Composer Danny Elfman Reunites With Director Tim Burton to Score Big Fish Soundtrack

Composer Danny Elfman renews his acclaimed partnership with director Tim Burton to create the score for the heartwarming new film Big Fish, featured on the original soundtrack recording from Sony Classical/Epic/Sony Music Soundtrax with the end-title song "Man of the Hour," written by Eddie Vedder and performed by Pearl Jam. The Columbia Pictures release, which stars Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup and Jessica Lange, will open in New York and Los Angeles on December 10, expanding on Christmas Day to 150 screens in 15 additional markets, with a wider nationwide release following on January 9, 2004. The soundtrack will be released on Tuesday, December 23, 2003.

Danny Elfman's music has been a fixture in many of Tim Burton's films in the past two decades -- Sleepy Hollow, Mars Attacks!, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands, Batman, Beetlejuice and Pee Wee's Big Adventure. His score for Big Fish is integrated with a rich array of classic pop and rock recordings from the past, including Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up," Buddy Holly's "Everyday," The Allman Bros.' "Ramblin' Man," Bing Crosby's "Dinah," Canned Heat's "Let's Work Together," Dock Boggs' "Sammie, Where Have You Been So Long?" and The Vogues' "Five O'Clock World." The whimsical selection of songs underscores the imaginative plot of Big Fish, a journey that delves deeply into a fabled relationship between a father and his son.

In addition, Eddie Vedder has written the music and lyrics for the only original song heard on the soundtrack -- "Man of the Hour," the end-title song performed by Pearl Jam. Vedder wrote the song within a few days after viewing the film with fellow band members. "Man of the Hour" was then recorded by the band a few days later at Studio X in Seattle. The song is available now as a CD single on the band's website at www.pearljam.com.

Edward Bloom (Albert Finney) has always been a teller of tall tales about his oversized life as a young man (Ewan McGregor), when his wanderlust led him on an unlikely journey from a small town in Alabama, around the world, and back again. His mythic exploits dart from the delightful to the delirious as he weaves epic tales about giants, storms, a witch and conjoined-twin lounge singers. With his larger-than-life stories, Bloom charms almost everyone he encounters except for his estranged son Will (Billy Crudup). When his mother Sandra (Jessica Lange) tries to reunite them, Will must learn how to separate fact from fiction as he comes to terms with this father's great feats and great failings.

One of the most prolific and successful composers in American film, Danny Elfman is a two-time Oscar nominee (for Men in Black and Good Will Hunting, both in 1997) and an Emmy nominee for his theme for TV's perennial The Simpsons. Among his three Grammy nominations is his score for the 2001 film Planet of the Apes, which can be heard on Sony Classical's original soundtrack recording (SK 89666). Elfman began composing seriously for film through his friendship with Tim Burton, who was a fan of the band Oingo Boingo, which Elfman formed with his brother. His most recent scores include The Hulk, Chicago, Red Dragon, Men in Black, Spider-Man, Spy Kids, The Family Man and Proof of Life.

Columbia Pictures presents Big Fish, directed by Tim Burton, from a screenplay by John August, based on the novel by Daniel Wallace. The film is produced by Richard Zanuck, and Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks, with Arne L. Schmidt as executive producer. The cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter, Alison Lohman, Robert Guillaume, Marion Cotillard, with Steve Buscemi and Danny Devito. Philippe Rousselot, A.F.C., ASC, is director of photography.

The original soundtrack recording for Big Fish will be featured on Sony Classical's Web site at www.sonyclassical.com.

SOURCE: Sony Classical

CONTACT: Carol Della Penna of Sony Classical, +1-212-833-7479,
Carol_Dellapenna@sonymusic.com

Web site: http://www.sonyclassical.com/