It wasn't until the Oscar ceremony in the spring of 1966 that I became aware of Ernest Gold's composition for "Ship of Fools", a Stanley Kramer production with a star-studded cast. I was aware of the film, but it didn't seem to be something of interest to my teenaged self at that time.
But, it was nominated for Best Picture and the film clip they showed (either for the film or for Oskar Werner's best actor nomination) was a scene between Werner and Simone Signoret. And this love theme accompanied the scene. It was one of the most beautiful themes I had ever heard. My best friend and I decided that maybe we should see the movie when it was playing at a drive-in theater (if you don't know what that is...well, never mind). The movie score album was a novelty...selections from the score were played by the Boston Pops under the baton of Arthur Fiedler.
Every time I hear Ernest Gold's music I wish I had more of it in my collection. His soundtrack album from EXODUS was in my parents' LP collection - neither of them could remember why or when they had bought it - but it made a strong impression on me as a small child who had just seen Star Wars and loved big symphonic movie music. I couldn't fathom the story or the politics of the film but the music spoke clearly of epic vistas, conflict and heroism.
The CD was released on the Artemis label. Ernest Gold Film Music: Volume 2 Boston Pops Orchestra. Conductor: Arthur Fiedler Total Tracks: 12 Total Disc Time: 38:44
The CD was released on the Artemis label. Ernest Gold Film Music: Volume 2 Boston Pops Orchestra. Conductor: Arthur Fiedler Total Tracks: 12 Total Disc Time: 38:44
The CD was released on the Artemis label. Ernest Gold Film Music: Volume 2 Boston Pops Orchestra. Conductor: Arthur Fiedler Total Tracks: 12 Total Disc Time: 38:44
Afraid to say, the short-lived Artemis label was kind of a "grey area" in terms of their CD releases. Their first issue, "Film Themes of Ernest Gold" was properly done and above-board, but they went ahead on subsequent releases without legitimate clearance from original sources. I knew one of the guys who set up the enterprise. Having said that, their CD of the Fiedler-conducted SHIP OF FOOLS did have excellent sound, so it was easy to understand the frustration they felt when RCA pooh-poohed their request to access the proper rights to the thing.
Cannot understand why RCA themselves (or whoever owns them now) have never bothered to release Mr Fiedler's recording on CD.
SHIP OF FOOLS was a marvelous score and it was released thankfully by MMM on CD. It is my favorite MMM release and there were others that I purchased that I enjoyed like Grofe's ROCKETSHIP XM and MIGHTY JOE YOUNG (not the music of Grofe ).
Actually, I always considered the Arthur Fiedler recording the better of the two available. The “love theme” on the soundtrack is truncated, while the Fiedler is a more fully developed piece. I always loved this score, but later realized there’s really not all that much to it. Most of it is dance pieces. And do yourself a favor: don’t read the book, in which the characters are far more repellent. The Hollywoodized film version is far more enlightening.
The Love Theme from "Ship of Fools" had lyrics put to it by Ned Washington; the only version on records that I know of was a Capitol 45rpm single with vocal by George Chakiris, but it does not appear to be available on Youtube.
I agree with John B. above about the difference in the two recordings. I was overjoyed to finally hear the original tracks via MMM, but I do keep going back to the more polished performance provided by Arthur Fiedler.
Hey Ron, I just re-watched SOF over the course of a couple nights and let me tell you I have never felt this haunted after any film in quite some time. Mr. Dunn's finale is unforgettable. As was his scene with Lee Marvin. The travails of all the characters are arresting. What a cast. Oskar W is haunted personified. And to think it was made only 20 years after the war had ended. And in b&w. The music did not seem plentiful and wasn't loud enough, but Gold, like Victor Young, was incapable of composing average music no matter the size of the score.
Apropos Ernest Gold and Arthur Fiedler & the Boston Pops, there was another collaboration around the same time as Gold penned "The Boston Pops March" -
The love theme from Ship of Fools is lovely and, in a way, quite sad.
Gold composed another lovely theme for Cross of Iron, and it was played near the end against a horrific scene of soldiers getting massacred. Its usage seemed quite ironic.
Hey Ron, I just re-watched SOF over the course of a couple nights and let me tell you I have never felt this haunted after any film in quite some time. Mr. Dunn's finale is unforgettable. As was his scene with Lee Marvin. The travails of all the characters are arresting. What a cast. Oskar W is haunted personified. And to think it was made only 20 years after the war had ended. And in b&w. The music did not seem plentiful and wasn't loud enough, but Gold, like Victor Young, was incapable of composing average music no matter the size of the score.
Yes, you are correct.
I would highly recommend getting the OST on the Monstrous Movie Music label. It is stunning.
I once wrote a letter to Gold telling him how his music affected me and singling out his love theme as one of the most beautiful I have heard.
I did get a letter back, but it was written by his wife. She told me she read my letter to him and that he took great pleasure knowing that his work was still being appreciated. At that time, Gold had been incapacitated by a stroke.
Jan Gold, who was Ernest's wife at the time of his death, was a treasure. A sweet, funny, and intelligent person -- I can picture her writing back to you. She was a gem.
