The Addams Family (1991)

Music By Marc Shaiman / Conductor Played By Marc Shaiman

Before the movie was filmed, I had the mind-blowing honor to be sent by the movie’s producer, the infamous but brilliant Scott Rudin, to write a song to be performed in the movie, a song that I would write with the legendary Comden & Green.

I was conducting for Harry Connick Jr. on Broadway at the time (heady times!), and would go up to Betty Comden’s apartment in the day and play the piano that Leonard Bernstein and Jule Styne (to name a few of their partners) had played, and Betty, Adolph Green (hi Amanda Green ! hi Adam Green!) and I joyously banged out the song “THE MAMUSHKA”. A few months later the number was recorded (fab orchestration by Hummie Mann), filmed, and was included in the movie’s first test screening where some snot-nosed teenage kid in the Valley wrote “why are they singing?” on a preview card, and they basically cut the number. Only a few moments were left. Heartbreaking.

Did the number stink? My memory says no. In truth, it was a movie with REAL pacing problems and our song held up the story for 5 minutes. End of story.

30 years later, Paramount has released a new DVD (remember those?) with the full “THE MAMUSHKA” reinstated!

In an interview I was reading with director Barry Sonnenfeld about this new version, there was an old clip attached from Entertainment Tonight with me and Raul Julia rehearsing the song (Starting at 2:13). It was obviously during filming, as you will see from my hair and make-up (I played the crazed conductor) but I have NO IDEA why we seem to be in someone’s garage! I guess it was a nearby sound stage that had a car in it for some reason. Anyway, it is QUITE a blast from the past for me, a cherished memory of working with the late, great Raul Julia, and I thought I’d share it here.