Soundtrack Review: Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Posted by Jon Blough

June 25, 2009

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This is review of the motion picture Edward Scissorhands by Danny Elfman.

“The finest, most magical achievement of Elfman’s career”

Not many film scores can tell a complete story when separated from the film. A lot of modern albums can excite or entertain but few provide a consistently satisfying emotional payoff as one finishes the last track. It’s the scores that have such heft and impact that become among my most cherished purchases. After seeing the superb fairy tale Edward Scissorhands, I could tell right away that Danny Elfman’s classic soundtrack creation was one of those scores, and every listen has continued to prove me right.

Wondrous Beauty

The score beautifully succeeds in walking a delicate balance between wondrous beauty and darker mystery. In most cues the sense of whimsical awe is maintained by either lush strings, ooing choir, harp plucks, or chiming percussion, and these would end up being the dominant personality for the score. Yet Elfman is careful to keep a sense of bittersweet nostalgia; this is a tragedy after all. The undeniably classic main theme manages to suit both these tendencies equally well. Deceptively simple to start, the extensive melody flows out with a length and exploration one rarely hears from film scoring these days. It proves enrapturing regardless of the emotion it gives off, whether angelic discovery in “Beautiful New World/Home Sweet Home”, beautiful longing in “Etiquette Lesson”, sadness in “Death!”, or its highlights in the final three cues.

The secondary theme, a somewhat mournful, somewhat playful melody for the mystery and majesty that embodies Edward and how he was made, also keeps the balance going superbly. No more memorable performance will be found than in “Introduction” and its an angelic carnival atmosphere (goodness, I hope that makes sense) still retaining a somewhat mournful feel. The third factor in retaining this balance is the varied choral presence, a surprise given the dominance of the higher register. The ooing effects in “Storytime”; the more mildly haunting takes in “Castle on the Hill”; the dreamy backup to “Ballet de Suburbia”; the more blatantly haunting effects “Edward Returns in Shame” and “Kevin in Danger (the score’s darkest incarnation) that still weave into beauty (the epic choral unleashing in the latter is a highlight); regardless of the emotion the singers give off you will always be enraptured by their serene, wordless beauty.

Lighter Side

Sitting firmly on the lighter side is the musical for the suburbia satire, given a mostly bouncy air “Beautiful New World/Home Sweet Home” and “Ballet de Suburbia” that could have found a home in 50s commercials selling the residential homes but resists annoying you with its excellently playful performance. Even those put off by the style will be unable to resist Edwardo the Barber” as it transitions the pomp into a devilish violin solo and a gorgeous, waltzing string melody one wishes appeared in the score more often. Much of the rest has a surprisingly French flair, promoted most by the accordion in “A Stranger in Suburbia” (more bounce!) and “Esmeralda (amusing perhaps but easily the score’s least impressive cue).

What starts out as restrained, almost nostalgic melancholy in “Introduction” and “Storytime” become a bit gothic and sad as the album goes along, though to Elfman’s credit this transformation is still melodic and neither element becomes blatantly overwhelming. The menacing brass march in the opening of ‘The Cookie Factory” gives way to a bouncy highlight complete with busy woodwinds and a host of playful percussion. Even a tragic cue like “Death!” inserts a beautiful flute solo of Edward’s theme surrounded by more of the angelic choir amidst some very sad string writing. The more driving approach in “The Robbery”, “Edward on the Run”, and “The Final Confrontation” is genius in how it alters the lighter elements into full-blown action, replacing the strings with pounding piano and snare as well as wickedly aggressive brass and turning the main themes and choir into more haunting approaches. Only a darker string motif for the boyfriend in “Cut Palm” and “On the Sidewalk/Coming Back” forgoes all pretence of engaging melody.

Conclusion

The score does transition away from the darker spiral in its final three cues. The only shame about the lush, tragic choral and solo string work in “Farewell” and the exceptional summation “The End” is that they have to bookend “The Grand Finale”, perhaps the finest cue Elfman has ever written and certainly on any enthusiast’s short list of most gorgeous cues ever written. It takes Edward’s theme and build simple plucking and chiming into one of the most absorbing extended choral statements you’ll ever hear, maintaining an impressive emotional heft for over three minutes. I can’t think of a better way to wrap up one of the better musical storylines of the last two decades; it firmly cements the score as the finest, most magical achievement of Elfman’s career and holds a special place in my ears and heart.

Album Situation: The commercial release is practically perfect, but a high-quality, SFX-free rip of extra material has the highlight “The Robbery”.
Best Album: Either

Commercial Album (49:20)
1. Introduction (Titles) (2:36)
2. Storytime (2:35)
3. Castle on the Hill (6:25)
4. Beautiful New World/Home Sweet Home (2:05)
5. The Cookie Factory (2:14)
6. Ballet de Suburbia (Suite) (1:17)
7. Ice Dance (1:45)
8. Etiquette Lesson (1:38)
9. Edwardo the Barber (3:19)
10. Esmeralda (0:27)
11. Death! (3:29)
12. The Tide Turns (Suite) (5:31)
13. The Final Confrontation (2:17)
14. Farewell… (2:46)
15. The Grand Finale (3:26)
16. The End (4:47)
17. With These Hands – performed by Tom Jones (2:43)

DVD Rip (56:28)
1.    Introduction (Titles) (2:38)
2.    Storytime (2:37)
3.    Castle on the Hill (6:26)
4.    Beautiful New World/Home Sweet Home (2:08)
5.    The Cookie Factory (2:16)
6.    A Stranger in Suburbia (0:32)
7.    Ballet de Suburbia (1:19)
8.    Esmeralda (0:54)
9.    Etiquette Lesson (1:40)
10.    Edwardo the Barber (3:21)
11.    Edward Sees Kim/Picking the Lock/Edward’s Answer (1:25)
12.    The Robbery (2:43)
13.    Edward Returns in Shame (2:31)
14.    The Ice Dance/Cut Palm (2:33)
15.    Edward on the Run (2:52)
16.    On the Sidewalk/Coming Back (0:57)
17.    Death! (3:32)
18.    Kevin in Danger (2:51)
19.    The Final Confrontation (2:20)
20.    Farewell (2:47)
21.    The Grand Finale (3:28)
22.    The End (4:47)