Thomas and the Magic Railroad
Hummie Mann
" it has a heart the size of Thomas the tank engine himself "Written by Kevin Smith - Review of the regular release
Opening the new millennium, Thomas the tank engine fans were greeted with the prospects of seeing their Number 1 Engine and friends on the big screen. Finally, in July of 2000 it came and I remember the movie in theatres as a young teenager. One of the things that I remembered from the movie after all these years was the orchestral score written by Canadian film composer Hummie Mann.
Originally, John Barry, the five-time Oscar winner, had joined the project with the intent of doing it for his youngest son, but did not write a single note of music due to scheduling issues. It would have been very interesting to see what he would have wrote, considering the style of the scores that he is famous for, like his early James Bond spy scores and his later dramatic scores such as Dances with Wolves and Out of Africa.
Although, Hummie Mann is one of the lesser names in the film music world, he has been around for a while. He scored such entries as Year of the Comet, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and P.T Barnum, and has been an orchestrator for Marc Shaiman on The Addams Family, A Few Good Men and City Slickers. Dealing with late script/movie changes (a composer's worst nightmare), the end result was that Mann delivered one of his better scores in the scope of his career. He respectably adapted the themes of the original TV series written by composers Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell and gave the score a big and bold feel to it, which is what the film desperately needed.
Opening the soundtrack album is the Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell song from the TV series "He's a Really Useful Engine", performed by a large studio orchestra and sung by none other than Barenaked Ladies singer Steven Page. Although, Thomas the tank engine has a theme for himself, somehow this one was curiously chosen to represent Thomas himself. Next, "Shining Time" with lyrics by Sue Ennis and sung by Maren Ord; a pleasant ballad which is utilized as a main theme for the film. The real highlight of the songs is "How the Moon Must Feel" sung by Dayna Manning, symbolizing the lonely feelings of Lily for her personal theme. "Some Things Never Leave You", sung by Joe Henry, serves the purpose for one of the main characters who remembers the loss of his wife. Both of these songs, written by expert lyricist Don Black, are well arranged for the performing orchestra to balance the vocals. Up next on the chopping block is "Summer Sunday" done by Dominic Gibbson & Co, which has a somewhat jarring change in style compared to the rest with its laid back manner. Even more jarring is the next song "Locomotion" which was remixed by Atomic Kitten, and it is a long couple of minutes before it is over.
Now onto the score, Hummie Mann wrote a score that is pretty upbeat and even charming, which perfectly fits the subject matter. Thomas and the Magic Railroad absolutely does not break any new ground but then it didn't need to. It contains a little bit of everything; big and bold, deep character themes, slap-stick comedy and mock suspense. There are many themes that work their way into the score. There are four of the overarching themes of the movie, which are the "He's A Really Useful Engine" melody, "Shining Time", "I Know How the Moon Must Feel" and "Some Things Never Leave You". The original Thomas the tank engine theme, by Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell, makes an appearance in the score in "Main Title". The performance is gorgeous when recorded with the real orchestra compared with the synthesizers used in the TV series and a highlight of the score. In addition to the four song melodies, the evil theme for Diesel 10 is added; being a somewhat maniac, comical, larger than life theme performed by the brass and percussion which is perfect considering that Diesel 10 is a large, faux threatening buffoon. Other leitmotifs weave in and out of the score, including Mr. Conductor (quirky and cheerful), his cousin Junior C (jazzy) and the 'magical' Sodor Island (flute motif heard at the beginning of "Diesel 10 Threatens Mr C" and at the end of "A Happy Ending").
As the score ticks and bobs its way through the album, the various inclusions of "I Know How the Moon Must Feel" and "Shining Time" give the general feeling of an Alan Menken / Marc Shaiman score. A general building suspense motif is introduced in "Lily Travels to the Island of Sodor" and is developed more in the final two cues. In "Burnett & Lady / Diesel 10 & Splodge", much of the cue is based on "Some Things Never Leave You" with the final minute turning to the villain theme. Just as you were thinking how pleasant and cheerful the score is, Mann suddenly turns on the Bernard Herrmann switch in "Diesel 10 Threatens Mr. C / Lily & Patch". The better parts of the score are the dramatic parts using Lily's theme or Shining Time, giving the film a heart that the film itself tried so hard to achieve. If a cue had to be singled out as better than the rest, it had to be "Through the Magic Buffers" where Mann pulls out all the stops, layering the suspense and dramatic orchestrations and using the "Shining Time" theme in a rousing orchestral climax. But the final 14 minutes is the real strength of the score accenting the dramatic moments in the latter half of the film. "The Chase, the Clue & the Happy Ending" is a pretty good summary of everything that has gone before; the suspense, tender and dramatic reprises of the various themes, and a touching finale.
Overall, the score only adds up to less than half an hour of running time which is just right for this type of material. The songs are definitely not the most attractive part of the soundtrack album and range from horrible to very good. The majority of credit goes to Hummie Mann's score. It did everything that it needed to. It may not be totally original or ground breaking but it has a heart the size of Thomas the tank engine himself.
Tracklisting
1. He's a Really Useful Engine: Steven Page (1.32)
2. Shining Time: Maren Ord (3.18)
3. I Know How the Moon Must Feel: Dayna Manning (3.22)
4. Some Things Never Leave You: Joe Henry (2.57)
5. Summer Sunday: Dominic Gibbson & Others (2.59)
6. Locomotion: Atomic Kitten (3.54)
7. Main Title (3.32)
8. Lily Travels to the Island of Sodor (4.33)
9. Burnett & Lady / Diesel 10 & Splodge (3.28)
10. Diesel 10 Threatens Mr C / Lily & Patch (4.25)
11. Through the Magic Buffers (6.36) Excellent track
12. The Chase, the Clue & The Happy Ending (7.43) Excellent track
Total Length: 48.19
Originally, John Barry, the five-time Oscar winner, had joined the project with the intent of doing it for his youngest son, but did not write a single note of music due to scheduling issues. It would have been very interesting to see what he would have wrote, considering the style of the scores that he is famous for, like his early James Bond spy scores and his later dramatic scores such as Dances with Wolves and Out of Africa.
Although, Hummie Mann is one of the lesser names in the film music world, he has been around for a while. He scored such entries as Year of the Comet, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and P.T Barnum, and has been an orchestrator for Marc Shaiman on The Addams Family, A Few Good Men and City Slickers. Dealing with late script/movie changes (a composer's worst nightmare), the end result was that Mann delivered one of his better scores in the scope of his career. He respectably adapted the themes of the original TV series written by composers Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell and gave the score a big and bold feel to it, which is what the film desperately needed.
Opening the soundtrack album is the Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell song from the TV series "He's a Really Useful Engine", performed by a large studio orchestra and sung by none other than Barenaked Ladies singer Steven Page. Although, Thomas the tank engine has a theme for himself, somehow this one was curiously chosen to represent Thomas himself. Next, "Shining Time" with lyrics by Sue Ennis and sung by Maren Ord; a pleasant ballad which is utilized as a main theme for the film. The real highlight of the songs is "How the Moon Must Feel" sung by Dayna Manning, symbolizing the lonely feelings of Lily for her personal theme. "Some Things Never Leave You", sung by Joe Henry, serves the purpose for one of the main characters who remembers the loss of his wife. Both of these songs, written by expert lyricist Don Black, are well arranged for the performing orchestra to balance the vocals. Up next on the chopping block is "Summer Sunday" done by Dominic Gibbson & Co, which has a somewhat jarring change in style compared to the rest with its laid back manner. Even more jarring is the next song "Locomotion" which was remixed by Atomic Kitten, and it is a long couple of minutes before it is over.
Now onto the score, Hummie Mann wrote a score that is pretty upbeat and even charming, which perfectly fits the subject matter. Thomas and the Magic Railroad absolutely does not break any new ground but then it didn't need to. It contains a little bit of everything; big and bold, deep character themes, slap-stick comedy and mock suspense. There are many themes that work their way into the score. There are four of the overarching themes of the movie, which are the "He's A Really Useful Engine" melody, "Shining Time", "I Know How the Moon Must Feel" and "Some Things Never Leave You". The original Thomas the tank engine theme, by Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell, makes an appearance in the score in "Main Title". The performance is gorgeous when recorded with the real orchestra compared with the synthesizers used in the TV series and a highlight of the score. In addition to the four song melodies, the evil theme for Diesel 10 is added; being a somewhat maniac, comical, larger than life theme performed by the brass and percussion which is perfect considering that Diesel 10 is a large, faux threatening buffoon. Other leitmotifs weave in and out of the score, including Mr. Conductor (quirky and cheerful), his cousin Junior C (jazzy) and the 'magical' Sodor Island (flute motif heard at the beginning of "Diesel 10 Threatens Mr C" and at the end of "A Happy Ending").
As the score ticks and bobs its way through the album, the various inclusions of "I Know How the Moon Must Feel" and "Shining Time" give the general feeling of an Alan Menken / Marc Shaiman score. A general building suspense motif is introduced in "Lily Travels to the Island of Sodor" and is developed more in the final two cues. In "Burnett & Lady / Diesel 10 & Splodge", much of the cue is based on "Some Things Never Leave You" with the final minute turning to the villain theme. Just as you were thinking how pleasant and cheerful the score is, Mann suddenly turns on the Bernard Herrmann switch in "Diesel 10 Threatens Mr. C / Lily & Patch". The better parts of the score are the dramatic parts using Lily's theme or Shining Time, giving the film a heart that the film itself tried so hard to achieve. If a cue had to be singled out as better than the rest, it had to be "Through the Magic Buffers" where Mann pulls out all the stops, layering the suspense and dramatic orchestrations and using the "Shining Time" theme in a rousing orchestral climax. But the final 14 minutes is the real strength of the score accenting the dramatic moments in the latter half of the film. "The Chase, the Clue & the Happy Ending" is a pretty good summary of everything that has gone before; the suspense, tender and dramatic reprises of the various themes, and a touching finale.
Overall, the score only adds up to less than half an hour of running time which is just right for this type of material. The songs are definitely not the most attractive part of the soundtrack album and range from horrible to very good. The majority of credit goes to Hummie Mann's score. It did everything that it needed to. It may not be totally original or ground breaking but it has a heart the size of Thomas the tank engine himself.
Tracklisting
1. He's a Really Useful Engine: Steven Page (1.32)
2. Shining Time: Maren Ord (3.18)
3. I Know How the Moon Must Feel: Dayna Manning (3.22)
4. Some Things Never Leave You: Joe Henry (2.57)
5. Summer Sunday: Dominic Gibbson & Others (2.59)
6. Locomotion: Atomic Kitten (3.54)
7. Main Title (3.32)
8. Lily Travels to the Island of Sodor (4.33)
9. Burnett & Lady / Diesel 10 & Splodge (3.28)
10. Diesel 10 Threatens Mr C / Lily & Patch (4.25)
11. Through the Magic Buffers (6.36) Excellent track
12. The Chase, the Clue & The Happy Ending (7.43) Excellent track
Total Length: 48.19