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THE MAN WHO "SAVED' THE MOVIES": STEVE VERTLIEB REMEMBERS JAMES BERNARD - THE MUSICAL HEART & SOUL OF HAMMER FILMS
In June 2014, cinema archivist / historian Steve Vertlieb reminisced on his special friendship with legendary film composer the late James Bernard, best known to many as the musical voice of England's Hammer Studios on films such as DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE, THE QUATERMASS XPERIMENT, HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, SHE, 1997's (non Hammer) restored & re-scored version of Murnau's NOSFERATU (1922) and more. Includes film and music excerpts.
A film lovers ode to a love of film, STEVE VERTLIEB: THE MAN WHO "SAVED" THE MOVIES chronicles the colorful life and career of the titular cinema journalist, educator and archivist (hence the parenthetical "Saved" in the title). Hopscotching between Summer 2013 and Summer 2014 (from Pittsburgh to L.A. to Philadelphia) the upcoming feature has captured all new intimate interviews with some of Mr. Vertlieb's closest friends and creative cohorts - incl. film music's Juliet Rozsa (daughter of Oscar winning BEN-HUR, DOUBLE INDEMNITY composer Miklos Rozsa), composers Lee Holdridge and Mark McKenzie, dir. Phillipe Mora, actors Veronica Carlson and Paul Clemons, journalist / educator Terry Pace and writer Leonard Kohl. And with all new exclusive commentary from genre stalwarts Tom Savini, actors George Kosana (NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD), Robert Dix (FORBIDDEN PLANET), Pat Priest & Butch Patrick (tv's THE MUNSTERS), Greg Palmer (THE SHOOTIST) and more. - CEJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIOlCdsgLYk
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Hope to see this whole documentary real soon, Steve!!
Congrats!
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Thanks, Peter. Craig Jamison, our director, has done a wonderful job in weaving together these marvelous clips. Jimmy was a wonderful soul, and a fabulous composer. I hope that this very brief tribute to him from our forthcoming feature length documentary motion picture will joyfully reflect our love for Jimmy, both as a film composer and for the cherished human being that he was.
Steve
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Watching these musical excerpts and film clips again this morning reminds me of what a gifted composer Jimmy was. While many fans remember his more bombastic themes, such as the main title from "Horror of Dracula" with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, I'm astonished at the sensitivity and beauty of his romantic scoring for "Taste The Blood of Dracula," "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed, "She," and "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed." His final major score for the restored version of F.W. Murnau's silent masterpiece "Nosferatu" is a revelation, as well. Such a wonderful composer, and genuinely kind soul. Surely, his contributions to the art of motion picture scoring represent a touch of class largely absent from today's film music repertoire. His presence is truly missed.
Steve
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Great work, Steve. Very much looking forward to seeing the finished product. The music (and the films) of James Bernard played a huge part in sparking my interest in all kinds of scores - firstly, when I was a kid, only horror-related, but then a much wider canvas.
Seems like a very loving tribute to, from all accounts, a very sweet man - perhaps the Peter Cushing of composers (in the sense that both men generated a huge affection from everyone through their sheer professionalism, extraordinary generosity - and genuine gratitude towards those who liked what they did.)
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Thanks, Graham. Jimmy was quite a lovely man, adored by all who knew him. The documentary, once completed by year's end, will be an homage to the worlds of both motion picture music and fantasy/sci-fi/horror films, as well as to the genre fans like yourself who have grown up under their illustrious spell.
Steve
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