Time After Time is a 1979 American science fiction film directed by screenwriter Nicholas Meyer and starring Malcolm McDowell, David Warner, and Mary Steenburgen. Filmed in Panavision, it was the directing debut of Meyer, whose screenplay is based on the premise from Karl Alexander's novel Time After Time (which was unfinished at the time) and a story by Alexander and Steve Hayes. The film presents a story in which British author H. G. Wells uses his time machine to pursue Jack the Ripper into the 20th century." - Wikipedia
The music, of course, is by Miklos Rozsa who wrote one of the all-time great scores of his career. He elevated Meyer's film well above what it might have been with a score by anyone else.
At the the 10:43 mark, Rozsa/s exquisite theme gets a violin solo. It's the sequence in the Redwood forest where Wells tells Amy "Lost is what I am".
Boy, I love Time After Time. It's one of my absolute top favorites, easily a top five score for me. Both CD editions are fantastic. I wish they were still available, for other people's sake. Both CDs are expensive on eBay now. And getting scarce. Sellers know it's a cult item, and a small number of people will pay a lot for it.
I picked this one up last year for about $15CAD - still sealed - haven't listened yet but I'm glad I did - anytime I see a Rozsa for a deal I grab it.
I just got FSM's Ben Hur for the same price just before the holidays - it arrived too - sound quality is great. Have the Tadlow too - will get to it eventually. When CDs are cheap I snag em - for future days when I can get lost in them.
I actually sat down and re-watched Time After Time a few weeks ago. I think it holds-up very well by today's standards. It lacks the slickness of later pictures -- but for me that actually adds to its allure. While it may lack "dazzling effects" it more than makes-up for this with genuine heart and romance.
This was the film that introduced me to Miklos Rozsa's music. Agreed, Rozsa's score is magnificent, and the perfect counterpoint to the action on screen. How better to bridge a character from the 19th century with the 20th century setting than with a 20th century composer whose music was rooted in the 19th?
It's horrifying to think that Warner Bros. actually wanted to dump Rozsa's music from the film.
I just finished a Zoom symposium sponsored by ASMAC on The Film Music of Rozsa. Juliet and Nicchi Rozsa, Leslie Zador (son of Eugene), Jeff Atmajian and Daniel Robbins were some of the panelists, along with Gayle Levant, president of ASMAC.
Someone provided the following link for one of my favorite cues from this film, and I share it here.
I’ve always assumed that this scene was Nicholas Meyer making a small homage to Vertigo. He seemed to do very little by accident in his films. But does anyone know whether that is the case for sure?
I saw this on the big screen during its first run. At the beginning, seeing the big WB shield and hearing Max Steiner's fanfare before the main title was totally unexpected. Just loved it!
I picked this one up last year for about $15CAD - still sealed - haven't listened yet but I'm glad I did - anytime I see a Rozsa for a deal I grab it.
I just got FSM's Ben Hur for the same price just before the holidays - it arrived too - sound quality is great. Have the Tadlow too - will get to it eventually. When CDs are cheap I snag em - for future days when I can get lost in them.
I saw this on the big screen during its first run. At the beginning, seeing the big WB shield and hearing Max Steiner's fanfare before the main title was totally unexpected. Just loved it!
I rewatched the film just last week and still got a kick out of the change to the fanfare. Also loved the way one of the themes is used as the jingle when David Warner opens his pocket watch to rip the girls throats.
I picked this one up last year for about $15CAD - still sealed - haven't listened yet but I'm glad I did - anytime I see a Rozsa for a deal I grab it.
I just got FSM's Ben Hur for the same price just before the holidays - it arrived too - sound quality is great. Have the Tadlow too - will get to it eventually. When CDs are cheap I snag em - for future days when I can get lost in them.
I wish Southern Cross would put the Royal Philharmonic version on iTunes. That would enable people to get this score at a regular album price, even if not on CD.
I’ve always assumed that this scene was Nicholas Meyer making a small homage to Vertigo. He seemed to do very little by accident in his films. But does anyone know whether that is the case for sure?
The scene or the music? Being alone in the trees reminds me more of NORTH BY NORTHWEST than VERTIGO. The music is pure Rozsa, rather than Herrmann...
I’ve always assumed that this scene was Nicholas Meyer making a small homage to Vertigo. He seemed to do very little by accident in his films. But does anyone know whether that is the case for sure?
The scene or the music? Being alone in the trees reminds me more of NORTH BY NORTHWEST than VERTIGO. The music is pure Rozsa, rather than Herrmann...
I’m not entirely certain, but I believe the forest the scene was shot in was the same used in Vertigo, although the scene here has a more romantic tone than the forest scene in the earlier film.
I actually sat down and re-watched Time After Time a few weeks ago. I think it holds-up very well by today's standards. It lacks the slickness of later pictures -- but for me that actually adds to its allure. While it may lack "dazzling effects" it more than makes-up for this with genuine heart and romance.
This was the film that introduced me to Miklos Rozsa's music. Agreed, Rozsa's score is magnificent, and the perfect counterpoint to the action on screen. How better to bridge a character from the 19th century with the 20th century setting than with a 20th century composer whose music was rooted in the 19th?
Nice observation. :-)
It's horrifying to think that Warner Bros. actually wanted to dump Rozsa's music from the film.
IIRC, Nicholas Meyer even put out an ad, thanking Miklós Rózsa for his wonderful score.
