Thursday, January 23, 2020

Thursday Movie Picks-Film Scores


Can you believe all the snow Newfoundland has received?! Check it out if you have not heard, because they got our Blizzard of ‘77. Last Thursday, I got my flu shot, by Friday I was feeling some pain in my lower back and hips but thought it was all the grocery shopping I did. The weekend, I was toast. I had so much pain I had a hard time in coping and could not sleep and could not move well. I think that it is related to the flu shot...that’s my humble opinion. I feel a tad better this evening which is Tuesday when I am writing this little corner of fun film land. Let's turn to something more fun, I am going to an Oscar party, free , where I will see the red carpet and the Oscars on the big screen...first time ever! I will let you know how it will turn out. Now, Wandering Through The Shelves picked a great theme this week because it is all about film scores and I love scores and no, I am not talking about notches on my belt because there would not be that many, but actual film scores. I could go with the obvious which would be anything from John Williams like Star Wars or Jaws but I went with the Western and Sci-Fi/Fantasy. Here are my 3...

1. THE BIG COUNTRY-1958


This is a big film with big actors, a big expanse because it is the time of all the Vision and scopes..Vista vision...CinemaScope etc.. and it has a big score and it is one of my favourites. The score was composed by J. M who garnered an Oscar nomination for this score which is used throughout the film to great effect. It stars Gregory Peck as a man from the East who comes out west to marry the woman he loves played by pouty Carroll Baker. Little does he know that his quiet bravery is put to the test by the bigness of the people he meets and ends up in the middle of a land war. This is a great film with a deserved acting award going to Burl Ives(the Snowman in Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer) as the one half of the feuding men. Just listen to the opening theme, it gets ya going.

2.  MYSTERIOUS ISLAND-1961



I love Bernard Herrmann who is best known for his collaboration with Hitchcock on Psycho, Vertigo and other Hitchcock films, but he also did some great fantasy films often in pairing with Ray Harryhausen whom I adore for bringing us this film along with the Sinbad films and Jason and the Argonauts. This film starts off during the civil war and men climb into a hot air balloon and become stranded on an island where they soon meet 2 women who survive the sinking of their ship.  They very soon, realize that the animals, on this island, are a bit too big and they could end up being their dinner. Throw in Captain Nemo and you have a good adventure yarn.

3. ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST-1969


How can I not pick Ennio Morricone who never won an Oscar, yet, for his scores and his most famous, arguably, are from the Spaghetti Westerns he collaborated on with Sergio Leone. This film does not star Clint Eastwood but Henry Fonda as one mean son of a bitch plus Charles Bronson, the good guy, Jason Robards as a fun bastard, and Claudia Cardinale as the Lady in the midst of it all. It is a glorious opera of film making that is a must see even if you are not one for Westerns but how can anyone not like a good western.

Which 3 would you choose?

Image result for newfoundland snow pictures

49 comments:

  1. Hi Birgit - I hope you feel better soon; that party sounds like it's going to be loads of fun ... something great to look forward to. Who will win - I have no idea! I also haven't seen any of these films ... one day perhaps. Take care - and that snow was and presumably is still making life difficult for eastern Canada. All the best - cheers Hilary

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    1. I am slowly getting better..thank goodness. Renee Zellweger and Joaquin Phoenix will win and I think 1917 will win best picture. Newfoundlanders are hearty individuals so they will dig themselves out and they are enjoying the snow at least.

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  2. My favorite film score of all time, and I own lots of recordings, has to be the moody score for Body Heat. I do remember that I loved the score for Dunkirk and I believe you did not. Of course, owning all the Star Wars videos, having the film scores too, and having seen John Williams conduct, that music is definitely in my top ten.

    BTW, I had a bad reaction to a flu shot s few years ago and reported it to the CDC here in America. It does happen unfortunately.

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    1. I have yet to see Body Heat. It's a film I have been wanting to see for a very long time. Star Wars is a given as one of the best. John Williams is a great composer. Yeah, I am sure there are more side effects than the higher ups want reported. I have been off and on in getting the flu shot and I wouldn't have gotten it but my hubby, aka, the flu nazi, wouldn't stop pestering me. I am not sure I will get a flu shot in the future.

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    2. The reaction was way better than having the flu, so I'll continue getting the shot.

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  3. I think I need to watch some more westerns. I've seen them in the past, but not much is in my head about them. Good for you to watch so many films and being able to write about them. Oh I do want to mention thanks for mentioning the Newfoundland snow. Holy cow! Happy Thursday. Hugs-Erika

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    1. I love Westerns which often have some good scores. Gregory Peck is easy on the eyes too. Poor Newfoundland got tons of snow

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  4. I'm sorry the flu shot did that to you. I've never gotten one. And I've only had the flu once in the last fifteen years.
    For movie score - the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

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    1. I don't think I will get the flue shot next year. I almost went with Lord of The Rings because that music is beyond superb!

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  5. I saw a video of Newfoundland's snow from someone's doorbell cam and only shit. I'm done complaining about the 14 inches we got the other day lol.

    I haven't seen any of your picks this week.

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    1. Yeah, there was a whole old age home completely gone..under the snow except for the roof. It is crazy

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  6. Lately I've become more focused on film music, but I'm hard-pressed to come up with many off the cuff. I do agree with your pick of Morricone--great scores.

    One of my big favorites would be Nino Rota who did many scores for films, my favorites being the ones he did for many of the Fellini films. Another big one is Bernard Herrmann who did so many great scores for Alfred Hitchcock films--his music added so much tension to those films.

    The first time where a film score actually captured my attention was in the film Hamburger Hill which was scored by Philip Glass, who also did many other fine film scores. Maybe it was because I knew his name when I saw that film, but the music was so tedious and repetitive that it was an excellent representation of the futility of the attack on Hamburger Hill during the Viet Nam war.

    Movies would be so lacking without film scores and a good score can do wonders in a film-watching experience.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Morricone is great and so is Nino Rota. I love Herrmann and had to showcase him. I have not seen Hamburger Hill...is that with Michael J Fox?? I agree that many movies would just not be the films they are without the score.

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  7. "The Big Country" is Mary's favorite movie, and it's one of mine as well.

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  8. Tremendous picks! EVERYTHING about The Big Country is so expansive and the music feeds right into that. Burl Ives was having quite the year in 1958 with this and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Plus this has the added bonus of Jean Simmons in the cast. LOVE her!

    Mysterious Island dips into the absurd from time to time but it's a fun flick with some of my favorite English performers-Michael Craig, Herbert Lom and Joan Greenwood, in it. Bernard Herrmann was a musical genius and his scores are always a pleasure.

    Morricone is another artist whose work is distinctive and instantly recognizable. Once Upon a Time in the West is one of the best examples of that. The film is also one of the best of its kind and one of the few to use Henry Fonda's cold reserve to such good effect.

    There were so many ways to go with this and I started and changed direction a couple of times until I decided to go with three that won an Oscar for their scores.

    The Wizard of Oz (1939)-Dorothy (Judy Garland) is “Off to See the Wizard” (Frank Morgan) “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” when she is told by Glinda the Good Witch (Billie Burke) to “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” with the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) who wishes “If I Only Had a Brain”, the Tin Man (Jack Haley) who wonders what would happen “If I Only Had Heart” and the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) who tells them “If I Only Had the Nerve” what he would do “If I Were King of the Forest”. After being told by Munchkins how things were “In the Merry Old Land of Oz” they find themselves pursued by the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) who wants Dorothy’s ruby slippers and causes no end of trouble until the word can be spread that “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!”

    Oklahoma! (1955)-“Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’” when Curly (Gordon MacRae) comes riding up on “The Surrey with the Fringe On Top” to court Laurie (Shirley Jones) who is hesitant to express her true feelings to him because “People Will Say We’re in Love”. Unsure she turns to her friend Ado Annie (Gloria Grahame) who tells her “I’m Just a Girl Who Cain’t Say No” but also tells her “Many a New Day Will Dawn” when she’ll have another chance with Curly if the dangerous Jud (Rod Steiger) who is pursuing Laurie doesn’t get in the way. But then “Pore Jud is Daid” but everyone else is happy because:
    “We know we belong to the land
    And the land we belong to is grand!
    And when we say
    Yeeow! Aye-yip-aye-yo-ee-ay!
    We're only sayin'
    You're doin' fine, Oklahoma!
    Oklahoma
    O.K. L - A - H - O - M - A
    OKLAHOMA!”

    West Side Story (1961)-“Something’s Coming” between the enemy gangs the Jets and the Sharks but “Gee, Officer Krupke” gets in the way before they can rumble. During the big competition dance at the gym which follows former Jet Tony (Richard Beymer) sees “Maria” (Natalie Wood) sister of Shark leader Bernardo (George Chakiris) and knows that “Tonight” is special. Later when Bernardo’s girlfriend Anita (Rita Moreno) tells Bernardo things are better in “America” Maria realizes “I Feel Pretty” and that she and Tony share “One Hand, One Heart” even as Anita tells her “A Boy Like That” will bring only heartache. But she believes and tells Tony “Somewhere” away from all the conflict “There’s a Place for Us”.

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    1. I'm so glad you love my choices and love your take on Henry Fonda's personality. I love, love, love your writing take on your 3. Perfect summaries of these musicals. One could easily have chosen other Rogers and Hammerstein musicals from this era. West Side Story is so great in the singing and the dance sequences but i always shake my head when the rough Jets show their toughness by perfectly pointing their toes and dancing:)

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  9. Haven't seen these movies (no surprise here, LOL) but do hope you feel better from the flu shot! I hear of people having reactions like this. Sorry it happened to you! How fun with the Oscar party! You'll have to blog about it!

    betty

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    1. Thanks..I am beginning to feel better and i will blog about. Now I just have to search for my swan dress

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  10. Hi Birgit, I am sorry to hear that you have been so poorly, I hope by now you are feeling so much better.
    I love Bernstein's music and The Big Country is one of my all time favourite films, well it does have Chuck Heston and Gregory Peck. I've been in love with Charlton Heston since I was 5years old when my parents took me to see the Ten Commandments. Loved all things Egyptian too, and archaeology. As for Gregory Peck, I believe he was a really lovely man and sooooo good looking.
    Once Upon a Time... is a brilliant film with a wonderful sound track. I love Morricone's music too, and feel when I hear a sound track from him that the film is going to be good.
    Another film composer I love is Miklos Roza, I think I've spelt that correctly. John Williams is pure genius of course, and love just about all he's done.
    Take care of yourself Birgit, Kate x

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    1. I love Gregory Peck who was on Nixon’s evil list which Peck took as a sign that he was doing the right thing...which he was. I am still in love with Peck and would have had weak knees to be near him. I always liked Heston despite him being a big NRA member because he was a good person overall I think. That composer, Miklos is an excellent composer and Wiliams is a given

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  11. Hi Birgit...I had the same reaction to the flu jab took me a week to get over the aches and pain....what fun an Oscar party can’t wait to hear what you get up to xxxxxx

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    1. So you had joint aches from the flu shot? Interesting and yes, I will talk about it

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  12. I wonder what ingredient of the flu shot you reacted badly to. You might look into that and see if you are allergic or something. Sorry it hit you so hard.

    Did I ever tell you I took a film music class in college? The professor was also my oboe teacher. Fascinating stuff. We spent time learning about all the major composers of the golden age of Hollywood.

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    1. That’s so cool that you learned all about the composers from the Golden Age. I would have loved that course. I have no clue what ingredient it is that caused this and I know the doctors would say it’s not from this but my gut tells me otherwise

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  13. Dang. Do you think there was something in the shot that you are allergic too? I must have my volume turned down. I couldn't here anything:(

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    1. Oh no...I hope you can hear them because they are good. I don’t think I am allergic but I think I have had a reaction and, from what I read, a rare one but it happens. I want to start walking but I do a little bit of standing and I have to rest

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  14. Morricone did win an Oscar for his score for The Hateful Eight which I think is one of his finest scores. I love Morricone. He is The Maestro.

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    1. Oh gosh, I forgot bout that one! Glad he won...about time.

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  15. Now you know why I never get flu shots. I hope the pain goes away soon. Speaking of pain, I apologize for being so late visiting. I would have been here sooner, but I was so ill I didn’t even want to get out of bed, much less be on the computer. I've never heard of any of the films, much less the film scores. Not something I pay much attention to, I guess.

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    1. Sorry to hear you have been so I’ll, I hope you are on the mend soon

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  16. Once upon a time in the west was a good scored one indeed.

    Yep. Exactly why I avoid stupid flu shots. I've heard from dozens of people that it screwed them up. So no thank you.

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    1. Yeah...not sure I will get one next year. That is a great score for sure

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  17. Once Upton a Time in the West is such a great pick! I almost picked it myself but then I decided to go with Chazelle's films.

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  18. Sorry to hear you had a bad reaction to the flu shot. I had one for the first time this year, on the grounds that if I was out of action my mum would be stranded, and I was fine - luckily for me. Someone above suggests Oklahoma, which I do love. I also suggest Fiddle on the Roof. It’s a musical, but the subject matter is so serious even John watched it with enjoyment!

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    1. I have had many flue shots in the past and never had an issue but not this time. Fiddler on the Roof is a good one for sure

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  19. That snowfall in Newfoundland is insane! I hope I get to experience snow like that at least once in my lifetime. That's terrible if the flu shot really did that to you. Now let's hope it does its job and protects you from here on out.
    Have a lovely weekend,
    Andrea

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    1. I have experienced this type of snowfall once during the Blizzard of ‘77 and, I love snowfalls but these blizzards are deadly. I am not that good yet with the pain which sucks.

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  20. BIRGIT ~

    Great topic!

    I own about a dozen or so film scores, and three of them are amongst my most frequently played compact discs:

    My #1 choice (and probably one of my Top Ten most often played CDs of any genre) is Henry Mancini's music for 'BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S'. The amount of exciting music that guy could pack into a short composition was astounding! (The longest track on the entire album is only 3:18.) I try not to overuse the word "genius", but Mancini was absolutely a musical genius!!

    #2: 'ONE FROM THE HEART' by Tom Waits. I think it was the last truly great album that guy ever made. Afterwards, he went right down the weirdo's rabbit hole. But - Wow! - is this a fantastic collection of cool songs with Tom's lyrical brilliance shining throughout.

    #3: 'THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS' by Dave Grusin. I wasn't wild about the movie, but the soundtrack spends A LOT of time on my CD player. More cool Jazz!

    Other really notable favorites of mine are...

    'ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST'. Yip! A fantastic score for what is most definitely one of the Top Ten greatest Western movies ever made!

    Dominic Frontiere's score for the Bruce Brown movie 'ON ANY SUNDAY'. Way underrated!

    Gary Hoey's score for the Bruce Brown movie 'THE ENDLESS SUMMER II'. This album rocks WAY HARDER than most albums by famous Hard Rock bands! And there probably isn't anything that Hoey can't do on the fretboard of a guitar.

    And lastly, one that should certainly be mentioned is the soundtrack to the original (and only worthwhile) movie in Sylvester Stallone's series, 'ROCKY'. The first movie (1976) was great, and the music was great, too. Unfortunately, the memory of that first Academy Award-winning film has been tainted by Stallone's boneheaded sequels and prequels and other misadventures. But there's no denying the power of that first movie and the power of the music that helped drive that story into the hearts of millions!

    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

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    1. I like your picks and Breakfast At Tiffany’s is excellent and I almost chose another Mancini favourite- The Pink Panther. I’m glad you like my Western choice which is an excellent score. I haven’t seen your others but I read Any Given Sunday and thought of Never On Sunday and Zorba The Great.

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  21. An Oscar party!? That sounds amazing! Hope you have a great time!
    I like the picks but man.. I'm not a huge western fan. I think I was just.. it's too distant to me. I've seen a few and I never get them.

    Here are my picks:
    https://www.mettelray.com/thursday-movie-picks-unforgettable-film-scores/

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    1. Oh well, the Western is bit past my time too but I love them

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  22. Sorry you have been feeling so rough. I can't believe it was the flu shot though, you should check with the doc. It could be something more serious. I loved The Big Country, it is a great film with a great score. Not familiar with the other two movies though. Funny, I have Lord of the Rings and I don't remember the music one bit.

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    1. If it doesn’t get better, I will see the doctor for sure. I did read that this pain is rare but can happen. I love Lord of The Rings and consider it one of the best scores ever!

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  23. Ives wasn't just any snowman, he was Sam the Snowman!

    I'll single out John Williams for some of his late-career scores: Catch Me If You Can and Munich. Completely atypical, both of them, yet hugely rewarding and enriching.

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    1. He was The Snowman that’s for sure. John Williams is one of the best for sure

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  24. Glad you are feeling better. I did not see Mysterious Island but it 'sounds':) like a keeper.

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    1. That movie is just fun to watch from the Giant Crab to the huge honey bees. I am not feeling all that good again today. Exhausted

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