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Posted: |
Sep 21, 2010 - 1:31 PM
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By: |
Thor
(Member)
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Cool to think that this 1960 "youth in trouble" film involved three of my favourite film artists - Goldsmith, John Williams (on piano) and Jack Nicholson in a supporting role.
It's actually a decent film with artistic ambitions. It's clearly inspired by the previous Tennessee Williams film adaptations in style, thematic and mood as it recounts the story of Studs Lonigan, a young man trying to find himself between societal obligations and just having fun with the gang, but caught in his own indecisive web. Christopher Knight doesn't have the most involving performance in the title role, but somehow it fits the apathetic nature of the character. It taps into film noir and impresses in terms of a serious, not-too-clichéed approach to familiar themes.
Nicholson plays Weary, Studs' sidekick and by far the most outgoing womanizer in the gang, so he plays a drunken playboy for the majority of his screen time. Quite fun to watch; I just wish there were more.
Goldsmith's score is quite good too, clearly inspired - as is the film - by North's score for STREETCAR. Jazzy and playful, yet sultry and modern. It's sort of between a playful nature (connoting Studs' immaturity) and a more bleak tone. Like Studs, it's caught in a stasis between two worlds. There are some fine solo parts for harmonica and saxophone as well as a love theme of sorts for his ideal love (which is later transcribed onto his REAL love). It's clever, intellectual scoring that adds an extra sense of gravitas to the film.
I've long wanted to get the Varese soundtrack, but never got around to it.
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STUDS LONNIGAN is simply put one of the great early Goldsmith scores. I love it, harmonica and all.
I tried to reorder it fort my shop recently and was told that the license to sell it had expired and Varese had ti pull it from their catalogue.
Apparently, it was far from a good seller for them. They had hundreds of copies still left over.
It's a shame Varese didn't advertize about this (and other) end of license thing. I'm sure many fans (and retailers) would have gladly help to deplete their remaining stock.
Same goes for CAST A GIANT SHADOW.
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STUDS LONNIGAN is simply put one of the great early Goldsmith scores. I love it, harmonica and all.
I tried to reorder it fort my shop recently and was told that the license to sell it had expired and Varese had ti pull it from their catalogue.
Apparently, it was far from a good seller for them. They had hundreds of copies still left over.
It's a shame Varese didn't advertize about this (and other) end of license thing. I'm sure many fans (and retailers) would have gladly help to deplete their remaining stock.
Same goes for CAST A GIANT SHADOW.
PUH, really hard to believe...
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STUDS LONNIGAN is simply put one of the great early Goldsmith scores. I love it, harmonica and all.
I tried to reorder it fort my shop recently and was told that the license to sell it had expired and Varese had ti pull it from their catalogue.
Apparently, it was far from a good seller for them. They had hundreds of copies still left over.
It's a shame Varese didn't advertize about this (and other) end of license thing. I'm sure many fans (and retailers) would have gladly help to deplete their remaining stock.
Same goes for CAST A GIANT SHADOW.
PUH, really hard to believe...
Puh, I like the sound of that, Let me use it in the future.
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....darn.
