The Home Alone Conspiracy

[John Dutton 7,503]

Okay, Home Alone has been a staple of HBO's programming the last few months. I find myself constantly tuning in since I love that movie and it's one of those flicks you can tune into at any time and you stick with it to the end. But it reminded me of a weird occurrence in this movie that I've never brought up, but always think about.

Halfway through the movie, there's a scene where the crooks are driving away in the van and encounter Kevin on the street. Kevin spots Harry's gold tooth and gives him a frightened look, then heads down the street. They slowly follow him, then Kevin turns around. They stop and attempt to look inconspicuous. Harry whistles what sort of sounds like Williams' theme for the crooks.

It is definitely similar. Unfortunately, I can't whip up a YouTube clip. But I've wondered if this was actually a part of the film's audio track during the spotting session and if Williams sort of took the melody and created the motif for the wet bandits. Maybe it's just crazy, but the whistled melody is similar to their theme.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,445]

More likely it was added during the ADR sessions, and after JW already wrote a theme for them.

For outdoor shoots, very little of the actual sound recorded is used, usually everything, including dialogue is recorded afterwards.

[filmmusic 2,263]

Well, i just saw the scene you say.. it didn't sound familiar to me...

[Taikomochi 1,257]

For outdoor shoots, very little of the actual sound recorded is used, usually everything, including dialogue is recorded afterwards.

Really? I never realized. Is it on the actor or the sound editors to make the voice sync up?

[ETMusic 1]

For outdoor shoots, very little of the actual sound recorded is used, usually everything, including dialogue is recorded afterwards.

Really? I never realized. Is it on the actor or the sound editors to make the voice sync up?

Both. A lot of time spent in ADR is the actor doing retakes so what they're saying lines up.

[Kendal_Ozzel 36]

I just looked at the scene. The later dialogue from inside the van sounds like ADR, and I'd bet the whistle was too.

[Quintus 5,468]

Almost every single line in a movie has the actors re-recorded dialogue synched and inserted for the finished product. Thesedays it is extremely rare for the original on set dialogue to make it into the movie, indeed even the indoor scenes are re-recorded.

[Koray Savas 2,254]

It's definitely not as much as what you guys are saying. Every line of dialogue? Please! Most extraneous noise is added later, but dialogue for the most part is kept. It's very easy to spot ADR, which is why it's hilarious in Zucker/Abarahams/Proft films.

[Matt C 481]

It's definitely not as much as what you guys are saying. Every line of dialogue? Please! Most extraneous noise is added later, but dialogue for the most part is kept. It's very easy to spot ADR

For some directors, ADR is virtually required with their films. I remember watching an ADR featurette on the "Fellowship of the Ring" extended edition, and the actors had to re-record most of their lines during post because of the intense filming schedule. Not to mention, quality standards are so high, you really can't distinguish ADR from on-set dialogue nowadays.

The only directors that try to avoid using ADR is Christopher Nolan and David Fincher. I remember Fincher applying a certain rule for shooting scenes: "If it's not an outdoor scene, we're not ADR'ng it." For the scene where Benjamin talks to Daisy in the restaurant in Benjamin Button, the extras in the background don't make a sound (they pretend to talk, eat, et al) while the actors are performing their dialogue.

[Josh500 1,616]

Okay, Home Alone has been a staple of HBO's programming the last few months. I find myself constantly tuning in since I love that movie and it's one of those flicks you can tune into at any time and you stick with it to the end. But it reminded me of a weird occurrence in this movie that I've never brought up, but always think about.

Halfway through the movie, there's a scene where the crooks are driving away in the van and encounter Kevin on the street. Kevin spots Harry's gold tooth and gives him a frightened look, then heads down the street. They slowly follow him, then Kevin turns around. They stop and attempt to look inconspicuous. Harry whistles what sort of sounds like Williams' theme for the crooks.

It is definitely similar. Unfortunately, I can't whip up a YouTube clip. But I've wondered if this was actually a part of the film's audio track during the spotting session and if Williams sort of took the melody and created the motif for the wet bandits. Maybe it's just crazy, but the whistled melody is similar to their theme.

So according to your theory, Joe Pesci wrote the "Villain's Theme" from Home Alone? That he was the genius behind it? That's quite a conspiracy!

[Koray Savas 2,254]

It's definitely not as much as what you guys are saying. Every line of dialogue? Please! Most extraneous noise is added later, but dialogue for the most part is kept. It's very easy to spot ADR

For some directors, ADR is virtually required with their films. I remember watching an ADR featurette on the "Fellowship of the Ring" extended edition, and the actors had to re-record most of their lines during post because of the intense filming schedule. Not to mention, quality standards are so high, you really can't distinguish ADR from on-set dialogue nowadays.

The only directors that try to avoid using ADR is Christopher Nolan and David Fincher. I remember Fincher applying a certain rule for shooting scenes: "If it's not an outdoor scene, we're not ADR'ng it." For the scene where Benjamin talks to Daisy in the restaurant in Benjamin Button, the extras in the background don't make a sound (they pretend to talk, eat, et al) while the actors are performing their dialogue.

Well yeah with intense shoots, it's understandable. Most action films probably do it a lot. Speaking of Fincher and ADR though, all of Elle Fanning's lines in The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button were overdubbed with Cate Blanchett's voice. Very good ADR, but it's only noticeable because it's Elle Fanning with Cate Blanchett's voice!

[John Dutton 7,503]

Yes, my crazy theory is that Joe Pesci whistled a melody that JW liked when viewing the rough cut of the movie and then built a theme around. In my defense, I've heard the similarity since I was 6 and I didn't even have the soundtrack yet, just from being familiar with the music. Maybe that's why I think I hear it, because I've heard it that way since a young age so I've made myself believe it.

[Jay 39,761]

On 10/24/2010 at 9:58 AM, Gruesome Son of a Bitch said:

Halfway through the movie, there's a scene where the crooks are driving away in the van and encounter Kevin on the street. Kevin spots Harry's gold tooth and gives him a frightened look, then heads down the street. They slowly follow him, then Kevin turns around. They stop and attempt to look inconspicuous. Harry whistles what sort of sounds like Williams' theme for the crooks.

It is definitely similar. Unfortunately, I can't whip up a YouTube clip. But I've wondered if this was actually a part of the film's audio track during the spotting session and if Williams sort of took the melody and created the motif for the wet bandits. Maybe it's just crazy, but the whistled melody is similar to their theme.

 

Mike Matessino just confirmed on the latest episode of Maurizio's podcast that this was in fact John Williams himself whistling the villain theme!

 

 

[bollemanneke 3,624]

Why did he not want it on the CD?

[Jay 39,761]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Not Mr. Big 4,741]

2 hours ago, bollemanneke said:

Why did he not want it on the CD?

He's a shy whistler

[JohnnyD 1,330]

4 hours ago, Jay said:

 

Mike Matessino just confirmed on the latest episode of Maurizio's podcast that this was in fact John Williams himself whistling the villain theme!

 

 

 

I always knew that Harry was whistling the Maestro's theme for the Bandits, but I NEVER knew that the Maestro himself provided said whistling; I always though it was Joe Pesci.

 

This is just like the moment in The Witches of Eastwick when Daryl (Jack Nicholson) is browsing in the ice cream store and he is whistling the Maestro's theme.

[MikeH 799]

John Williams whistled the themes and Herb Spencer wrote the score! Confirmed! 

[Jay 39,761]

14 minutes ago, JohnnyD said:

 

I always knew that Harry was whistling the Maestro's theme for the Bandits, but I NEVER knew that the Maestro himself provided said whistling; I always though it was Joe Pesci.

 

This is just like the moment in The Witches of Eastwick when Daryl (Jack Nicholson) is browsing in the ice cream store and he is whistling the Maestro's theme.

 

If you listen to Maurizio's podcast, you will learn who did the whistling in some other scores!

[QuartalHarmony 692]

How long before someone declares the Home Alone ‘complete’ edition incomplete and totally unsatisfactory until it’s rereleased with this snippet included?

 

Bonus points if it’s expressed in the form of furious rhetoric about how unforgivable the omission was and how their life will be unbearable until a properly Complete edition is released.

 

Mark

[Doo_liss 6,639]

@crumbs

@Holko

?

[Holko 10,401]

It's really cool but my brain won't click onto how/where that is the Burglar theme or what part of it.

[Luke Skywalker 1,970]

Me neither.

 

JW should be more ashamed of his whistling than his source music!

 

 

[Richard P 4,269]

I can sort of hear something familiar towards the end, but I can't 'click' into which part of the theme it is either.

[bollemanneke 3,624]

15 hours ago, QuartalHarmony said:

How long before someone declares the Home Alone ‘complete’ edition incomplete and totally unsatisfactory until it’s rereleased with this snippet included?

 

Bonus points if it’s expressed in the form of furious rhetoric about how unforgivable the omission was and how their life will be unbearable until a properly Complete edition is released.

 

Mark

IT IS ALREADY INCOMPLETE! THE POLKA, THE POLKA! But seriously I want the polka, not the whistling. The first part of that theme is really unclear. He needs to whistle it again.

[Holko 10,401]

WHY DID YOU HAVE TO REMIND ME???

 

John Candy Deck the Halls polka

[crumbs 14,904]

Add me to the list of people who can't hear the Burglars' theme in that whistling!

[Disco Stu 15,502]

3 hours ago, Luke Skywalker said:

Me neither.

 

JW should be more ashamed of his whistling than his source music!

 

 

 

He's inhabiting the role of Harry when he's whistling there! Harry would be a mediocre whistler for sure.  Williams is a master whistle-actor.   We can now say Harry is a character brought to life by Joe Pesci and John Williams.

[Holko 10,401]

The best part is that after doing it, he told Columbus "you need a better whistler than me for this", and he replied "I know, but if I have to read this joke one more time, you won't live to 89."

 

(No, seriously, he said he wasn't very good, listen to the interview)

[bollemanneke 3,624]

1 hour ago, Holko said:

WHY DID YOU HAVE TO REMIND ME???

 

John Candy Deck the Halls polka

There's also the chimes missing just after Kevin's parents have left. We're missing the bells mixed into Setting The Trap too. We're missing Mr Grinch as well. In short, a deeply flawed release.

[Holko 10,401]

2 minutes ago, bollemanneke said:

There's also the chimes missing just after Kevin's parents have left. We're missing the bells mixed into Setting The Trap too. We're missing Mr Grinch as well. In short, a deeply flawed release.

And we're missing the twinkle stinger when Harry the policeman winks at Kevin and his golden tooth flashes early in the movie.

[bollemanneke 3,624]

That's it! I'm going in the front. You go down the basement!

[QuartalHarmony 692]

Thanks, chaps - I now have the answer to my question, and I think I can claim the bonus points too. One or two people really do seem to have had a self-awareness bypass, but I probably should expect that on any niche-interest forum. It’s all part of the fun!

 

Mark

[Holko 10,401]

And someone seems to have no sense of sarcasm.

[Incanus 5,818]

On 8/11/2021 at 7:16 AM, Holko said:

It's really cool but my brain won't click onto how/where that is the Burglar theme or what part of it.

I think it is this little passage 0:57-1:00:

 

 

[Holko 10,401]

Hmmmm.

Can someone transcribe it and show it next to the motif's sheet music version to see just how off it is?

[Andy 5,216]

It’s minutia like this that completely redeem the internet for me!

 

Not gonna lie, it would be a cool “Easter egg” to have at the very end of the CD (or playlist) after some seconds of silence. 

[Incanus 5,818]

12 hours ago, Hedji said:

It’s minutia like this that completely redeem the internet for me!

 

Not gonna lie, it would be a cool “Easter egg” to have at the very end of the CD (or playlist) after some seconds of silence. 

Agreed! Also it might be a pretty confusing Easter egg, especially since the whistling is a bit off and most might not recognize it for what it was without specific mention in the liner notes.

 

Hey I love my Home Alone Deluxe Complete Ultimate Edition, but there is some weird random whistling at the end of the disc . What the heck?! I demand a new disc to replace this obviously faulty one!

 

Also we should start a campaign to get Williams' whistling (for Jack Nicholson) from the Witches of Eastwick reinstated in the cue Daryl's Secrets if it is ever released in complete form. His skills as a whistler are sorely underappreciated!

[Jay 39,761]

On 12/08/2021 at 3:36 AM, Incanus said:

I think it is this little passage 0:57-1:00:

 

 

 

Thanks, I think you're right. I wonder if Williams whistled the entire phrase, and then in the final mix they only used the ending part in the film