Who Framed Roger Rabbit [Original recording remastered, Soundtrack]

Alan Silvestri | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 16, 2002)
• Original Release Date: June 22, 1988
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered, Soundtrack
• Label: Walt Disney Records
• ASIN: B00006580M
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #334,191 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Though it was a massive success that perpetuated the imposing history of Disney technical breakthroughs by seamlessly fusing animation with live action to an unprecedented degree, Roger Rabbit never achieved the franchise status so many expected from it. One suspects the film's spectacular collision of the Disney and Warner animation universes would be a tough act for the respective empires' burgeoning licensing and copyright departments to repeat. That fusion, along with its '40s historical roots (believe it or not, it's based on a true story: the corporate collusion to eliminate Los Angeles's once-expansive commuter rail system in favor of buses), also gave the composer a whole slate of daunting challenges. He's required to variously concoct the musical ethos for a fictional cartoon studio and Roger, its mascot (the "Maroon" themes, "The Merry Go Round Broke Down"); recall the swing and smoky jazz of post-war L.A. (Jessica Rabbit's/Amy Irving's sultry "Why Don't You Do Right," "Jessica's Theme"); and evoke the madcap genius of veteran Disney/Warner animation composer Carl Stalling ("Hungarian Rhapsody (Dueling Pianos)," "Toontown")--but don't make it too obvious, please. To his credit, Silvestri delivers one of the great contemporary animated scores, a dizzy, back-to-the-future soundtrack that bounds across both genre and studio boundaries with surprising grace and subtlety. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Out of print in the U.S.! Alan Silvestri's score for the Academy Award winning 1988 Disney blockbuster that featured Bob Hoskins as a human who enters Toon Town to track a killer of a nightclub owner. He crosses paths with some of the zaniest cartoon characters imaginable and slapstick happens! EMI. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars good score, November 4, 2011

By 

leo134 "Simon Hutley" (Australia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Who Framed Roger Rabbit (Audio CD)

This is a great score. Iv'e waiting for years for this. I especially loved the Eddie Valiant piece. It's sad and very reminicent of forties dectives films. The cartoon at the beginning of the score was also fun. I love Alan Silvestri, especially Back to the Future and this one is one of his best. If you likes the film you will probably like this unique score.

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Soundtrack!, October 8, 2011

By 

figment34786 - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (Audio CD)

Alan Silvestri is a really wonderful composer, and his skills shine in this soundtrack! All the orchestral segments are really great.

My only slight disappointment was that I never realized that some of the songs like "Hungarian Raphsody" and "Smile Darn Ya Smile" were actually using MIDI, and not real instruments! You never really notice this in the movie because of the dialogue and sound effects over it. But here in the soundtrack, it is rather obvious, and when played next to the orchestral tracks, it can be a bit jarring.

By no means is that a reason not to pick up this great soundtrack, for the music itself is very good, and the orchestral tracks are fabulous!

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Soundtrack, Great Film, June 13, 2010

By 

J. Delzer (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (OST) (Audio CD)

The sultry theme of Jessica Rabbit, the mournful yet refined jazz number that is Valiant and Valiant... and the wacky toon-inspired medly that is Merry Go Round Broke Down.

In 1988, Touchstone Pictures (Disney) and Warner Bros combined to produce a film that has yet to find its rival - never before or since has there been a unity of two major film studios in a single movie. Disney was responsible for the animation, Spielberg was responsible for the live action; essentially two movies in one.

While it is true that Eddie Valiant could solve the case without music, it is this score of film noir and toon review that sells the story. Jessica Rabbit's siren song of Why Don't You Do Right is here in its full length, the inspired high-speed chase on a toon taxi through downtown Los Angeles keeps the story moving, all up to the driving and relaxing toon finale, Smile Darn Ya Smile. Alan Silvestri combined and contrasted all the elements of the film (toons, reality, and drama) very well to create a lasting and memorable theme that stands alone even without video.

If you love classic films, you'll love this soundtrack.

Mr. Delzer is the author of The Buccaneer of Nemaris.The Buccaneer of Nemaris