Given that Halloween is just around the corner, I thought I would share this video/audio comparison I made highlighting both the late James Horner's musical score for the theatrical version of Disney's 1983 film adaptation of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes and French film composer Georges Delerue's unused original score.

For context, director Jack Clayton's original pick to compose Something Wicked This Way Comes was Georges Delerue, who had previously scored Clayton's The Pumpkin Eater (1964) and Our Mother's House (1967). Something Wicked This Way Comes was initially scheduled for a Christmas 1982 release. However, an extensive reworking of the film was ordered after a poor test screening in July of 1982. One of the casualties from the said test screening was Delerue's score (which the Disney executives at the time, by most accounts, found too dark and not scary enough). James Horner (then fresh off the success of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)) was brought on to compose a new score, and in addition to expensive reshoots and new special effects sequences, the film was ultimately pushed back to and theatrically released on April 29th, 1983.

Georges Delerue considered his score for this movie among his best work and was greatly disappointed in its rejection. However, Delerue's entire rejected score was eventually released by Intrada Records, which released a limited edition soundtrack album in 2015.

Listening to the rejected score and making this edit has made me realize the power of music and how different composers and scores can drastically alter a film's tone and the audience's viewing experience.

Which score do you prefer? Let me know in the comments. Personally, I prefer Delerue's score, for it sounds far more atmospheric and emotionally resonant, in my opinion.

Stay safe and healthy this holiday season, everyone!

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