I know absolutely nothing about the movie, except that it is a John Huston movie. I hadn’t heard a single note from the score, until I found it on YouTube today. Only 20 minutes of music on the soundtrack apparently, but what a score! I would instantly buy it. Another example of less is sometimes more! Classic, inventive, delightful and impressive North music. That opening Dance! What are your thoughts about movie and score? Couldn’t find a decent thread about it so time to start one I guess?
I saw the movie once more than 30 years ago and immediately found the music arresting (didn't know much about North at the time). Looked for the soundtrack at the time, never found it, always hoped for a release. I found the movie powerful but also powerfully depressing, and the use of music just extraordinarily well done.
Listening to the youtube suite (thanks for pointing it out) it certainly sounds like a score contemporaneous with Dragonslayer, though of course with the ethnic influences and many other strands of North DNA. It's a far less stark sound than I recall - I guess again testifying to what an emotional wringer the movie put me through back when.
I saw the movie once more than 30 years ago and immediately found the music arresting (didn't know much about North at the time). Looked for the soundtrack at the time, never found it, always hoped for a release. I found the movie powerful but also powerfully depressing, and the use of music just extraordinarily well done.
Listening to the youtube suite (thanks for pointing it out) it certainly sounds like a score contemporaneous with Dragonslayer, though of course with the ethnic influences and many other strands of North DNA. It's a far less stark sound than I recall - I guess again testifying to what an emotional wringer the movie put me through back when.
Thanks for the nice "suite" -- which includes virtually every note included on the original Varese Club release from the early 90s! It is important to see the visuals behind the main title track to appreciate how clever and dead-on North's scoring was. It's been a while since I saw the film (due in part to its depressing quality, as you mentioned) but I honestly don't remember a whole lot more music. It seemed to me to have been sparsely scored, though the music was effective and at times quite touching. What's there is top notch, and if there's more -- let's have it!
Dana, I didn't quite remember the main titles till you mentioned them. Happily, TCM has the opening up as video clip on their site - I remember them very well now that I see it again!
Dana, I didn't quite remember the main titles till you mentioned them. Happily, TCM has the opening up as video clip on their site - I remember them very well now that I see it again!
Wow.. beautiful. Día de Muertos... well, that music is fitting the images like a glove! I found the entire movie on YouTube, hope I'll find the time to watch it soon. The quality of the soundtrack on YouTube is rather good! I hope it will be released someday soon. Alex North wrote such wonderful music! So modern sounding, yet timeless and original.
Listen to the "AFRICA" disc issued by Prometheus a few years ago. You will find the prototype of the main title to "UNDER THE VOLCANO". It is impossible to miss the similarity, though it is played at a much slower pace.
I have that original limited Varese Club release, it's less than 30 minutes I think. It could be longer but I think not, haven't played it in a few years. I remember the film quite well with it's pair of outstanding performances by the two stars, Albert Finney and a strong, sympathetic performance by the wonderful Jacqueline Bisset. The Screenplay's superb, as is Huston's Direction. That particular year though was a tough one for Oscar Voters. F. Murray Abraham won over Albert Finney for Best Actor. And Alex North sadly lost again because he was up against Randy Newman, John Williams, John Williams again, and Maurice Jarre. Jarre won.
For those who might wish to compare the main title for UNDER THE VOLCANO with the cue titled "The Joyful Days" on the album from the TV documentary AFRICA, tune in at (roughly) 34'10" on this Youtube offering -
Yes indeed... VERSUS the Volcano would be safer. He could ask that other wonderful composer up there in the skies somewhere ...
