Was never that aware of this composer, but he did a lot of work in the 50's thru 80's, be it film or television scores. Mission Impossible, Bonanza and Man from Uncle were some series he contributed scores for.
He composed the music to several Jerry Lewis features including THE NUTTY PROFESSOR, CINDERFELLA, THE GEISHA BOY and THE BELLBOY etc.
He also composed THE FIGHTING SEABEES starring John Wayne and the Rat Movie BEN. Alex North composed the score for it's sequel WILLARD.
I always enjoy find new composers to seek out and Scharf is a new "oldie" for me.
Please share your thoughts on this prolific composer and any favorites or recommendation you may have for me.
He did the glittering, gorgeous arrangements of the Bricusse-Newley material for Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory (the Tim Burton version of the story with Elfman music is bottom of the barrel by comparison).
One of my favorite Scharf cues is the transformation music for The Nutty Professor. The vivid colors, Lewis' defining performance(s), and Scharf's dead-on score makes for a wonderful movie experience.
I'd love to go to the "Purple Pit", have an "Alaska Polar Bear Heater", kick back, and dig the chicks.
"Did you say a Polar Bear Heater?"
No, YOU said it! I said an Alaska Polar Bear Heater!"
If the FSM archive is working, you should be able to learn a LOT about Mr. Scharf from previous threads, one of which we had going on here just last year. Good on you for wanting to explore this fine, under-noticed composer. Now, get cracking!
...also did great work with Jacques Cousteau and National Geographic (I have fantastic LPs from both). And what he did for FUNNY GIRL makes for one of the most dynamic listens ever.
Scharf was rather prolific and I was not aware of him until one day in my exploratory music class when I had mentioned "Ben" and a student raised his hand and told me that his grandfather was the composer. At that point I began to question him about Mr. Sharf's work in film music. I never had the opportunity to meet him but I began a search of his work and have built an appreciation ever since.
Strangely enough the next year I had a similar experience with a girl whose grandfather was none other than Gordon Parks whose work, not only in film music but photo journalism as well, I was familiar with. Two in one lifetime is a quirk!
Scharf was rather prolific and I was not aware of him until one day in my exploratory music class when I had mentioned "Ben" and a student raised his hand and told me that his grandfather was the composer. At that point I began to question him about Mr. Sharf's work in film music. I never had the opportunity to meet him but I began a search of his work and have built an appreciation ever since.
Strangely enough the next year I had a similar experience with a girl whose grandfather was none other than Gordon Parks whose work, not only in film music but photo journalism as well, I was familiar with. Two in one lifetime is a quirk!
...also did great work with Jacques Cousteau and National Geographic (I have fantastic LPs from both). And what he did for FUNNY GIRL makes for one of the most dynamic listens ever.
I know the Jacques Cousteau recording you've mentioned. The music was scored for an exhibit aboard the Queen Many in Long Beach. The photo of Walter Scharf on the cover is a dead ringer for my own father (RIP).
I recently watched the 1973 film "Walking Tall" and was very impressed by Walter Scharf's lush, melodic score.
An unreleased score, it also seems to have been forgotten as I can barely find any mention of it on this board outside of this thread. Beautifully orchestrated and performed, it would be a great candidate for a soundtrack release.
An excellent-sounding audio rip of the "Main Title" is on YouTube:
Love those strings!
Scharf also scored the film's two sequels, "Walking Tall Part 2" and "Walking Tall: Final Chapter," neither of which I've seen/heard yet.
Sounds really nice. A problem that might have kept it from getting a CD release is that the film was a Bing Crosby Production. BEN and WILLARD were also Bing Crosby Productions.
Sounds really nice. A problem that might have kept it from getting a CD release is that the film was a Bing Crosby Production. BEN and WILLARD were also Bing Crosby Productions.
Right, with "Ben" also being Walter Scharf. However, "The Great Santini" and "The Reincarnation of Peter Proud" have found releases in recent times (though "Santini" was ten years ago) so assuming the "Walking Tall" scores still exist, there might be hope for a release. Not sure who would put these out, though - maybe Quartet or Music Box Records.
I find it very interesting that Walter Scharf scored the entire "Walking Tall" trilogy. I watched the main titles for both "Walking Tall Part II" and "Walking Tall: Final Chapter" (or according to some sources "Final Chapter: Walking Tall") and Scharf brings back the main theme from the first film for both.
James, the Johnny Mathis song is quite impactful in the film, coming in over the last scene and going through the End Titles. Thank you for mentioning it.
