At the end of the movie, why did they use the tune to "Auld Lang Syne"? I looked up the histopry of the song, and read that ealier than when this movie was made, the song had become a New Year's Eve tradition as we know it now, so why did they use it in this movie??
share...it's now associated with New Year's Eve I believe it was used for occasions when someone was leaving. When I was in Japan I took a boat ride and and as the boat was approaching the landing dock they played the tune.
I think it was used with great success in this instance. It certainly helped bringing a tear to the eye didn't it?
I have no idea how this tune was considered during the time this film was made. My belief is it wasn't (at that time) considered strickly a New Year's Eve song.
Those are my thoughts about it.
It's played by the pipers of a Scottish regiment in the movie, and I believe it was a Scottish song before it became a New Year's Eve anthem.
shareAuld Lang Syne is a song about remembering old friends ("Should old aquaintance be forgot..?"), so it's often played when people are having to go their seperate ways. As another poster noted, it was often used in pictures of this era, particularly those of Frank Capra. Here's a list of some of those pictures off the top of my head -
Mr Deeds Goes to Town (Capra, 1936)
Dodsworth (William Wyler, 1936)
Mr Smith Goes to Washington (Capra, 1939)
It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
... And of course Gunga Din. The fact that it's use declined from the 40s onwards is probably down to it's becoming viewed as a cliche, and also cinema in general becoming less sentimental. The only picture I can think of in which it is used in a New Years Eve context is Chaplin's The Gold Rush (1925). And of course it's used in a more ironic mode as a ring tone in Kill Bill.
It is also sung at the end of the high school graduation dance in "Imitation of Life". As nora nettlerash mentioned, it has often been played when good friends have to part, as if to symbolize a pledge that they will always remember their old friends in the years to come.
shareWhen i was in Japan i was surprised to hear it used to close many things, including festivals i was at in the middle of the countryside.
I asked a friend about it and when I mentioned its origins she was surprised, as it was assumed that it was an old Japanese folk song.
I've subsequently learned that the version in Japan has its own re written lyrics and the only similarity to the original is the melody used, so I can understand why it is assumed to be an old folk song.
Just to add to what you have said about Japan, the song is often linked with sad occasions.
sharewhy did they use the tune to 'Auld Lang Syne'?
I've also noticed that in other movies of that era. Whenever the director wanted the audience to get weepy (and wanted it done fast) he'd pull out "Auld Lang Syne".
cinefreak
Originally they were going to use "One Hundred Bottles of Beer," but in a sneak preview test-audiences disliked that part, and so before its official release, "Auld Lang Syne" was dubbed onto the soundtrack.
I know an old guy who claims he used to sell Gay porn to movie stars, and he swears he heard this from Cary Grant.
Originally they were going to use "One Hundred Bottles of Beer," but in a sneak preview test-audiences disliked that part, and so before its official release, "Auld Lang Syne" was dubbed onto the soundtrack.
Probably a wise move in retrospect! (LMAO)
And now let's all mentally paste "One Hundred Bottles of Beer" into the approriate spot of every old movie that ever used "Auld Lang Syne"!
cinefreak
You ain't lived, nateba, until you've heard "One Hundred Bottles of Beer" played by massed bagpipes.
shareYou ain't lived, nateba, until you've heard "One Hundred Bottles of Beer" played by massed bagpipes.
The question is, will I want to go on living after after I've heard it!
cinefreak
Y'all are cracking me up! "100 Bottles of Beer" played by bagpipes, indeed!
shareThe Black Watch is usually considered to be the national regiment of Scotland, rightly and wrongly. The song is also considered to be the de facto national anthem of Scotland, that's why its sung at Rugby, Football, and Cricket games.
It is not to make people weep. Scottish soldiers DO NOT WEEP -- THEY FIGHT TO THE DEATH!
LONG LIVE SCOTLAND.
Cricket is rarely played in Scotland. The "de facto" National Anthem of Scotland, is "Flower of Scotland".
shareafter watching a lot of old movies over the last few years.. you'll
find "Auld Lang Syne" in a lot of them.. in many different situations..
"Wee Willie Winkie"...Victor McLaglen dying...Shirley Temple singing...Auld Lang Syne...!
Auld Lang Syne is a song of farewell and remembrance, beautifully and appropriately used in "Gunga Din" and many other movies.
"I'm almost resigned to living on what I earn."
Yes, Auld Lang Syne was used to memorable effect in another film starring Victor McLaglen from just two years earlier called "Wee Willie Winkie" from 1937 which was a very similar movie also set in Victorian era British India. It was sung by Shirley Temple as McLaglen lay dying. So it would be very fitting indeed!
shareYou know your stuff. Shirley was looking at a young pic of Sgt McDuff when she was singing it. A very underated movie, and one of Shirley's favorites....
share[deleted]