The Haunted Mansion
Added on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 Posted by Tim Horemans
Intrada presents the Premiere release of Mark Mancina score for Disney’s 2003 movie, based on their wildly popular Disneyland theme park ride! Eddie Murphy stars, Terence Stamp, Wallace Shawn, Marsha Thomason, Jennifer Tilly surround him, Rob Minkoff directs. Lavish, inspired music by Mancina scored for large orchestra, choir brings warmth, humor, excitement to fanciful, spooky tale.
Premiere release of Mark Mancina score for Disney’s 2003 movie, based on their wildly popular Disneyland theme park ride! Eddie Murphy stars, Terence Stamp, Wallace Shawn, Marsha Thomason, Jennifer Tilly surround him, Rob Minkoff directs. Lavish, inspired music by Mancina scored for large orchestra, choir brings warmth, humor, excitement to fanciful, spooky tale. Real estate agents Murphy, Thomason are summoned to imposing mansion tucked away in New Orleans swamplands and encounter owner and butler with secrets galore. Wild tale offers both haunting romantic sadness and grim frightening set pieces. Mancina makes great use of familiar Buddy Baker melody “Grim Grinning Ghosts” familiar to all who have experienced the famous attraction. But he contributes so much more. Two important themes form the heart and soul of tale: one is a tender, nostalgic minor mode idea for deceased Elizabeth, the owner’s long lost love. Heard at the outset on music box with the initial appearance of Leota (Jennifer Tilly), the tune ingeniously links her mysterious “ghost ball” with Elizabeth. The gentle, saddened idea brings tears. The second idea, a richly drawn love theme, gets less playtime but ultimately grabs entire spotlight in broad, surging major-key guise, chorus in tow, as lovers are reunited at last. Mancina also fashions numerous smaller motifs in unusually thematic score, a personal favorite of the composer’s. Action gets plenty of attention as well: special mention goes to intense, rhythmically charged “The Crypt”. Frightening scene inspires Mancina to launch with pair of rich minor-to-major tritone chords, then evolve into choral chant with icy jabs from brass, culminating in dynamic tour-de-force action cue. Mancina climaxes entire score with massive 11-minute sequence covering rescue action, sweeping love, final ascension to heaven. Film is scored wall-to-wall and Mancina’s original music spills over to second CD, playing for 84-minutes with another 11-minutes of unused alternates and additional cues. At close of CD 2, listeners can enjoy the original performance of “Grim Grinning Ghosts” performed by The Singing Busts, seen in a key sequence of the film. Mancina worked closely with director Minkoff and the results are evident in a rousing movie, full of humor, action and heart, replete with a grand old-fashioned symphonic score to match! Entire 2-CD set presented from original two-track digital scoring session mixes vaulted at Disney in pristine condition. Original 2003 album from Walt Disney label featured songs plus just one track of score. Now at last Mark Mancina gets his due! 20-page booklet with generous color stills, informative notes from Tim Grieving, flipper cover art design by Kay Marshall completes exciting package. “Grim Grinning Ghosts” written by Xavier Atencio, Buddy Baker. Eddie Jobson arranges chorus, David Metzger & Don Harper orchestrate, Harper associate conducts, Mark Mancina composes, conducts. Intrada Special Collection 2-CD release available while quantities and interest remain!