The first movie soundtrack album I ever bought (in 1958) is on this list. The movie was based on a book by a writer I didn't know at the time but who became a huge favorite of mine only a few years later. The movie was The Big Country, and the writer was Donald Hamilton.
100 best movie soundtracks - Telegraph: "From 'A Fistful of Dollars' to 'Some Like it Hot', from Mozart and Wagner to Rodgers & Hammerstein... may we present cinema's greatest scores."
14 comments:
I always found the Vangelis soundtrack to Blade Runner moody and interesting.
VG
This one shows some thoughtfulness, as opposed to most other "10 or 100 Best" lists that seem to be written by 20-year-olds whose frame of reference is six months ago to now. My first soundtrack LP purchase is on here too, "The Good the Bad and the Ugly." Nice to see a fair selection of John Barry -- although my favorite Barry is the haunting 1971 "Mary Queen of Scots" score just re-released on CD.
My first soundtrack was Gigi. Of course, I was only ten. You have better taste though.
Nothing to be ashamed of in GIGI, though I, too, prefer THE BIG COUNTRY. Fred's right, too...this isn't an asinine list, though of course it's as arguable as any other set of opinions. FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE remains my favorite Morricone. The commenter at the TELEGRAPH's site who suggested Lalo Schifrin for BULLITT is right, too. (I suppose JAZZ ON A SUMMER'S DAY is cheating.)
BTW, has there been a better Cold War-metaphor western than THE BIG COUNTRY?
I don't know, Todd. It's a great movie, and that fight scene between Heston and Peck is classic, metaphor or not.
whoever compliled this list must have a lotta self confidence and be made outa kevlar.
Where is King Kong (1933)? Max Steiner's pulsating score was essential to that movie's greatness.
And the Cold War metaphor is mostly between the patriarchs...
I'm kind of against a list like that includes musicals the debuted on the stage. It's a bit of a cheat since the music wasn't created for the movies, and it forces out some great scores. I can't believe that the list didn't include any of the great Korngold scores, even though the first movie mentioned was scored by John Williams who made something of a career out of being "inspired" (some say stealing outright) from Korngold's style. But of course the list "proves" that few movies had music before 1959 or '60.
The Empire Strikes Back was the first soundtrack I ever bought. Double album. I still have those original vinyl records. Williams may have put together more iconic tracks, but start to finish Empire is his masterwork.
I didn't see Saturday Night Fever on the list. I hate the movie since Revolting is in it, but the music is pretty good.
john williams mimics a lot of composers, but i think it's for fun or because it's his way of saying thanks, but when he has to grind out an unforgettable theme or lay down a track for later lyrics, there's no one more original or spine-wrenching.
As far as I'm concerned, AMERICAN GRAFFITI and THE HARDER THEY COME are the two outstanding ones. And they're both there. Good list.
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