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Posted: |
Oct 19, 2014 - 11:56 PM
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By: |
Ludwig van
(Member)
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I've thought about what made the original Star Wars such a massive hit, and of course the craft and thrilling journey of Williams' score is a big part of that.
But I have to think it had something to do with just how different the whole thing was compared to typical Hollywood films of the time. Futuristic films had always been around, but not one filled with such nostalgia for "fun", entertainment films and serials AND high quality special effects AND a unique sound world (in newly-invented Dolby stereo) AND filled with music wall to wall. In short, its own fictional world was created in such a detailed way that for those willing to suspend disbelief, it was all absorbing, and in a way that hadn't been done before.
Even so, the whole symphonic sound for blockbuster films, while it has been transformed in various ways and is no longer the dominant blockbuster style in its more Williams-esque form, certainly derives ultimately from this landmark score. Indeed, it is owed a great deal.
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Posted: |
Oct 20, 2014 - 9:06 AM
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By: |
joan hue
(Member)
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nuts_score, I concur. About sixteen years ago, I found an ad in a magazine for the Filmscoremonthly magazine, and I immediately subscribed to it. From there I found this Internet forum. It didn't take me long to realize that it was Williams' original Star Wars that brought Lukas and others his age and younger into film score fandom, and I'm pretty sure that FSM emerged from that score. I'm older, so it was Bernstein and Goldsmith that hooked me into film scores. Young, middle-aged and older people flocked to see Star Wars, and many of those people actually "heard" that score and started noticing Williams and other composers. I think if people had to name the top 20 most heralded, influential or recognizable film scores, Star Wars would be on this list. It is a GRAND score.
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A nice post and interesting observations, Nutsie. I'd make a case for the art directors and designers giving us another world to look at in wonder, too.
And then I listen again to the original album release for the 1977 film and the work of Mr. Williams lifts me up on this fantastic and beautiful adventure.
And for the sake of being a stirrer-upper-of-further-debate, I will amend your quote above to include an observation I pilfered from David Raksin.
And then I listen again to the original album release for the 1977 film and the work of Mr. Williams, wearing his Richard Strauss garb, lifts me up on this fantastic and beautiful adventure.
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Posted: |
Oct 20, 2014 - 5:32 PM
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By: |
John-73
(Member)
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Love reading these posts! 
I agree with the OP, and think a good 50% of the reason I love Star Wars so much (and have done since the late 70s) is John Williams' amazing music. The first score in particular is mother's milk to me - my comfort album. ANYtime I feel low, to this day just playing that album cheers me up! I heard so much of it in the Star Wars Radio Drama (which I used to record onto reel to reel tape & replayed endlessly. Still have it!) aired here in the UK on Radio One 1981. I had the RSO cassette of the first score too, then the Story of The Empire Strikes Back cassette which of course expanded my love of the Star Wars scores. I owe John Williams so much - these scores turned me onto classical music; Holst, Stravinsky, Mussorgsky, Vaughan-Williams etc. Anything that sounded vaguely similar to Star Wars I wanted to hear! Mint condition UK, US & Japanese pressings of the soundtrack LPs are my most prized soundtrack possessions, along with Arista's Anthology box set. I never tire of these scores & not a week goes by when I don't listen to at least parts of one of them. They're part of my dna at this point! It's the score I'm most excited about for the impending Episode VII. I have a feeling the participation of the original cast, a script with large input by Kasdan, a Director & Producer (not to mention Disney!) who know full well this film HAS to be good, will hopefully give Williams something to get fired up about again, and invested in emotionally, which will of course enhance the film ten-fold. I'm also hoping we'll get decent audiophile remastering of all the scores too of course 
John.
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