More Composers as Actors
Compiled by Lukas Kendall
The input keeps coming in regarding composers' cameos in movies and
TV shows--whether they've scored them or not. Also see our first
column on the subject.
Stewart Copeland
From: Eric Aron, earon@javanet.com
Does TV count? If so, include Stewart Copeland, who I saw recently
appear working at a newspaper stand in a syndicated episode of "The
Equalizer".
Alexander Courage
From: Movie Fan
What about Alexander Courage as the conductor in Luciano Pavarotti's
regrettable YES, GIORGIO?
Frank De Vol
From: yvain@ix.netcom.com (Robert Delaney)
In case this hasn't been posted yet on the message board: Frank
De Vol appeared for several years as bandleader Happy Kein (of Happy Kein
and the Mirthmakers) on the talk show spoof, Fernwood Tonight (later America
Tonight).
Georges Delerue
From: Gary Chu <garychu@netvigator.com>
How can we missed our late Mozart of Cinema, Georges Delerue who's
also played in one of supporting role as "Musical Director" and
"Lawyer" during his lifetime with frequent partner Francois Truffaut's
DAY FOR NIGHT and TWO ENGLISH GIRLS.
Patrick Doyle
From: Karl Scott <karl_scott@opcode.com>
Henry Mancini
From: jdh@socialstudies.com (Jeffry Heise)
An addition to the Henry Mancini section: he appeared at the end
of a Pink Panther cartoon in which the panther is trying to get the Hollywood
Bowl orchestra to play his theme, much to the frustration of another musician.
At the very end, a lone person is heard clapping from the audience, and
the camera sees a single person sitting out there-it is Mancini, clapping!
Can anyone remember the name of this cartoon?
Michael Nyman
From: Alan Andres <aeandres@ma.ultranet.com>
Here is one more that I'll bet no one has mentioned:
Michael Nyman appears in two short films:
LETTERS, RIDDLES AND WRITS in which he appears as "Composer"
in a fantasy courtroom scene about musical plagerism.
THE FINAL SCORE where he is seen in the viewing stands watching
the Queens Park Rangers football club.
Mike Post
From: Michele Lellouche <mdanl@ibm.net>
How about a television appearance: Mike Post is leading the band
in the final episode of the late, pretty much unlamented series Cop Rock.
Marc Shaiman
From: Jason Foster <jf14704@appstate.edu>
Marc Shaiman was also in "Hot Shots." He was the piano
player during the bar scene and, if I recall correctly, had a close-up
shot. The interesting part is that he didn't score that film; Sylvester
Levay did.
John Williams
From: yvain@ix.netcom.com (Robert Delaney)
The liner notes for "Bell, Book and Candle" (George Duning)
include the following:
"The score was recorded mostly in Munich,...but all the jazz
sequences were done at the Columbia studio in Hollywood, since the film
called for several on-camera jazz sequences in a nightclub....Also worthy
of note is that the pianist on these sessions was John Williams, then in
the early stages of what would soon become a distinguished career as a
film composer."
I'm not sure if this should be interpreted to mean that Williams
appears on screen in the nightclub scenes or if he just performed in the
recording. The film doesn't give a close up shot of the band, so I can't
tell if he's there.
From Jeffrey Wheeler:
John Williams regularly played a pianist for the '60s TV series
"Johnny Staccato." He never spoke, but he had that cool cat act
down pat (say that ten times fast!). Groovy... eh, daddy-o?
And Lots of Stuff from the Memory of Guy...
From: Guy McKone <guymck@cims.net>
The Subterraneans (1960): Andre Previn appears as himself at the
piano in a party scene.
Valley of the Dolls (1967): Marvin Hamlisch appears as Neely O'Hara's
accompanist in Valley of the Dolls (tho' you'll never notice him in the
pan-and-scan video version!). This was made before The Swimmer, so this
might not count. (...could that be Johnny Williams, sans mustache, at the
piano during Tony Polar's (Tony Scotti) nightclub scene?)
Paris Was Made For Lovers (A Time for Loving; Tempo d'amare, etc.,
etc.) (1971): Michel Legrand (who scored it as well) co-stars.
Sunday in New York (1964): music by Peter Nero.
Peter Nero appears as himself. Since this was his only scoring assignment,
this one might not count.
Frasier: Henry Mancini (voice only) was one of the callers.
The actor Sheldon Allman (the sleazy hotel manager in Good Neighbor
Sam; Rev. Post in 1967's In Cold Blood) - is he - could he be - the same
gent who gave us "George of the Jungle"?
Dudley Moore proved he could break our hearts with his film music
(Six Weeks), as well as to make us laugh with his antics (Arthur). I'd
love to have a full album of Six Weeks...
Anthony Hopkins, the actor, wrote the music for August. (There was
another Anthony Hopkins - could've been Antony - who scored 1962's Billy
Budd)
I'm not sure about this one - but - isn't that Johnny Mandel as
the bandleader in the talk show sequence in Being There? It looks like
him anyway...
If there are still some we're missing, let us know! Thanks! (Keep in
mind a lot were listed in the aforementioned earlier column.) MailBag@filmscoremonthly.com
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