The Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) is again, at the end of the year, enthralling us with the live soundtrack to movies. Last week it was “Home Alone”.

“Home Alone”, a 1990 American Christmas comedy, is saved by the soundtrack composed and conducted by John Williams. The plot by John Hughes hasn’t travelled well, although those in their forties may remember it with fondness. There were families at the event, set to enjoy a nostalgic night out. What dominated was the obnoxious treatment meted out by family members to a small boy, which, by being on the big screen, may normalise family abuse. I was surprised that I was shocked by it.

The music provided live by the QSO was seamless. With the Twentieth Century Fox fanfare, the QSO caught our attention, thanks to the very live orchestra playing familiar music. But once we settled in to watch the movie, it was easy to forget the orchestra. The soundtrack disappeared behind the story.

As one in the audience said, “The music was good. You can’t do anything about the movie. Strange, Americans, aren’t they?”

And that stuck. The plot involved a boy left home alone. The obstacle was burglars, which was resolved with the help of a neighbour. The movie ended with the family returning home. The action was in the tradition of Buster Keaton.

But what struck me was that the boy assumed he’d made his family disappear because they were mean to him. We watch as he eats every boy’s dream menu: sugar and fats. Then magically, the mess disappears, as it continued to do throughout the movie. He becomes a hero when he deals with burglars invading the supposedly vacant home. And no matter what the problem, the solution was money: to shop for food, to spend on first-class air tickets, hotels, and jewellery. People’s cooperation was to be bought. American rudeness was part of the solution, and part of motherly love. Travel to a foreign country didn’t involve any American entering that country or learning anything. What they experienced was inconvenience.

An unlikely oom-pah band offers free help. And then it all ends happily ever after, with nothing changed in the family.

The highlight was the conversation in the church when the ludicrous story of the neighbour who killed all his family was unpacked. The boy encouraged him to approach his estranged son. That was the only tender moment.

People enjoyed this movie. I suspect the Buster Keaton stunts spoke to the children. Macaulay Culkin’s cherubic face may have captured the mums’ hearts. Other actors included: Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, and Catherine O’Hara. And it was set in the week leading up to Christmas. That was most of what it had going for it.

Except for the music. The music was beautifully played, making the visit worthwhile.

The QSO 2026 Season has something for everyone. See: https://www.qpac.com.au/whats-on/queensland-symphony-orchestra for details.

 

Kerry McGovern