More Star Wars

Compiled by Lukas Kendall

Most successful "production about nothing" ever: Seinfeld? Nope. Articles about the forthcoming Star Wars soundtrack? You got it! Talk about something that we're all anticipating, but nobody knows anything about it. Still, you know, when I actually think about it, it's going to be awesome to have new Star Wars music after so long.

Still, here are some responses to Jeff Wheeler's "Phantom Menace" article:

From: Steve E Townsley <lancelot75@juno.com>

Hello...considering all the pre-movie hype that's going around, I think I've remained fairly calm about it all--which, I feel, takes a great effort, for anyone who knows me, who knows the kind of attachment I have to Star Wars, to John Williams, to film music....

Your article featured in FSM's webpage today was completely fascinating but only gave me those nervous-excited chills with the closing line:

"One thing is for certain: Alfred Newman's 20th Century Fox Fanfare with CinemaScope Extension is going to herald the new score's arrival."

Just thinking about that ever-so brief Newman fanfare and the unbearable pause that follows in which a limitless musical universe exists on the other side--I'm almost to excited to think now....Reading that today was thrilling. Thank you for a terrific article.

From: yvain@ix.netcom.com (Robert Delaney)

Several years ago, on an episode of Evening at Pops, John Williams conducted a piece of music called the Mandalorian March, and the announcer gave the impression that it was composed for Star Wars. Was this a preview of a theme that will be used in the new film, or perhaps was it for one of computer games or Shadows of the Empire? Unfortunately, I don't remember anything about it.

I have never heard of this. I don't want to insult you, but it's possible that you just heard the title of the piece wrong, and it was some other fanfare or march Williams had composed for a festive occasion. He has lots of them. Still, if I was trying to start a rumor, this would be the way to go!

From: Chris Kinsinger <76263.2355@compuserve.com>

I have now read so many different and opposing views, and "spekkulations of a hypothesis" about the next "Star Wars" film, that I cannot take any more!

So much intense scrutinization of a MOVIE that isn't even ready to be presented to the public. . .WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? I'm a big "Star Wars" fan. I saw the original at it's Premiere, before anybody ever knew that it would be a hit. I stood in line to see it the second, third and fourth times. I stood in line to see the two sequels. So, I'm not a stranger to fanaticism.

But, it seems to me, that we've moved into an entirely new area here. People who go to a theatre just to watch 2 minutes of a preview and then exit. . .this is an entirely New Breed of Fan. I will not judge them. I simply acknowledge that this is a New Breed of movie fan.

From: "S. Pincus" <saulp@idirect.com>

Nicely written article.

Williams has likely not been composing from a "rough edit" as Mr. Wheeler puts it. "The Phantom Menace" benefits from a post-production period that is approximately 7 months longer than the first three Star Wars films, and a fine (if not absolutely locked) cut has been in existence for probably about four months. While every little change Lucas makes affects score timings (and other departments), the summer 1983 issue of Cinefex magazine notes Lucas was tinkering with "Jedi" around this many months before its release as well. And that was back in the days of pure, physical film editing; today one does not have to physically recut 80 sound effects tracks or, in the case of music, re-hand-calculate a click track or basic timings. Technology makes it possible to make changes closer to the last minute than ever before. Not that this is necessarily a bonus to the creative process 100% of the time, but it can be a help.

By the way, there is still no news on what label will release the soundtrack to The Phantom Menace.

Hey, to throw a new subject into this column, does anyone remember the music to Droids? Stewart Copeland wrote the theme and perhaps some other songs for it. I watched that cartoon every Saturday morning. I also remember the "Big Heep" prime-time hour-long special, where there was this huge robot on a planet that fattened droids up in like a droid paradise hotel in order to eat their energy later.

Be here tomorrow for Film Score Friday!

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