There are times when I hear a Waxman score and I just can't get a grip on it (e.g. MR. SKEFFINGTON).
I was mostly this way while watching THE TWO MRS. CARROLLS.
Until the finale.
Starting about 2:00
Somehow, I was able to get a handle on what he was doing. It was as far away from the usual pretty music as you would usually hear in a film of this era and I enjoyed it.
I don't think the Gerhardt recording did it justice, though.
I watched THE TWO MRS. CARROLLS this afternoon because I hardly could believe what I had written about it on my diary 19 years ago.
And I already was right !
The movie is worth watching only for Ann Carter and Franz Waxman. Don't know where the composer found his inspiration but he obviously did not watch the movie, Dieu merci !, because the score is pretty damn good.
The Gerhardt suite is fantastic if you've never watched the movie, so I would love a release of the original recording, à la Rozsa's THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS.
I didn't have to wait for the finale of TWO MRS. CARROLLS, I was in Waxman's corner from the first scene, with its Celtic pastorale. The theme reappears in dramatic action form in the climax, but Gerhardt's suite eschewed the beauty of that melody's first appearance in the film, which is why the RCA suite has always frustrated and disappointed me.
Has anyone taken the place of James D'Arc at BYU and will the release of more Max Steiner music on CD'S be forthcoming ? I also would love to see a second volume of Franz Waxman film music from the 40's and 50's at Intrada.
Strange to see this post, as I just watched the film for the first time last week. I thought Stefan's reference to Suspicion was most apt...... Both feature Nigel Bruce and glasses of poisoned milk. It isn't a very good film though..... I'm a big fan of Bogey but he is not very good here, the plot is derivative and sloppy, script weak. Once my copy returns from a friend anyone UK based who wants it can have it.
