Got too hand it too Harkit they did their utmost with Komeda while others missed-out the maestro, none of those works are complete but I still appreciate those scores immensely - Komeda was an enigma of high musical art that usually had unusual film materials that grasp your full attention even outside the film-surface, yes TFVK is full-bodied that oozes splendid bewitching class & Rosemary's Baby is rich its very-deep beauty both outright classics.
There’s just something about TFVK that I found unique. The first time I ever saw it and the music came on over the brilliant title sequence, I was hooked. I know it has many folk that think it’s total rubbish but for me the film is a total blast and that music....it conjures up such a strange atmosphere. Love it! Although it’s the recognised classic I always preferred this over ROSEMARY’S BABY. As far as the current release, it’s not just the fact that the last section of the score is unrepresented it’s also that the sound quality is less that stellar. Aside from me always going on about HIGHLANDER this would be my other true ‘holy grail’. Was there not something a while back that Mr Komeda’s widow either wasn’t interested in any release or wanted too much for the rights.?
Anyone who wants this score needs to buy his album "Astigmatic" first.
I've never heard that one ?
OB makes a great point. I’ve been listening to Komeda quite regularly over the last few months. Mainly the more-accessible Crazy Girl, but also Astigmatic. I mainly listen to them on YouTube when washing up and similar drudgery. Highly recommended!
TG, slightly off-topic but I find this strangely "addictive"....
Ha! CUL-DE-SAC is one of my top ten favourite films ever, maybe even top five. Haven't got around to getting the score yet though.
it must be nearly Fifty years since I saw that film, it was on TV in a Polanski season they did including 'Repulsion' among others....must re-visit it.
I think this is pretty much a lost case - like the Ron Goodwin Miss Marple scores and "Hot Millions" by Laurie Johnson. This is not the only case were there is a huge market for a soundtrack release, but no source material. If it weren't for the composer's archive we'd have nothing at all... --------------- Would Polanski have a copy of the complete score? Has anybody ever asked him?
Good question Peter !
Very, very unlikely. It's unlikely that he ever had a copy of the complete score to begin with, but Polanski gave away all of his material possessions after his wife was murdered. He called the days with Sharon Tate the happiest he ever was in life and had to remove all ties to that part of his life. Very unlikely he would have kept the complete recording of a film music where he directed Sharon Tate.
Ha! CUL-DE-SAC is one of my top ten favourite films ever, maybe even top five. Haven't got around to getting the score yet though.
it must be nearly Fifty years since I saw that film, it was on TV in a Polanski season they did including 'Repulsion' among others....must re-visit it.
The score is hypnotic !
Don’t know if you’re familiar with the location but it was filmed at Lindisfarne (Holy Island), a tidal peninsular off the Northumbrian coast. A regular haunt for me in the 70s and 80s. It made the film doubly special. That and Jackie Bisset.
Ha! CUL-DE-SAC is one of my top ten favourite films ever, maybe even top five. Haven't got around to getting the score yet though.
it must be nearly Fifty years since I saw that film, it was on TV in a Polanski season they did including 'Repulsion' among others....must re-visit it.
The score is hypnotic !
Don’t know if you’re familiar with the location but it was filmed at Lindisfarne (Holy Island), a tidal peninsular off the Northumbrian coast. A regular haunt for me in the 70s and 80s. It made the film doubly special. That and Jackie Bisset.
I visited the locations a few years ago. Even the interiors of Donald Pleasence's abode (and the forecourt and ramparts) were filmed at the castle - redesigned in the earlier part of last century by one of my favourite composer's father.
It's a very special film for me, having been the stunt double for...who was that actor...a kind of David Hemmings type... anyway, him that lay on top of Jackie Biscuit when she was nearly starkers on those dunes. It was freezing cold by the way.
Love how Komeda's score can be playful yet generally ambiguous - as is the film. But I read the ending to be the culmination of the devastation of the life of the character played so magnificently by The Plezz.
It's a very special film for me, having been the stunt double for...who was that actor...a kind of David Hemmings type... anyway, him that lay on top of Jackie Biscuit when she was nearly starkers on those dunes. It was freezing cold by the way.
Ah, I was mixing my Biscuit with my Dorléac. They were all the same to a five-year-old. So, not you-know-who but rather him you don't know. Ah yes, Iain Quarrier.
Excellent film but what a senseless, needless way to die. A severe loss to his family and friends and who knows what he'd have achieved careerwise in the decades ahead?
Excellent film but what a senseless, needless way to die. A severe loss to his family and friends and who knows what he'd have achieved careerwise in the decades ahead.
I always think of Komeda's death along with Gary McFarland's in this regard.
As far as a complete 'Fearless Vampire Killers' is concerned, it seems as far away as ever and the suspicion has to be that if it was going to happen, it would have happened by now. A real pity but we do have a good half hour of music from the film to enjoy.
As far as a complete 'Fearless Vampire Killers' is concerned, it seems as far away as ever and the suspicion has to be that if it was going to happen, it would have happened by now. A real pity but we do have a good half hour of music from the film to enjoy.
