What is the greatest film score ever written?
Posted by: erik scothron on 01 February 2006
What makes a film score great? The music must compliment and improve the film. If one piece of music does not compliment a film can we call it a good film score? I would not call Larry Adlers harmonica score to the film Genevieve a great piece of music but it is a great score. Why? Well because it is just so right for the film so you dont necessarily have to vote for your favourite piece of film music.
Anyway to start the ball rolling I would offer the William Walton scoring of the dogfight scene for 'The battle of Britain' (the rest of the film was scored by Ron Goodwin).
Posted on: 02 February 2006 by Chris Kelly
Sir Cycle
Yes that's a cracking movie and a wonderful soundtrack. Watched the special edition over Christmas and was amazed how good it was. Good call.
Posted on: 03 February 2006 by Jono 13
Also "The Piano" by Micheal Nyman is so completely connected to, and part of, the film.
Jono
Posted on: 03 February 2006 by graham55
"Death In Venice" - Gustav Mahler
"Draughtsman's Contract" - Michael Nyman
"Apocalyse Now" - The Doors, Wagner et al
G
Posted on: 04 February 2006 by Stuart M
koyaanisqatsi
Posted on: 07 February 2006 by erik scothron
There have been some excellent suggestions on this thread and far more consensus than is the norm in this forum - I shall surely be watching/listening to some of the films voted for here.
Posted on: 08 February 2006 by Brucie
For me the filmscores have to be self standing pieces of music in their own right with or without the film (I know this is not quite what the original question was about).
I have sometimes bought soundtrack CDs and been dissappointed because they are too incidental and bitty. I have to say that Apocalypse Now is one of those. There are very few good moments, the rest is boring (which of course the film is not!).
Excellent ones must include Twin Peaks, Trainspotting and most of Vangelis's stuff.
Posted on: 08 February 2006 by naimtheday
The Sound of Music!
Posted on: 08 February 2006 by kevj
I've played a few of these scores down the years - some thoughts as to my favourites (in no particular order):
Independance Day - David Arnold. Absolute rip roarer of a score. If you can bear the film, do not switch off during the final titles - the music is absolutely sublime here.
Bride of Frankenstein - Franz Waxman. Really atmospheric, particularly the finale of the film from the point where the Bride's heart is beating in a jar to the sound of a gentle timpani. Builds slowly to a fantasatic climax where the Bride rejects the Monster.
ET - John Williams. I think this is the best of Williams' scores. The film ruthlessly tries to get its audience emotional in the finale, and a large part of that is achieved by the score.
The Empire Strikes Back - John Williams. Easily the best of the Star Wars scores. The darkest film and the darkest music.
Gone With the Wind - Max Steiner. I've never been able to watch the film, but always enjoyed the bits of the score I've played.
Spellbound - Miklos Rosza. As atomspheric as one could want in a Hitchcock film.
Kevin
Posted on: 08 February 2006 by erik scothron
quote:
Independance Day - David Arnold. Absolute rip roarer of a score. If you can bear the film.....
B
I watched the film a laughed myself till I blew a fuse. I don't think it is was ever meant to be serious was it? Wasn't is very tongue in cheek? I don't know the motives of the writer/director/producer but I thought it was all good harmless fun and seemed to my mind to poke fun at it's self..I would be mildly horrified if this was not the case.
I so badly wanted the RAF Squadron Leader (yes there was a contingent of Brits fighting the aliens)to say 'Aliens at 2 o'clock..tally ho' - it would have been hilarious just like the rest of the film.
Posted on: 09 February 2006 by kevj
Erik,
I think the film is, as you say, just a bit of harmless fun (although I do find the American jingoism of it a bit wearing)...but what a score!!
Posted on: 09 February 2006 by Mark Tschudin
Soundtrack to the BBC's 1985 epic "Edge of Darkness" composed and performed by Eric Clapton and Michael Kamen!
Mark
Posted on: 09 February 2006 by erik scothron
quote:
Originally posted by kevj:
Erik,
(although I do find the American jingoism of it a bit wearing).
Yes I know what you mean - the scary thing is they believe their own propaganda
