FSM HOME MESSAGE BOARD FSM CDs FSM ONLINE RESOURCES FUN STUFF ABOUT US  SEARCH FSM

LOG IN Forgot Login? Register General Discussion • Trading Post • Non-Film Score Discussion  Profile • Preferences • Community Rules • Help/Contact • Search Board Search Terms:  Search Within:  topics posts since 2019 2018 posts 2017 posts 2016 posts 2015 posts 2014 posts 2013 posts 2012 posts 2011 posts 2010 posts 2009 posts 2008 posts 2007 posts 2006 posts 2005 posts 2004 posts 2003 posts 2002 posts 2001 posts 2000 posts users  search tips  You must log in or register to post.   Go to page:  1      General Discussion: Elmer Bernstein # 6 SUMMER AND SMOKE   Last Post   Posted:   Feb 1, 2014 - 11:39 PM     By:   Morricone   (Member) Getting excited about the GSPO Tribute Concert for Elmer Bernstein prompted me to make this series about a composer that belongs with John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith and Ennio Morricone in the pantheon of silver age composers. A man with a range all his own. The problem solving I mentioned in many of Elmer’s scores practically doesn’t exist here. You don’t have to figure out that much about what is needed in a play or film written by Tennessee Williams. He was a poet, a dark sensual southern poet. Subtext is everything in his pieces and that is what every composer is looking for. To express what is underneath. SUMMER AND SMOKE is about Miss Alma (Geraldine Page) a borderline old maid Minister’s daughter taking care of her warped mother (Una Merkel) but smoldering with repressed sexuality that is sparked by the young hedonistic medical student (Laurence Harvey) who lives next door. It takes place in turn-of-the-century Mississippi and the Victorian era is about to go head to head with the Flapper one. The repression is in the air, the art direction and the music. But so is the shimmering stirrings of sex. Elmer’s music IS poetic, expressing everything from religious stoicism to the rustling of the autumn leaves. It flows here like few of his other scores, almost in a dreamlike state: You can hear echoes of this unique and original portrait of the south in his score the next year to TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. This is Elmer Bernstein’s finest hour that didn’t get the attention that film or THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN did. SUMMER AND SMOKE was nominated for an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a Laurel and practically everything you can be nominated for. It is a score apart. It amazes me it still sits available at Kritzerland Records Elmer#5 THE SCALPHUNTERS http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?threadID=101479&forumID=1&archive=0 Elmer#4 THE BRIDGE AT REMAGEN http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?threadID=101414&forumID=1&archive=0 Elmer#3 THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?threadID=101334&forumID=1&archive=0 Elmer #2 FROM NOON TILL THREE http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?threadID=101261&forumID=1&archive=0 Elmer #1 THE REWARD http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?threadID=100917&forumID=1&archive=0    Posted:   Feb 2, 2014 - 12:14 AM     By:   Dana Wilcox   (Member) Elmer was hard to touch in the early 60s, no question about it. This score captures all of the emotional nuances of the film (including Alma's crazy mother and her antics) and is superbly listenable as well, loaded with great melody and swirling undercurrents. Besides the fact that this music is Bernstein at his peak, the Kritzerland release thereof is both more complete and hugely better sounding than the Spanish RCA CD release which preceded it. It is a crime that there is so much as a single copy of SUMMER AND SMOKE still unsold in the Kritzerland stock room.    Posted:   Feb 2, 2014 - 1:21 AM     By:   haineshisway   (Member) I will say that Summer and Smoke is perhaps one of my five favorite Kritzerland releases. I wanted it so bad, and when it finally worked out and we finally got the tapes and finally put it together, it was just a dream come true - one of Elmer's most stunning creations. Given that The Buccaneer sold out so quickly, I, too, find it completely odd that we have any Summer and Smoke left (I don't think it's THAT many, actually), but on the other hand, I'm happy people can still buy it and then bathe in its beauty.    Posted:   Feb 2, 2014 - 1:43 AM     By:   Josh   (Member) I will say that Summer and Smoke is perhaps one of my five favorite Kritzerland releases. Echo that. I was unaware of both the film and score before Kritzerland's release, thanks to which I fell in love with both. I'm often turned onto the music by Bruce's releases, then seek out the film so I can hear it in context. Keep 'em coming, BK! My generation needs you to keep carrying the torch, or at the very least, I do.    Posted:   Feb 2, 2014 - 12:25 PM     By:   Morricone   (Member) I think TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD the next year stole some of this score's thunder because it is so beloved. Different as it was, it had quite a few passages that had an identical feel. SUMMER AND SMOKE made quite an impact when it came out, especially among composers. In fact Ennio Morricone picked it as one of a handful of "covers" of film themes he did for his pop albums:    Posted:   Feb 2, 2014 - 9:38 PM     By:   Ag^Janus   (Member) Finally something good by Elmer. I used to play the cruddy old disc until Kritzerland rescued me, and also Hud, good stuff. A fine thread series indeed. Next on display ... Bird Man? Maybe ... The Miracle.    Posted:   Apr 9, 2015 - 10:14 AM     By:   ZardozSpeaks   (Member) Finally something good by Elmer. I used to play the cruddy old disc until Kritzerland rescued me, and also Hud, good stuff. A fine thread series indeed. Next on display ... Bird Man? Maybe ... The Miracle. Hi, Ag^Janus. Were you refering to the Spanish CD of the LP program? During the summer of 1988, I found myself a used RCA Victor LP of "Summer And Smoke" and since then it has always been my favorite Elmer Bernstein soundtrack. Within my list of favorite 100 soundtracks, there reside 4 by Elmer B: 1. Summer And Smoke 2. Desire Under The Elms 3. Drango 4. Men In War Believe it or not, but "Birdman Of Alcatraz" (which you cite above) is my 5th favorite Elmer, but there's no room for it in my Top 100. "The Miracle" is not a fave, but it's slated for deletion from Intrada soon ...    Posted:   Apr 9, 2015 - 10:24 AM     By:   ZardozSpeaks   (Member) I think TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD the next year stole some of this score's thunder because it is so beloved. I agree. "To Kill A Mockingbird" does take too much of the limelight away from previous Bernstein gems around the same time frame ('57 thru '62)    Posted:   Apr 9, 2015 - 10:25 AM     By:   ZardozSpeaks   (Member) Given that The Buccaneer sold out so quickly, I, too, find it completely odd that we have any Summer and Smoke left (I don't think it's THAT many, actually), but on the other hand, I'm happy people can still buy it and then bathe in its beauty. Here's a scan of the reverse side:     General Discussion: Elmer Bernstein # 6 SUMMER AND SMOKE    < 1  >   Go to page:  1   First Post    General Discussion • Trading Post • Non-Film Score Discussion  Profile • Preferences • Community Rules • Help/Contact • Search Board You must log in or register to post.   Go to page:  1

© 2024 Film Score Monthly. All Rights Reserved. Website maintained and powered by Veraprise and Matrimont.