Going to Heaven/Vacation at Last (9:03 - 13:51)
• Don't You Remember? (13:52 - 15:32)
• Meeting Leota/Spinning Table (15:33 - 19:10)
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There is no packaging other than a front and back slip with basic information.
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