Ernest Gold is a composer I have loved since my first hearing of "Exodus". I saw it in a theater when I was 12, and it was a unique and wonderful experience to get the soundtrack and hear the thrilling music Gold had written for the movie. There isn't a track on the OST that I do not love, and I am also very appreciative of the reconstruction recording. The film is good-of-kind, with a compelling lead performance by Paul Newman and solid supporting work from others, including Sal Mineo and Jill Haworth.
"On the Beach" preceded "Exodus" by one year, but it was several years before I saw it. The music is quite emotionally charged especially with the wonderful variations of "Waltzing Matilda" worked into some of the cues. The film was especially topical in 1959 with the threat of nuclear war and the annihilation that would follow. In school, we had drills in which we got under our desks. In retrospect, I can only shudder at our gullibility.
Both scores are indispensable works in my collection, and I recommend both to anyone who loves great film music.
The film was especially topical in 1959 with the threat of nuclear war and the annihilation that would follow. In school, we had drills in which we got under our desks. In retrospect, I can only shudder at our gullibility.
I’ve seen a leaflet from that time that advises in the event of a nuclear attack to “first, close your curtains”…
My favourite Gold score is Cross of Iron. It’s also one of my favourite war films, Sam Peckinpah films, James Coburn films, Maximilian Schell films - and don’t even get me started on Senta Berger. There’s little I don’t like about that film, and its stately main theme is perfect for it.
"Exodus" was the first and only Premiere I was ever at. I'd had the LP worn out for months and knew every note ahead of the showing and I'll never forget the thrill of hearing it in the movie itself for the first time.
Eva Marie Saint, Ernest Gold, Super Panavision 70. What more do you want?
Although I enjoyed the Ferrante and Teicher hit version it was a shame Ernest Gold never got a mention during playtime.
"On the Beach" I saw about a year later. What Ernest did with "Waltzing Matilda" was phenomenal. That final scene as we see the sub sail away is unforgettable. The only way I could buy the LP in those days was by special order through a record store that specialised in imports from the USA.
The film was especially topical in 1959 with the threat of nuclear war and the annihilation that would follow. In school, we had drills in which we got under our desks. In retrospect, I can only shudder at our gullibility.
I’ve seen a leaflet from that time that advises in the event of a nuclear attack to “first, close your curtains”…
Then you might know this short film about "Burt the Turtle" that I remember being shown in grade school. Seen today it's frightening misinformation that was doled out to us back then.
Oh yeah, and did Matinee ever throw it back in their faces. Think OTB and the San Francisco and San Diego scenes come to mind right away and haunt me just as they did with the first viewing. Gold really hit it for me here. Very TZish eerie feel.
Ernest Gold is a composer I have loved since my first hearing of "Exodus". I saw it in a theater when I was 12, and it was a unique and wonderful experience to get the soundtrack and hear the thrilling music Gold had written for the movie. There isn't a track on the OST that I do not love, and I am also very appreciative of the reconstruction recording. The film is good-of-kind, with a compelling lead performance by Paul Newman and solid supporting work from others, including Sal Mineo and Jill Haworth.
"On the Beach" preceded "Exodus" by one year, but it was several years before I saw it. The music is quite emotionally charged especially with the wonderful variations of "Waltzing Matilda" worked into some of the cues. The film was especially topical in 1959 with the threat of nuclear war and the annihilation that would follow. In school, we had drills in which we got under our desks. In retrospect, I can only shudder at our gullibility.
Both scores are indispensable works in my collection, and I recommend both to anyone who loves great film music.
I love all these filmscores which you have been posting but these two are firm favourites. I bought the original LPs of both Ernest Gold Scores and the subsequent CDs issues.
