I've picked up those director-centric French compilations with select cuts by Philippe Sarde from films by auteurs Marco Ferrari, Claude Settet, Bertrand Tavernier, Georges Lautner and Andre Techine. I find that most of the selections are 'nice' but pale compared to the full score CD's I have from 'Tess', 'The Tenant', 'Quest For Fire', 'Le Choix Des Crimes' and 'Fort Saganne'. Can anyone recommend any other full score cd's which have the same kind of consistent impact as these? All suggestions welcome. Thanks.
Can't say I've heard everything he's done, but of the ones I have heard I would recommend "Lord of the Flies" (full orchestra with boys choir), though it does have the tendency to leave you feeling despondent after listening (but I guess that's the point of the movie).
Lord of the Flies is a personal favorite of mine, not just of Sarde's output but in all of filmscoredom. It masterfully conveys the adventure, mystery, pathos and savage paranoia of the story and its characters, effectively transforming a 3-star film adaptation of a 5-star novel into a 4-star affair. Then again, I haven't seen the film in decades, so my evaluation is somewhat clouded by nostalgia. The score, on the other hand, I listen to quite regularly because it's just plain awesome. In fact, I'm going to give it another spin right now.
"Ghost Story" (already recommended above) is an excellent score. And Kritzerland's swashbuckling "Pirates" is a favorite of mine. I seem to recall "The Bear" (L'Ours) being a good one, but it's years since I played it. I'll do so tomorrow, thanks to your reminder.
"Ghost Story" (already recommended above) is an excellent score.
That's one I've always been curious about but haven't managed to get ahold of. I hope it gets reissued on CD someday because the asking prices on the second hand market are too rich for my blood.
And for the record, my all-time favorite Sarde score is Quest for Fire (which Bob mentioned he already has, but those who don't should seek it out immediately if not sooner).
Off topic, but I only just noticed this coincidental (?) similarity between one of the themes in Sarde's Quest for Fire and Hayasaka's main theme for The Seven Samurai (another personal fave):
Lord of the Flies is a personal favorite of mine, not just of Sarde's output but in all of filmscoredom.
yeah me too, and since my copy got damaged a while back i've been hoping for an expanded or remastered release, maybe from quartet or music box as I remember the film having more of an international feel to it overall, despite balthazar getty playing the lead, but then again I don't think I've heard the film mentioned once since the time it came out, and even though i'm encouraged to see the score remembered here, maybe i should grab a fresh copy of the Silva while i still can.
Most recommendations are excellent. But missing are: 1. Choses de la vie 2. Max et les ferrailleurs 3. Cesar et Rosalie 4. Vincent, Francois, Paul et les autres these 4 are among the very best have ever heard from him. Alex
Lord of the Flies is a personal favorite of mine, not just of Sarde's output but in all of filmscoredom. It masterfully conveys the adventure, mystery, pathos and savage paranoia of the story and its characters, effectively transforming a 3-star film adaptation of a 5-star novel into a 4-star affair. Then again, I haven't seen the film in decades, so my evaluation is somewhat clouded by nostalgia. The score, on the other hand, I listen to quite regularly because it's just plain awesome. In fact, I'm going to give it another spin right now.
"Ghost Story" (already recommended above) is an excellent score. And Kritzerland's swashbuckling "Pirates" is a favorite of mine. I seem to recall "The Bear" (L'Ours) being a good one, but it's years since I played it. I'll do so tomorrow, thanks to your reminder.
TESS, QUEST FOR FIRE and FORT SAGANNE are the ones which stand out for me as being consistantly good throughout. Mind you, I've only got them on LP from donkey's years ago, and know nothing about possible additional material or remastering on CD.
Plenty of old threads on Sarde here worth sifting through.
yes! i like that one a lot, a broad range of styles but they all fit well, into quite a smooth vibe overall.
i also really like Eve of Destruction, a sci-fi from the 80s, and another daring blend of styles: moody tinklings, synth drums laid on thick, lush strings, and warm jazzy horns that can turn on you suddenly.
Most recommendations are excellent. But missing are: 1. Choses de la vie 2. Max et les ferrailleurs 3. Cesar et Rosalie 4. Vincent, Francois, Paul et les autres these 4 are among the very best have ever heard from him. Alex
All excellent of course, but while the other scores a beautiful and lush in a conventional sense, Max et les Ferrailleurs has a very bold and hypnotic quality to it. In a way, the film is scored against type in a very original fashion.
