I was just introduced to this film and this score this weekend. When I realized it was scored by John Scott, I was all in. It is pure Scott and on my list to be purchased. Amazing but I expect no less from Scott.
A really outstanding John Scott score. This and King Kong Lives were my introduction to Scott's music.
This came as such a pleasant surprise to me when I heard it. My first exposure to Scott was Prayer For The Dying and it has been nothing but an amazing journey so far as I experience more of his work. He is truly one of my favorites. I will look for King Kong Live. I appreciate the info.
I remember spending a long time and quite a bit of money tracking down Scott's Man on Fire a few years before Varèse released their encore edition. It was well worth the hunt.
May favorite Scott score is still one of the first ones I ever picked up. I was ordering the original 1M1 Records release of Mario Millo's score to The Lighthorsemen and added a couple of John Scott scores to my cart on a whim as they were selling them cheap. One of those scores was Shogun Mayeda, and it completely blew me away.
I just checked Amazon and used copies are also way cheaper now than I remember them being awhile back. If you don't have this score yet, I can't recommend it highly enough.
I remember spending a long time and quite a bit of money tracking down Scott's Man on Fire a few years before Varèse released their encore edition. It was well worth the hunt.
May favorite Scott score is still one of the first ones I ever picked up. I was ordering the original 1M1 Records release of Mario Millo's score to The Lighthorsemen and added a couple of John Scott scores to my cart on a whim as they were selling them cheap. One of those scores was Shogun Mayeda, and it completely blew me away.
I just checked Amazon and used copies are also way cheaper now than I remember them being awhile back. If you don't have this score yet, I can't recommend it highly enough.
I purchased Shogun Mayeda some time ago and can't agree with you more. It does look like the price has come down and is well worth it at these prices. My second Scott purchase was King of the Wind which is equally gorgeous. But I can't forget Greystoke. I can't think of a miss at the moment.
The main theme is seriously one of the most beautiful things, ever. It just moves and inspired me endlessly. I discovered this, KING KONG LIVES and ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA in one go about six or seven years ago, and long-time favorites before then like Goldsmith suddenly seemed a lot, lot less special and interesting. Scott is really and truly one of THE great tunesmiths of all time, and his mastery of the orchestra is unrivaled by any film composer.
Fun fact. When I first met Scott I immediately professed my love for this score, and particularly the main theme. He grinned and said he'd unknowingly stolen it from RITE OF SRPING's opening bassoon solo. He told me to hum both of them - you'll definitely hear it. His wife Akiko pointed it out to him when it was too late to go back and change anything. I'd hardly call it "stealing" but the basic progression is very similar. Doesn't diminish my love for it one bit!
I will post a bit of trivia here. In the early 80's, I picked up a paperback novel called MAN ON FIRE by A.J. Quinell. I'm sure it is very dated now, but I couldn't put the novel down. It was such a thrill ride. Then Scott Glenn made the movie in 1987. (Denzel did a remake.) The Glenn movie wasn't very good, but this was my first introduction to hearing Scott's music, and I was very impressed.
I was just introduced to this film and this score this weekend. When I realized it was scored by John Scott, I was all in. It is pure Scott and on my list to be purchased. Amazing but I expect no less from Scott.
Haven't seen the movie with S. Glenn, but the music is worth listening to. The Main Title with the flute introducing the theme ist very enjoyable although very sad in its mood. When it goes on it is interesting to hear how Scott develops the idea. I think it is one of the most engaging themes Scott wrote, lush and creating a sense of yearning.
The main theme is seriously one of the most beautiful things, ever. It just moves and inspired me endlessly. I discovered this, KING KONG LIVES and ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA in one go about six or seven years ago, and long-time favorites before then like Goldsmith suddenly seemed a lot, lot less special and interesting. Scott is really and truly one of THE great tunesmiths of all time, and his mastery of the orchestra is unrivaled by any film composer.
Fun fact. When I first met Scott I immediately professed my love for this score, and particularly the main theme. He grinned and said he'd unknowingly stolen it from RITE OF SRPING's opening bassoon solo. He told me to hum both of them - you'll definitely hear it. His wife Akiko pointed it out to him when it was too late to go back and change anything. I'd hardly call it "stealing" but the basic progression is very similar. Doesn't diminish my love for it one bit!
I agree with you heartily regarding the main theme. I found a few cues from the movie on YouTube yesterday and literally played them over and over. I found a new copy online today and can't wait until it arrives. Wonderful story about your meeting with Scott. I have read several places that he is a delightful man. You are very lucky.
My next Scott listens have to be the two you mentioned.
I will post a bit of trivia here. In the early 80's, I picked up a paperback novel called MAN ON FIRE by A.J. Quinell. I'm sure it is very dated now, but I couldn't put the novel down. It was such a thrill ride. Then Scott Glenn made the movie in 1987. (Denzel did a remake.) The Glenn movie wasn't very good, but this was my first introduction to hearing Scott's music, and I was very impressed.
I have had similar experiences joan. I actually find myself going back to some of those books that gave me a great read years ago. Harold Robbins wrote some gritty novels but one of his "A Stone For Danny Fisher" is one I couldn't put down and I just bought a copy of it to read again.
I agree with you heartily regarding the main theme. I found a few cues from the movie on YouTube yesterday and literally played them over and over. I found a new copy online today and can't wait until it arrives. Wonderful story about your meeting with Scott. I have read several places that he is a delightful man. You are very lucky.
It gets better. He's also attached to score my first feature as a director!
I agree with you heartily regarding the main theme. I found a few cues from the movie on YouTube yesterday and literally played them over and over. I found a new copy online today and can't wait until it arrives. Wonderful story about your meeting with Scott. I have read several places that he is a delightful man. You are very lucky.
It gets better. He's also attached to score my first feature as a director!
Lucky does not begin to describe you in that event. It did indeed get better. Please tell us more when you are able.
Haha...just noticed Graham's post on my behalf Cheers mate.
Here's what I said on one of the other threads about this film and score.
(TV announcer voice..'previously, on Man On Fire')
Posted: Jun 8, 2014 - 9:56 PM Edit Post Report Abuse Reply to Post By: Kev McGann (Member)
The sound (of this new CD) does have what people around here term 'a hot mastering', which is something Varese do at times, but it doesn't detract from my listening pleasure too much. This was one of my original 3 LP's that I had by John Scott back in the day, together with Greystoke and King Kong Lives. I imagine there are composers who could live to be 100 and not write a theme as sumptuous and breathtaking as this one. And this is just one of many from Scott's filmography. The theme dominates the CD, heraldic and uplifting in Sam Wins The Race and gritty with an added rhythm section kick in Start Of The Search. It's a well paced album, with Scott re-arranging the tracks to avoid repetition of the suspense cues or the Main Theme quotes. It reminds me of Bill Conti at times, recalling his work on Gloria and Prayer For The Dying (Conti replaced Scott on that one). This scores' main theme is probably more famous from it's temp use during the final moments of Die Hard than it's use in this little seen film.
Oh, so could it either be "Summer Night, Winter Moon" or "Margery Booth: The Spy in the Eagle's Nest", 'cause his IMDb page shows nothing available to see for IMDbPro members, which is normally the case.
Oh, so could it either be "Summer Night, Winter Moon" or "Margery Booth: The Spy in the Eagle's Nest", 'cause his IMDb page shows nothing available to see for IMDbPro members, which is normally the case.
Negative, those films are (in John's own words) projects that probably aren't happening anymore - He hasn't heard from either filmmaking team on those ones in a few years, at least as of last February.
