Danny Elfman Film Scores


Red Dragon
(2002) Decca Records

music composed by Danny Elfman
orchestra conducted by Pete Anthony

Note: I have not seen this film; I've only listened to this music from the CD. I may add more when this film is rentable on DVD.

Signature Elfman is mostly missing from Red Dragon. His stylistic percussion and ringing bells are present as ever, however Elfman's cartoony nature is nowhere to be found. Instead we are treated to an eerily subdued set of cues that creep up on you and instill foreboding without drawing attention to themselves. Here, Elfman's themes are the collective torchlight that guides the listener through some very dark places. These are the types of places Elfman enjoys exploring the most (this is also why he'll probably never score a Chariots of Fire or Forest Gump).

At times, I am reminded of composer Bernard Herrmann's work which is no surprise. Herrmann is one of Elfman's biggest musical influences and Red Dragon is the type of grim-subjected flick Grandmaster Herrmann often scored himself. Elfman, as you know, re-cued Herrmann's Psycho score a few years back so perhaps this is a residual effect. Providing music to accompany images of twisted minded people who act like monsters... well that seems to be their common playground (though seperated by eras).

My personal favorite cue would have to be the 'Main Title'. Low-tuned piano chords lurk around and set you on edge. Synthesizer generated bells and chimes that sound kinda like a baby's musical mobile hovering above the crib then give off a false sense of security. This is the set-up for some terse strings that swoop out of the dark to create terror and mayhem. Elfman expertly plays with moods for the entire 58 minutes of the disc. Another stand out: 'He's Back!' where Elfman backs you in a corner and provides no place to escape.

Elfman turns in another strong musical work his fans (and motion picture score fans in general) will appreciate for years to come.

MULITMEDIA CD EXTRAS: "A Conversation with Danny Elfman, Brett Ratner & Anthony Hopkins"; Movie Trailer; Photo Gallery.

–mattro




1. Logos
2. The Revelation
3. Main Titles
4. The Cell
5. The Old Mansion
6. The Address
7. We're Different
8. The Note 9. Enter the Dragon 10. Threats 11. Tiger Balls 12. Love On a Couch 13. Devouring the Dragon 14. The Fire 15. The Book 16. He's Back! 17. End Credits Suite 18. Multimedia bonus material (includes Red Dragon theatrical trailer and an interview with Danny Elfman)

Liner Notes-

Music by Danny Elfman
Album produced by Danny Elfman and Ellen Segal
Executive Album Producers: Brett Ratner and Mark Helfrich
Supervising Orchestrator: Steve Bartek
Orchestrations by Steve Bartek, Edgardo Simone, Bruce Fowler and David Slonaker

Score recorded and mixed by Dennis Sands
Recordists: John Rudd and Greg Dennen
Music editor: Ellen Segal
Midi Supervisor & Preparation by Marc Mann
Assistant music editor: Melissa Ferguson
Tech Support by Noah Snyder
Music preperations by Julian Bratolyubov
Additional music preperations by Ron Vermillion
Orchestra contracted by The Music Team Debbi Datz-Pyle
Choir Conducted by Marc Mann
Choir Contracted by Bobbi Page
Score recorded at the Newman Scoring Stage @ Fox Studios
Score mixed at the Eastwood Scoring Stage @ Warner Bros.
Technical Engineers: Bill Talbott and Ryan Robinson
Scoring Stage Crew: Tom Steel and Damon Tedesco
Album mastered by Patricia Sullivan Fourstar at Bernie Grundman Mastering

Executives in charge of music for Universal Pictures: Kathy Nelson and Harry Garfield
Chairman, Universal Classics Group: Chris Roberts
Music Business Affairs: Phil Cohen and Mark Cavell
A&R Direction: Randy Dry
Soundtrack Coordination: Meredith Friedman
Special Thanks: Brett Ratner, Dino De Laurentiis, Martha De Laurentiis, Dawn Ahrens, Ben Arnon, Holly Bario, Carla Bird, Pam Blum, David Buntz, Anita Chang, Andy Davis, Eddie Egan, Peggy Eghbalian, Laura Engel, Adam Fogelson, Aida Gaboyan, Christy Gerhart, Meredith Gold, Mark Helfrich, Kris Iverson, Chris Jackson, Tiffany Jones, Lisay Joy, Trevon Kezios, Richard Kraft, Doug Mark, Jessica Montague, Terry Norton, Peter Oillataguerre, Mary Parent, Chris Saranec, Stacey Snider, Laura Steiger, David Steiman, Scott Stuber.





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