Christmas Bells???

[LeadingMan051990]

Posted: 1/22/06 at 2:10pm

Hey guys. i had never listened to the full Original Rent Cast Recording until a couple days ago. I noticed the song Christmas Bells and it is absolutely one of my FAVORITE songs on the CD. Why would they not put it into the movie?

[xM3L24x]

Posted: 1/22/06 at 2:13pm

most likely because it would be difficult to film with so much going on at once. It's easier to change to diologue.

[SmeagolxIsxSexy]

Posted: 1/22/06 at 2:14pm

That is one of my favorite songs too, but it wasn't in the movie because it wouldn't make sense is what they said, its such a huge number but it doesn't really go any where. It's a shame they didn't add it.

[elsie]

Posted: 1/22/06 at 3:00pm

I agree, it's one of my favorite songs because the texture is so complex, but it still works... I think it's marvelous writing on Jonathon Larson's part (okay, so when is his stuff not marvelous, but still) to have five completely different parts going on simultaneously and they still all mesh and harmonize...

Wilson Jermaine Heredia also said it was his favorite song in the original production...

Sadly, i think they cut it because it's long, and it doesn't really move the plot along or say anything that important (i.e. la vie boheme), and it's not anybody's "big solo"... (i.e. one song glory or out tonight). It's really more of a description... and pictures and camera shots can do that well enough without singing an entire song about it... and for the other reasons stated above, that the complexity of the number wouldn't translate well on the movie screen.

[renthead2]

Posted: 1/22/06 at 3:24pm

my fave song thatthey leftout was happy new year. ALthoug I do love Christmas Bells

[neocomposer]

Posted: 1/22/06 at 3:29pm

It's like everyone is saying-Rent is more of a pop/rock opera, but the movie was more of a rock musical. There is VERY little dialogue in the entire stage version. Songs like Christmas bells are great on stage, but could be very hard to swallow in a movie.

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/22/06 at 3:33pm

Because the movie was a mess.

[xM3L24x]

Posted: 1/22/06 at 5:52pm

well thats one opinion of the movie. I didn't think the movie was a 'mess', I thought that it could be better, but I honestly thought it was good and it's something that I can always remember the show by once it's gone. Christmas Bells is one of my favorite songs because I love how everything overlaps, but it just wouldnt work. There are too many things going on, and while it works well on stage, it doesn't on film.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/22/06 at 5:54pm

Christmas Bells is easily the most -- in traditional terms -- theatrical number in Rent. It's the one that seems most like a traditional musical theatre number. You see all of those different stories being told at once, and the decision to take it out was made based on the notion that those same stories could be told in different ways, without creating a huge, stagey production number.

[bwaylover86]

Posted: 1/22/06 at 5:57pm

Seriously just listening to that song for the first time is a bit confusing, imagine trying to put all of that on the screen at once. But I do miss it. I really miss the squigy (sp?) guy "Honest living honest living..." and Angel haggling with the coat lady... ooh also they took out one of my favorite lines from Collins "Well they purloined my coat, well you missed a sleeve!!" and finding the coat later with Angel.. okay now I am sad... I miss Christmas Bells.... *rushing to put on my OBC CD* all better!