Is anybody out there familiar with Herschel Burke Gilbert's masterful adaptation of Richard Rodgers ballet "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue" (from the Broadway show "On Your Toes" which Rodgers cocomposed with Lorenz Hart)? In the wake of that U.M.G. fire one of the tapes rumored to be destroyed was the soundtrack for the '57 feature film, but Gilbert's estate gained possession of the master tapes (according to John Gilbert, Herschel's son). The album was briefly reissued by Decca in the early '70s, but omitted the whistle heard in the opening scene that was on the first issue. "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue" was recorded various times and by a few symphony orchestras, but nothing like the one for the feature film. It also holds a distinction as the only score for a feature film that had music by Gilbert in addition to his masterful adaptation of Rodgers' music not conducted by Gilbert (it was conducted by Universal's erstwhile musical director Joseph Gershenson).
This is one terrific film score and a great Decca LP. Gilbert did a wonderful job with Rodgers' music.
Back in 1956 my older brother Joe bought Victor Young's AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, thus my first soundtrack record. Then in 1957 he bought the Decca SLAUGHTER ON 10TH AVENUE, I was very impressed with it and I was only 11 years old!
I hope the Gilbert estate will be able to issued the complete score in stereo and with improved sound.
At this point I'm never surprised concerning the skullduggery surrounding film elements. It's comforting to know that, in many cases, the end result helps us preservationists.
