Thanks for this. The popularity of a 43-year-old franchise can often lead to an "Oh, that old thing again?" mindset. But this video -- and accompanying notation -- really drives home what a clever film it was, and moreover the brilliance of Williams' treatment of the material.
And its still thrilling!!!! Ive watched this a hundred times and I'm still on the edge of my seat. Nothing in any of the Star Wars films ever topped this action sequence. The Snow Battle is a close second though.
Morricone, I did a long time ago a topic called "Snippets." I used that cut from Lilies of the Field in it. My favorite part is the first 20 seconds where Goldsmith dovetails the Amen theme with his own original theme. Wish he'd used it more often in the movie.
This week I uploaded a scene I came across in a French film from the early 90s - 'The Lovers on the Bridge' (Les Amants du Pont-Neuf), starring Juliette Binoche. It's one of the best uses of source music I've ever come across.
La complainte de Bouvier l'éventreur, from Le juge et l'assassin - Philippe Sarde/Jean-Roger Caussimon:
The song which is performed by the singer and the harpist on screen as source music (then joined by the orchestra) tells the story of Bouvier that Bertrand Tavernier (the director) is telling himself in the film, and that we actually see through Bouvier's eyes and memories while he is listening to the song coming from the street, making him a spectator like us for a short break. Great storytelling, great cinema, great music!
. TIE Fighter Attack Photo of the Star Wars scoring session in 1977. Note the risers and the relatively cramped stage. My theory is that these things contributed to the outstanding sonics of the recordings. http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49667535707_2579744a2c_w.jpg
I was late to the Jerry Goldsmith party, and initially wasn't too impressed with his new releases during my early collecting days (90s). Then, as I slowly got to know his older scores, I grew to appreciate him more. And then I remember this being one of the few new releases of his which I loved.
Great idea and one that I have also taken advantage of on my YouTube channel. I aggregated some of my favorite action set pieces with great scoring in this playlist:
Well this topic has been explored beaucoup times before. That will not stop me from citing The Best Years Of Our Lives and the scenes when Homer arrives home, Homer goes upstairs, and Fred in the graveyard/cockpit. Great scenes, great score, great film. If you have not seen it then see it and educate yourself as to what makes a film and its score a classic.
The finale from Andrzej Wajda's Pan Tadeusz: The Last Foray in Lithuania. I still get shivers listening to Kilar’s Polonaise. Needless to say, the sequence was cut to the prerecorded music.
For those interested, the so-called “walking dance” - quintessentially Polish - symbolizes the end of the conflict between the protagonists and the emergence of a new unified front against Poland’s enemies.
The ebulient theme segues to a more subdued arangement, played against muted images of our aged heroes - redolent of dashed hopes and unfulfilled yearnings…