"Animal House" has always been one of my favorite comedy films (relates to my college fraternity years). Interviews with all the stars and lots of background' - some funny stuff. about 45 minutes. This is youtube video "The Making of 'Animal House' " includes cast interviews and includes a short interview with Elmer Bernstein about his score for the film
Interesting. Thanks for posting this. One thing that surprised me was that producers wanted Elmer but thought his previous movies were all dramatic. They wondered if he would score a comedy. Elmer also was surprised to be offered a comedy. I am very familiar with his comedies, but I didn't realize Animal House was his first comedic movie until I checked the chronological order of his movies in IMDB. After Animal House, he did score quite a few comedies.
Elmer got his start on comedy! Or haven't you seen the classic Cat Women of the Moon (1953)?
IMDb says The Rat Race (1960) is romantic comedy, ditto Love with the Proper Stranger (1963) and I Love You, Alice B. Toklas (1968, maybe Elmer's goofiest score?)
The Great Escape (1963) definitely has many comedic parts, reflected in the tone of the main theme.
The Hallelujah Trail (1965) is a full on comedy, even though it's also a western.
But my favorite Bernstein comedy score and film is The World of Henry Orient (1964). I love it much more than any of his other comedy efforts from Animal House on, though I confess it isn't comedy 100% of the time.
Yes, Hallelujah Trail is comedic. I wouldn't call Love With A Proper Stranger comedic. The others you mention may have some comedy.
Though the faux concert piece in that clip isn't by Elmer, it's pretty darn hilarious!
I highly recommend the movie. A lot of funny stuff, but some more serious stuff as well. Really wonderful and of of the best Bernstein-scored films that I've seen. (Thanks Lukas for premiering the score on FSM!)
I haven't seen Proper Stranger so was just going by IMDb...did you like the film Joan?
Yavar, I did like Love With A Proper Stranger, and I LOVE the score. Also loved Steve McQueen. Not sure it would hold up to today's standards. (Guy and gal hook up for one night. She is pregnant and tracks him down to help her get a back alley abortion because abortions were illegal then.) It was a serious topic in its day, but I liked it, and I loved the last 5 minutes of the film.
I have the score for Henry Orient, but I've not seen that film. I'll look for it on TCM.
One thing that surprised me was that producers wanted Elmer
Well, I think I can answer this. Elmer`s son Peter is a childhood friend of John Landis who directed Animal House. They apparently went to school together.
The Faber College theme is a variation on the old WWI song, 'Keep the Home Fires Burning'. The opening has been changed so that down is up in almost inversions, but the theme extension has not been altered.
The direction to Bernstein to write serious dramatic music for the bulk of the film is one of the most inspired choices ever, leading to Airplane! and the composer's (unfortunate for him but musically rewarding) typecasting as a comedy expert in the 80s. I would still kill to have Bernstein's Animal House score--tremendously enjoyable music.
The Faber College theme is a variation on the old WWI song, 'Keep the Home Fires Burning'. The opening has been changed so that down is up in almost inversions, but the theme extension has not been altered.
William, I get your drift about "Keep the Home Fires Burning" but I always thought EB's template for the Faber College theme was the Brahms Academic Festival Overture. He did once conduct a suite (with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra I think) which he introduced "... with apologies to Brahms".
