The Most Christmassy Feature Film Score Is...

[Andy 4,136]

The Holiday Season has an established sound.  Carols, commercials, and media have conditioned us to know it when we hear it.  Which feature film score nails that gingerbread feeling?  Perhaps not your favorite, but which film score is the most Christmassy sounding?  I eliminated Christmas horror and action, as well as movies that happen to take place at Christmas, but you can feel free to argue why Kamen's Complete Die Hard conjures up warm feelings of holiday cheer if you want.  I also eliminated television specials and short films like the Snowman or Charlie Brown.  This is for feature length film scores only.

[Tallguy 3,395]

I almost went with Home Alone. But I just like the score for Polar Express better. Both lean on Christmas Classics more than the other mentioned scores. There are some that I'm not sure about (Santa Clause the Movie, Scrooged). But It's a Wonderful Life is not a very Christmas-y score.

[Naïve Old Fart 9,534]

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is not a very Christmasy film.

 

I'll go with HOME ALONE (predictable), but you really should have included BATMAN RETURNS.

[Andy 4,136]

Agreed on Its A Wonderful Life, but it’s become so attached to the Holiday that the sentiment is there, unlike say Batman Returns.   
 

As far as films go, Gremlins feels more Christmassy than Batman Returns, but again I don’t feel ot in the score. 
 

Now Edward Scissorhands, I could be convinced to add to the list. 

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Bless you for including the Bicât.

 

I voted for Broughton 

[crocodile 8,017]

I voted for Broughton as well. While not necessarily my favourite, it definitely feels like the most festive score. Quite literally actually, between the faux classical pieces, the cosy romance and sugar laid thick, it feels like a perfect Christmas background album. It's almost annoying sometimes. 🤣

 

Karol

[Thor 7,507]

"Most Christmassy" sounds like a rather weird thing to say, as it's not something that can be easily rated that way. Also, there are many variations of Christmas music. There's the very US-centric semi-kitch version on display in things like HOME ALONE or more Christian, sacral things like Danna's THE NATIVITY STORY, the opening of BEN HUR etc. I'll vary this according to mood.

 

As such, I find it difficult to pick anything in this poll. However, if you asked me a more straightforward question of what my FAVOURITE score is of those listed, I'd probably go with HOME ALONE 2.

[Nick1Ø66 4,718]

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Make the poll responses public.  Or my fellow Broughton Miracle appreciator, reveal yourself!

[Jurassic Shark 12,079]

Religious talk isn't allowed on this forum.

 

 

And no option for Holiday Inn? Really?

[Naïve Old Fart 9,534]

3 hours ago, Thor said:

...I'd probably go with HOME ALONE 2.

Inferior film; superior score.

[Andy 4,136]

4 hours ago, Thor said:

"Most Christmassy" sounds like a rather weird thing to say, as it's not something that can be easily rated that way. Also, there are many variations of Christmas music. There's the very US-centric semi-kitch version on display in things like HOME ALONE or more Christian, sacral things like Danna's THE NATIVITY STORY, the opening of BEN HUR etc. I'll vary this according to mood.

 

As such, I find it difficult to pick anything in this poll. However, if you asked me a more straightforward question of what my FAVOURITE score is of those listed, I'd probably go with HOME ALONE 2.

I was thinking the former, US centric semi-kitch.  If that’s how you want to define it, feel free to vote accordingly.   Interesting that your FAVOURITE ended up being my personal vote. 
 

 

2 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

Make the poll responses public.  Or my fellow Broughton Miracle appreciator, reveal yourself!

Done!

5 hours ago, crocodile said:

I voted for Broughton as well. While not necessarily my favourite, it definitely feels like the most festive score. Quite literally actually, between the faux classical pieces, the cosy romance and sugar laid thick, it feels like a perfect Christmas background album. It's almost annoying sometimes. 🤣

 

Karol

You make me want to give it another chance.  You may be onto something there… I found it too sweet for my taste.  Like egg nog with extra sugar added.  I’ll spin it again this week. 

[JoeinAR 1,949]

On 11/12/2022 at 7:11 AM, Naïve Old Fart said:

Inferior film; superior score.

Home Alone is a superior film and the score to HA2 is an extension. It feels natural and unforced like the film does.

[Naïve Old Fart 9,534]

The score doesn't feel forced, and I love the nods to Gershwin.

The film is an unnecessary cash-in.

[Richard Penna 3,694]

I caught quite a bit of Jingle All The Way on TV on Saturday while waiting for an hour or so in a hotel room. The movie aside, not once did I notice the music - it just seemed like a lot of 'chase' music for Arnold running around.

 

For me The Polar Express wins by a considerable margin - I like that it has a more exciting, upbeat side and also a mysterious/childlike quality and avoids the 'happy-go-lucky' sound that many Christmas scores have, which I'm basically allergic to. There's nothing that strikes fear in me for a Christmas score more than basically every adjective Varese used to describe Debney's Elf for their DE.

[Jurassic Shark 12,079]

22 hours ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

The film is an unnecessary cash-in.

 

Aren't all films that don't lose money an unnecessary cash-in?

[Naïve Old Fart 9,534]

[Andy 4,136]

Nothing in the original Home Alone is as Christmassy as the minute and a half of Plaza Hotel.   

[Naïve Old Fart 9,534]

Indeed... especially since HOME ALONE was filmed from February to May 

[MaxMovieMan 271]

Polar Express is one of my favorite scores it captures the excitement and joy of Christmas but there’s another side to the score that is very mysterious and foreboding. It captures the fear of growing up and losing your belief well and works good on its own or in the film. Also the themes and songs of the movie I find very catchy and powerful.

[Jay 37,368]

I feel like I can't vote because I've only listened to 3 scores on this list

[filmmusic 1,829]

5 minutes ago, Jay said:

I feel like I can't vote because I've only listened to 3 scores on this list

Which ones? The 2 Home Alone scores I assume and....?

[Jay 37,368]

Woops, it's 4 - those two plus Elf and Scrooged

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Wow, you've never listened to The Polar Express?  That's crazy.

[filmmusic 1,829]

Just now, Disco Stu said:

Wow, you've never listened to The Polar Express?  That's crazy.

Yeah, I think he should definitely listen to The Polar Express, AND see the film (despite its obvious flaws).

[Jay 37,368]

I saw The Polar Express in theaters when it came out!

[filmmusic 1,829]

9 minutes ago, Jay said:

I saw The Polar Express in theaters when it came out!

Ah, you have listened to the score then, it's just that you haven't listened to it alone outside of the film.

[Jay 37,368]

I've seen 7 of the film on this poll

[Thor 7,507]

I never saw THE POLAR EXPRESS when it came out. I was too old, and it was too wonky. Saw it for the first time some 7-8 years ago. But I've come to love the OST very much in recent years, as Christmas warm-up. And it always amuses me that that the main theme reminds me of Roger Hodgson's "Lovers in the Wind".

[filmmusic 1,829]

I haven't seen ELF, because I can't stand Will Ferrell.

But I see it regularly in Christmas classics lists..

I LOVE Christmas films, but I cannot persuade myself to watch this.

[Jay 37,368]

I don't really like it

[Disco Stu 15,495]

I don't like Elf either.  And actually my kids don't like it either.  They tried it last year and again this year, and both times they started just wandering off and doing other things partway through.

[Tallguy 3,395]

Elf's OK. But the only Will Ferrell movie you'll like if you don't like Will Ferrell is Stranger than Fiction. Maybe The Lego Movie. Elf will certainly not change your mind.

[DeltaPupJux 47]

I didn't see Home Alone 3 (Nick Glennie-Smith).  lol

 

[Naïve Old Fart 9,534]

10 hours ago, Tallguy said:

Elf's OK. But the only Will Ferrell movie you'll like if you don't like Will Ferrell is Stranger than Fiction. Maybe The Lego Movie. Elf will certainly not change your mind.

I've tried to like Will Ferrell, in the same way that I have tried to like Adam Sandler, but something stops me.

[Tallguy 3,395]

Like I said: Stranger Than Fiction.

[Tom Guernsey 2,285]

Clearly not as predictable as I thought, but Home Alone 2. I am almost (almost...) of the view that you can dispense with the original since HA2 contains almost all the original material but lots of terrific new stuff. I would have to agree that the various "arrival in NYC" material adds a new type of more bombastic Christmassy sound somewhere between JW, Gershwin and Bernstein (L). Having listened to it walking around the Christmas market in Manchester the other week, those bits really hit the right tone if you want to actually want it to feel like JW is scoring your actual life lol.