Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Love in the Music

 


You have seen this picture before but, since I am going all lovey-dovey,, I thought seeing 2 people in love (my parents) just fit. Love is in the air and I went the movie route...big surprise.

1. LOVE THEME FROM SOMEWHERE IN TIME BY JOHN BARRY-1980


I saw this film when it first came out because I had a big crush on Christopher Reeve and I thought Jane Seymour was so beautiful plus it had the fantasy element. An old lady comes to Richard, after his play's success, hands him a watch, and says "Come back to me."  8 years later, he decides to take a side trip to an old hotel and comes across a picture of a once famous actress and learns it is the same old lady that came to see him many moons ago. He falls for the lady and finds a way to travel back in time. A love story ensues which is one that I do like. This song is throughout the film as well as the "Theme of Paganini" by Rachmaninoff an equally great piece of music. 

2. THEME FROM OUT OF AFRICA BY JOHN BARRY-1985


I love this theme so much as well as the soundtrack, which I have in CD (yes, I still own CDs, my preferred way of listening to music). This was also composed by John Barry for which he won an Oscar for best score. It is loosely based on the love affair of Baroness Karen Von Blixen and Denys Finch Hatton while she was married to Baron Hans Von Blixen. I have tried to watch this long, epic love story but ..ughhh. First, I found Meryl Streep boring as dirt and her Danish accent irritating. I loved the cinematography but I don't like seeing the killing of any animal even if none were hurt during the making of this film. It's just deplorable how many animals have been taken for trophies. Robert Redford is nice to look at but I loved Klaus Maria Brandauer as her husband. I will try to watch this again but, we shall see. 

3. LARA'S THEME FROM DR. ZHIVAGO BY MAURICE JARRE-1965


Oh man, yes, I picked this song and the film more than once, but I just love it and it works so well with my theme. I didn't want to go full John Barry anyway. Boris Pasternak wrote the story based, somewhat, on his great love affair with Olga Ivinskaya. He wrote the book in 1957 which was smuggled out of Russia where it won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1958. To save his family and mistress, he had to decline the award. To keep them apart, the Russian government often had either Pasternak arrested and sent away or Olga was sent to the gulags. After he passed away, with thousands of people attending his funeral, Olga asked for the love letters Boris sent to her but the Russian government declined. This is a very famous piece that runs throughout the film and justly so which also won for best score, as well, at the Oscars.

Which Romantic score from the movies captures your heart?

17 comments:

  1. Hi, Birgit!

    That's a touching picture of your parents loving on each other. Thanks for sharing it, dear friend. I remember the film Somewhere in Time. The plot device has been used many times, but it always captivates me. I am familiar with John Barry and his work creating memorable film music including the "James Bond Theme" that delighted me as an entry level teenager when I started watching 007 films in theaters. Poor Chris Reeves. I find it hard to watch his performances knowing that his career and life would be cut short by catastrophic neck and spine injuries. I fancy Jane Seymour, a very classy lady.

    Yessum, I am aware that you like Meryl Streep movies about as much as I like Fred & Ginger musicals. Have a heart, dear friend. After all, the dingo took her baby! Mrs. Shady and I watched Out of Africa years ago. It seemed like years passed between the opening titles and closing credits. The picture might have benefited from a few car roll-over stunts.

    I am also familiar with the grand Lara's Theme having studied Doctor Z in my college film course.

    I keep coming back to one of my favorite films, Summer of '42. The evocative theme "The Summer Knows" by Michel Legrand tugs at my heartstrings and makes me misty.

    I hope you are having a wonderful week, dear friend BB. I'll see you tamale in the balcony - "At The Movies!"

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    1. John Barry also did the great Born Free...quite fun and diverse composer. I agree with you about Christopher Reeve but admire him for his strength in continuing to live and spearhead research in spinal injuries plus healthcare for the U.S.
      Yeah, that movie was tough to try and watch but I will try again....one day.
      That song, you chose, is so good and sad to me.

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  2. It is fun to see your parents. They do look very happy. And i must say, I know all these songs and they are beautiful too. Happy Wednesday!

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    1. I’m glad you like this pic of my mom and dad who were happy. Glad you like the songs too.

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  3. Sweet picture.
    I'd say the soundtrack to The Princess Bride.

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  4. Birgit,

    How sweet! The first song I thought of for some reason is "Do You Know Where You're Going To" from the motion picture, MAHOGANY, starring Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams. The next one to come to mind is "Evergreen" from A STAR IS BORN with Barbara Streisand. Finally, I'd have to say "Moon River" from BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S but only sung by Andy Williams. I know Audrey sang it in the film but I don't believe Andy's version was in the movie or am I wrong? I love the theme song from "Somewhere in Time" and the movie is nice.

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    1. I listened to all the songs people stated here and love your choices too. The song from Mahogany is much better than the movie which is a bit whacky. I still have to see The Streisand version of A Star Is Born but I know the song which is really good and famous. No, Andy Williams version was not in the movie but funny, the executroids almost cut the song thinking it was slow, just like Over the Rainbow, but better heads prevailed. They also wanted Audrey Hepburn’s voice dubbed but she and Mancini complained and we have he r voice singing it.

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  5. That's a lovely photo of your parents, Birgit, and also a beautiful painting! Epic love songs, as well. I enjoyed "Somewhere In Time" and of course, "Dr. Zhivago" is a classic. "Out Of Africa" was a bit too slow-paced for my taste, but I am a fan of Klaus Maria Brandauer.

    When it comes to love songs, "Nights In White Satin" (the album version) is my absolute favourite of all time. ♥ As for movie songs, how about "She's Like The Wind" (Dirty Dancing), "Shallow" (A Star Is Born 2018) and "Evergreen" (A Star Is Born 1976)?

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    1. Glad you enjoyed my songs but not sure you found the song of Out of Africa too slow or the movie. If it was the movie, I agree with you. Your choices are great. I love, love, love Nights..one of my all time favourite. Shallow is an excellent song and well done by, not only Lady Gaga but Bradley Cooper too. Evergreen is a great song.

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    2. Sorry, Birgit, I did mean the Out of Africa movie, not the music, which is lovely. ♥

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  6. Hi there Birgit, beautiful theme music, although I don't think I know the first one on your list, but I love John Barry's compositions, Dances with Wolves is one of my favourites, keep well, Kate x

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    1. Yes, Dances With Wolves is so great. I love that theme.

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  7. Three good ones. I enjoyed all of them.
    What a wondrous pic of your parents:)

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    1. I’m glad you like them and so glad you love that pic of my mom and dad.

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  8. Hi Birgit - what a great picture of your parents - so pleased you've got one. Out of Africa is very evocative for me, as too Lara's Theme ... excellent selections - cheers Hilary

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  9. I love the photo of your parents, Birgit. So sweet. Sorry I am not one to watch romance in film or on tv. However, you gave some interesting films, two of which I have never heard of before. Love must have been in the air in your household this week, dear.

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