Movies - TV
Danny Elfman Wrote A Beetlejuice Soundtrack That Fans Never Heard
By RYAN SCOTT
Danny Elfman, one of cinema’s most prolific composers, collaborates often with director Tim Burton, and their work dates back to the ‘80s on such beloved hits as "Beetlejuice."
In an interview, Elfman revealed that he originally composed quite a bit of music purely based on the script for "Beetlejuice," but ultimately, none of that music actually worked.
"I wrote music before I saw a rough cut of anything," said Elfman. However, once he watched Michael Keaton’s performance in the film, his perspective changed.
Elfman said, "Michael Keaton brought this energy, and that's what I'm latching onto, that it's really intense, but it changes, [...] changes on a dime because that's what he is."
The composer started over on the music and told Burton, "If you're game, I'll just go nutty the whole time until you tell me to stop. Until you tell me that I've gone too far."
In the end, everything worked out for the best, as the film became an enduring classic. Still, fans may wonder if there’s any chance of hearing Elfman’s initial soundtrack.