Film Score Friday 4/20/01

Jerry Goldsmith has undergone surgery for appendicitis (he's OK!) and has had to bow out of scoring Rat Race, a new comedy directed by Jerry Zucker. Elmer Bernstein -- who scored a Tony Curtis film entitled The Rat Race in 1960 -- will replace him.

John Corigliano (Altered States, The Red Violin) has received the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Arts in music for his Symphony No. 2 for String Orchestra. The five-movement work is described as an expansion and revision of his 1995 String Quartet involving a variety of musical styles.

Pacific Time Entertainment is releasing more U.S. albums of new Italian scores; in the works are Canon Inverso (aka Making Love, Ennio Morricone), and Honolulu Baby (Carlo Siliotto).

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London is performing the concert cantata from Alexander Nevsky (Prokofiev) on Wednesday, May 2, along with Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4. See http://www.rpo.co.uk/may.htm.

The Richmond Symphony (Virginia/USA) is performing a movie music concert on April 27 and 29. Scheduled are: AARON COPLAND Music for Movies; MIKLOS ROZSA Kaleidoscope; BERNARD HERRMANN Music from Psycho; and W.A. MOZART Piano Concerto no. 21 in C major,K. 467 (as used in the film "Elvira Madigan"). See http://www.richmondsymphony.com/concerts_4_27_29.asp.

Thanks to Guenther Koegebehn for the information.

See yesterday's article by Jeffrey C. Lewis detailing a recent screening of Superman: The Movie (expanded version) in San Antonio, Texas.

From: Giles Edwards <gilesfde@yahoo.co.uk>

Just a really small question really: not that I have anything against Jeffrey Lewis but, really, do people that explore the micro-minutiae of a film soooooooo deeply actually enjoy the film going experience or is it more akin to a science field trip. Sure I love a pin point perfect print, crisp clear DOLBY sound and an atmospheric, pleasurable viewing venue, but I go there to watch a movie. If the edits are that jarring how can there be any enjoyment involved. How do we know that these edits aren't what was originally intended and the ORIGINAL versions don't jar the creators as much as Mr. Lewis has been jarred by there restoration. Surely it is only an over familiarity that breeds such contempt for these fairly minor top 'n' tails of the material.

It does bother me, as a rabid cinephile and film lover that such scientifically accurate zeroing in on the very last millisecond of a cue or sound elements does detract from the actual point of the film itself - the content. Its like seeing a painting and then spewing your lunch over the frame - I realise this is a facetious comparison but I do it only so that some perspective be realised. I'm all for the best and most sonically and visually potent prints around for all films I see, but it does seem a little overwrought when someone like Mr Lewis will get al in a twist and the profess to keep a video over a DVD. Surely such absolute attention to perfection that is illustrated by his analysis of the print shouldn't so miraculously disappear when confronted with the choice between a markedly superior A/V medium and plain old video all because of a few minor edits. I find it disturbing as a rational cinemagoer and movie freak that such behaviour is as genuine as Mr Lewis' apparently real disappointment at his experience. Isn't this what old Jesus Weinstein got moaned at for (by me as well) and look what happened to him. Let's concentrate on the music and the films - such scrupulous nit-picking, while commendable as dedication to an art form, is a bit lame when it really ruins what should be the blissful retreat from the world of reality that the movies are for every minute out of your lives that they thankfully take and that we willingly give.

This post is not meant in malice or criticism - just genuine filmloving curiosity that such mind-sets can exist and yet love film so passionately. Does anyone understand what I mean? I hope so.

Hey man, what are you trying to do, put us out of business? People live for minutiae! I think you make a valid point, but I've found that fans can distinguish between appreciating a film's overall accomplishments and still being interesting in its nuts and bolts. They wouldn't care so deeply about the little details if they didn't love films and film music so much.

Thank you everybody for your patience in awaiting our newest Golden Age (Untamed) and Silver Age (The Towering Inferno) CDs. We had delays in getting them back from manufacturing but have everything in stock now and have been furiously filling all of the orders. If you placed an order and still don't have the discs, please hang tight as your disc is en route to you.

re: Untamed:

From: "COLIN HOBSON" <MRC@mree.fsnet.co.uk>

Congratulations! You've done it again. "UNTAMED" is absolutely magnificent. I've waited a long time for this score and it was worth the wait. Perhaps "majestic" is the right word for this Waxman score, from the thrilling Main Title with it's horn fanfares right through to it's conclusion.

The "Zulu Attack" track is extremely effective and very cleverly compiled - well done. I was 7 years old when I first saw this movie on it's initial release, and the Zulus scared the hell out of me. It's one of those scenes that has stuck with me and when I heard this track it was great to feel that tug on the old memory banks and a tightening in the stomach. The movie itself is not the best ever made, but is still fun and beautifully shot... . and has great lines, such as Tyrone Power's "Katie... I can't beleive it. YOU... here in Africa, fighting Zulus!" It's that kind of movie... lovely. Here in the U. K. , Channel 4 has shown it several times over the past two years, so I now have a Widescreen, stereo video copy, thanks to them. Maybe you guys could persuade Fox to release some of these Classic, early CinemaScope movies on DVD... if not now, maybe for CinemaScope's 50th Anniversary in 2003. (I hope they're planning something to celebrate this event!!!).

Once again, many, many thanks for this beautiful edition of an old favourite. Keep up the good work.

re: The Towering Inferno:

From: JeremyPoorte@gateway.net

I have just received the disc and have played three times in a row. I love it! This has been an important film score missing from the legitimate CD market for far too long.

Having read through the extensive liner notes while listening to this wonderful score from Mr. Williams, I realized that this must have been an extraordinary effort to bring all of this to release.

As an almost twenty some odd years fan of the film and a worshipper of John Williams' genius since my father bought the 8-track of Close Encounters and scared the crap out of his 4 year old son, this disc that you have created is a true gift to the listening community. There must be a half dozen cues that I never thought I'd ever hear without having to view the film, dialogue, effects and all. While listening to the scenic elevator-gravity drop cue "Short Goodbyes", I kept thinking "Yes! This is so great to hear! These guys knew what had to be included in this!"

Because I am fairly certain that this project had to have been a substantial challenge to complete (and not just the delay of the pressing), I felt compelled to send you folks an e-mail to thank you for all of your efforts...to share how important this score is not only to myself, but to many others out there I imagine as well. Your care and treatment of this seventy-five minute bundle of joy goes well appreciated on these ears.

Kindest regards and again, deep thanks for this!

From: James Coleman <Jcoleman.ccs@greatlocksmith.com>

I just have to say "Bravo" on the Towering Inferno CD. I just received it today and everything about it is amazing. Great music, great artwork and great liner notes. Thanks so much for releasing a score I thought had no chance of ever being officially released. Awesome job! More, more..

You got it! We thank everyone for their nice words -- it's always appreciated. Our next two CDs will be available in early May.

We just had a major barrage of letters about Varese Sarabande's 2CD set of Alex North's masterpiece, Cleopatra. Here's column one, two and three.

And here are the FINAL words on the subject for now...if you'd like to continue discussion, please use our message board.

From: "Alberto Patron (CEA)" <alberto.patron@cea.ericsson.se>

It's the first time I write to the mailbag. I think that in the discussion about Cleopatra some good points have been made. I agree with Arthur Lingten in the fact that North's music doesn't strike me a lot. Don't kill me please!. I think like that now, but I don't say I will not appreciate it in the future. I can understand what he says about some people being some kind of "snob". It happens some times but as someone mentioned before I don't think that is the case here. I like all kinds of music from classical music to rock and I have changed my tastes a lot (in fact increased my taste). I now really enjoy some guitar playing of some "geniuses" that years ago only sounded like noise to me. I think that the real point is how the music strikes you. There is always the discussion about "understanding" the music. I think that knowing the background, the intention of the artist or the artistic movement to which the musical piece belongs can help your listening experience and you can enjoy many details and discover many subtetlies that would not recognize otherwise, but anyway in the end it is a matter of if you like or not the music. You don't have to be an expert to love music. What you can do is to evolve. Some things that in one particular moment didn't impressed you can become your favourite music in the future.

Returning to the discussion I think that the key element is one word: respect. We have to respect that some people may love Cleopatra, and that others may think that it is not worth listening to it. We are not discussing the quality but our taste and we have to respect each other.

From: mw <mwharr@att.net>

To all who keep referring to Mr. North's music as BEING "ice cold", might I suggest you rephrase to say it leaves you FEELING "ice cold" instead?! In my many years of listening and enjoying a variety of musical forms (jazz being my favorite), I have found that the music that is more original or foreign to me, leaves me feeling unmoved or "ice cold". Only after repeated listening, letting down my personal barriers, rethinking or changing my expectations, do I begin to "warm" to the music. It's not Mr. North's music that is ice cold, but rather your inability to relate to it that is ice cold.

From: Kirk Henderson <kirksworks@home.com>

Am I wrong or is this discussion of Cleopatra the biggest thing to ever hit the FSM Mail Bag in the history of this website? I mean, there were three discussions of this score, the second two of which were mostly based on Arthur Lintgen's response in the first day's discussion. But the level of passion for Alex North's music that came through in these responses just floored me. This whole three day discussion was either a very moving testament to North's music, or a clever grouping and line-up of letters published online by FSM that build to a grand climax with Lintgen's reply. Conscious or unconcious, it worked well. But really, has there been a larger or more passionate response to any other CD release? Or letter? Just wondering.

Surely not... :)

Finally, speaking about Cleopatra, German readers check out a special review of the CD and commentary about the movie at cinemusic.de:

Main link: http://www.cinemusic.de/special/cleopatra/index.php3
Review of the album: http://www.cinemusic.de/2001/cleopatra.php3
Commentary to the movie: http://www.cinemusic.de/special/cleopatra/index1.php3

Fantastic Voyage -- one of our earliest CD releases -- will air on AMC next Thursday, April 26 at 2PM and 10:15PM (Eastern time). Check it out for the "fantastic" Leonard Rosenman score.

We've released over two dozen CDs by now and some of the films are pretty obscure, to put it mildly. Still, some seem to be popping back into circulation -- From the Terrace was on one of the Encore channels last night (Thursday) -- and I hope fans get the chance to check out them out when they run. I know some people prefer only to buy CDs for movies they've seen, while others don't care either way. (Please do remember we have sound clips for all our titles at the new FSM store.)

Have a great weekend!

MailBag@filmscoremonthly.com