Ordered this and the Victor Young. Still can't believe the treasures that have flowed from the vaults this year. Heartfelt thanks to the folks who produce these and have given us such an amazing selection to choose from in 2007.
I agree! This is a beautiful Bernstein score. A must for all Bernstein fans. I hope we see more scores from the Bernstein estate in the future. If you liked By Love Possessed, I think you will like Victor Young's great The Tall Men score too.
One of my Bernstein holy grails is finally here! BY LOVE POSSESSED is an absolutely beautiful gem of a score. ORDERED! Thanks to all at Varese!
Den
What a refreshing post: someone who's actually enthusiastic about this batch of new releases. Ordered also, simply because Elmer Bernstein has always been one of my favorite composers and it's wonderful to be able to add another title to one's collection. Bought HAWAI at the same time, before it sells out.
I wish these pressed-to-demand DVDs would be made available for rent somewhere. Some of these films I'd be interested in seeing, but I can't afford to "blind buy" anymore, especially at $20 a pop for a DVDR.
I wish these pressed-to-demand DVDs would be made available for rent somewhere. Some of these films I'd be interested in seeing, but I can't afford to "blind buy" anymore, especially at $20 a pop for a DVDR.
It's not really that much of a "blind buy". If you like Lana Turner glossy soapers such as Peyton Place, Imitation of Life, Portrait In Black, Madame X, then chances are you'll like this film, too. It's not that different from the others.
I do think these on-demand dvd-r's are a little expensive though. That's why I wait until they have sales to make any purchases.
I do think these on-demand dvd-r's are a little expensive though. That's why I wait until they have sales to make any purchases.
Den
The Warner Archive Collection runs frequent sales (also, new titles are often discounted the week of release). But I've yet to see the Columbia Classics operation run a sale, and it remains to be seen what this newly revamped MGM/UA operation will do.
Elmer Bernstein brought a lot to the table as a composer. One of the styles that he was well-versed in was the glossy romantic film typified by the work of Douglas Sirk. Bernstein's music for BY LOVE POSSESSED is an excellent example of this form which in itself is a kind of throwback to golden age masters like Frank Skinner and Victor Young.
With this score we get all the elements: an uber-romantic melody with adornments for piano that sound as though a concerto might be in the offing, sultry jazz-inflected music for the "bad girl" character and even a taste of Bernstein's post-MAG 7 western style music (track 2 "Lovely Lush").
The Varese CD Club release of this score is my only touchstone to go by as I have not yet seen the film. It plays out in grand opulent style giving its main themes quite a workout. Track 13 ("Full Circle") is like violent outbursts followed by mad passion as Bernstein's music swirls all around. Most of the jazz material emerges in mid-score (tracks 7 and 14,15,16) and stays in "sultry" mode without building to the intensity we find in SOME CAME RUNNING and others.
"Goodbyes" gives us some flutter-tongued flutes (I'm guessing that's what they are) and "Excuses, Excuses" sounds like the start of that "almost-concerto" for piano and the finale ("Only in the Movies") gives us the concluding bars - but, alas, there is no "Concerto for Piano and Lana Turner."
I love the music here (as I do Bernstein's other romantic melodramas) and treasure these too few opportunities the composer had to explore this form. Varese's (presumably) complete score offering is in mono, but sounds fabulous and is never hard on the ears and I love the attractive Matthew Peak design for the package.
I suppose scores like BY LOVE POSSESSED are a bit much for fans to digest now-a-days, but I think more attention should be paid to these gems because they have so much to offer music lovers - even if the films themselves are not in their wheelhouse.
JSD, you wrote an excellent analysis of Bernstein’s music for BY LOVE POSSESSED. It is now time for me to get this score out and listen to it again because it has been many years since I played it. I do remember loving the main title. It is a kind of throwback to the lush melodic scores of the Golden Age. Bernstein was a master melodists. One I love that I just played last week was LOVE WITH A PROPER STRANGER, another gorgeous score by Bernstein.
Have you ever met one of your favorite composers, mentioned one of your facorite scores of theirs, and they A don't remember it at all or B Dont think much of it. This happened a few times with me. Once with Alfred Newman when I mentioned his core for Presidents Lady. He couldn't remember doint it !!!
Again, with Elmer Bernstein. He didn't remember it being much of a score. He said he had tapes he would listen to over the weekiend. He listened to them and rcalled me on the phone, surised at what a really good score he had done !!!
Anyway, this is one of Elmers best. He was great at these adult soapers and the film is fun. Its up there with View from Pompeys Head, From the Terrace, and Some Came Running.
I love this score too. The film turns up from time to time on TCM, and has all of the lurid soap opera scandal audiences expected back in the day. I love that the "bad girl" Veronica always refers to herself in the third person. Hilarious.
The score that I really adore though is THE VIEW FROM POMPEY'S HEAD. I long to see this film, but apparently it's in legal limbo.
Joan H. - Thanks for the kind words. Your own recent posts have have been enlightening and inspiring which has encouraged me to post a little more often than I have in the past. LOVE WITH THE PROPER STRANGER, i agree, is another standout theme and score. It also points up Elmer's facility with finding the proper tone for a film. BY LOVE POSSESSED is operatic whereas LOVE WITH THE PROPER STRANGER is more reigned-in as befits a more modern romantic story. I hope you start a thread on THAT score!
Wedge - Great clip! I had been wondering about the song adapted from the main theme. I like it - it keeps to the tone of the score and has some decent lyrics. Thanks for putting that up!
Joe Caps - I sure never had your experience talking with a favorite composer! Thanks for the amusing stories - no doubt those guys were so prolific that these scores flashed by in their experience leaving nary a trace of memory. We are the keepers of the flame!
Yavar - You are right on about the "revisiting" posts. And keep up the good work on your end. I've enjoyed reading your updates on Miklos Rozsa's unrecorded film music among others.
Eriknelson - I have yet to view BY LOVE POSSESSED or THE VIEW FROM POMPEY'S HEAD but your comments certainly make me interested - post if you track down POMPEY.
Thanks one and all for keeping the conversation going. We are best when sharing our enthusiasm for great film music and I hope we continue!