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PHARAOH DECREES: You must hear LAND OF THE PHARAOHS!
For the first time in complete form, the epic Dimitri Tiomkin soundtrack is released in a definitive 2-CD set by Film Score Monthly
Linden, VA – January 2, 2008 – One of the greatest epic scores of the 1950s now comes to CD in complete form from Film Score Monthly – Dimitri Tiomkin's Land of the Pharaohs (1955), written for the mammoth Howard Hawks spectacle set in ancient Egypt.
In a press interview at the time (transcribed to illustrate his Russian accent), the composer explained the film's story: "Pharaoh gung build pyramid. Needs harchitect. Harchitect say OK, I gung build pyramid... if you sat my pippel free. Lots pippel dyink all over the picture... Pharaoh say OK, I sat your pippel free, you build nice cozy pyramid. Harchitect say OK... Pharaoh don't understand why big chariots all over the place. Pippel dyink. Harchitect a fine man. All this hoppen long time ago."
In addition, there is a delightfully campy romantic plot in which a sexpot princess (played by a young Joan Collins) achieves her quest to become Queen of Egypt, but with a deliciously dark twist. The film remains a curious blend of jaw-dropping spectacle and drawing-room scheming, with an international cast that includes Jack Hawkins, Alexis Minotis, James Robertson Justice and Sydney Chaplin. Perhaps Hawks himself best summed up his creative dilemma in making the picture: "I don't know how a pharaoh talks."
But the music! Tiomkin: "Why you think top producer spend more moneys on music for picture than for A picture? Music can help picture. I should know. I work mostly in medium mediocre pictures... I have spashil script. Not regular script. Spashil script. Script don't sayink 'Close-up on Tootsie' only, scripts I got sayink 'Close-up on Tootsie, she very sad.' That way, I can write the good music... Work to within third of second. Third of second important. Third of second enough time to go boom-de-boom. Boom-de-boom important sometimes."
“Boom-de-boom” only begins to describe the greatness of Land of the Pharaohs. Huge choral setpieces dominate the first half of the film as the Egyptians perform songs to honor their dead and to accompany their decades-long endeavor to construct the great Pyramid; in the second half, Tiomkin accompanies the romance and treachery of Collins' villainous princess, including several action scenes.
But it is emblematic of Tiomkin that at the most unexpected moments – such as the main title – he goes 'small' instead of big, with beautiful melodies carried by solo instruments. In other scenes, Tiomkin seems to be setting a musical freight train underneath dialogue, churning with the emotional undercurrents of the drama.
The score to Land of the Pharaohs was conceived almost like a silent film in that the music virtually never ceases. The complete score (presented over FSM's 2-CD set, with alternate and additional selections) has been painstakingly assembled from the monaural mixdowns saved in the Warner Bros. vaults. (Although recorded in stereo, the score survives only in mono; however, the use of separate tracks for percussion, chorus and other solos has allowed several passages to be reconstructed in stereo, including huge setpieces like "Pharaoh's Procession.")
Remember, all this hoppen long time ago!
Check it out at: http://www.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm?ID=8333
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This movie is a camp hoot, a good BAD spectacle. Extremely entertaining. I love Joan getting her just deserts in the end. It's a grand score, too. Well, this is a fun way to start 2008 rolling. Nice job, folks.
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Funniest.
Press release.
Ever.
Yes, it is quite droll. What a refreshing wit.
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This was on British TV yesterday, and as I watched it I thought, "I wish FSM would release this score..."
Now, 24 hours later, here it is.
Fast work, guys!
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This was on British TV yesterday, and as I watched it I thought, "I wish FSM would release this score..."
Now, 24 hours later, here it is.
Fast work, guys!
Hey, could you please watch "Marathon Man", and wish the same on this one?
Thank you 
And thank you FSM, another sure winner!
Philipp
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Pharaoh bids you hoppy new year...
lk
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People need to understand that MARATHON MAN was a Paramount Picture. It's not going to happen.
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Pharaoh bids you hoppy new year...
lk
Hehe...
And to you too, Lukas!
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People need to understand that MARATHON MAN was a Paramount Picture. It's not going to happen.
I know that, but you can dream, can´t you?
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Wow, very generous with the soundclips.
Primarily because the album is arranged as a series of suites rather than individual cues. Why, I wonder?
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Wow, very generous with the soundclips.
Primarily because the album is arranged as a series of suites rather than individual cues. Why, I wonder?
The score was conceived almost like that for a silent film in that it seldom breaks. The cues are typically joined by crossfades (Tiomkin's intention) so it resulted in long tracks with relatively few start IDs.
Lukas
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Wow! Who transcribed that Tiomkin "Russlish" . . . Milt Gross?!
(There will now be a brief pause while everyone asks, "Who's Milt Gross?")
Or could it be the same guy who transcribed the lyrics of "Settle Down Little Doggies" for Tiomkin's "Red River"?
I'd say "another Holy Grail down" -- I only hesitate to do so because of the historical anachronism.
So stupefied am I, in fact, I have momentarily stopped wondering what's in the FSM Blue . . . Sarcophagus.
Thanks for amazing us again, fellas!
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