Bill Wrobel's DVD - Film Score Rundowns

Shakespeare, however, and most of the other actors. I liked Billy Crystal in the movie
more than Robin Williams. Kate Winslet is terrific, Derek Jacobi, etc. The directing also
was off-putting, at least initially. I started to get really involved finally in the movie at the
00:39:32 point when Hamlet’s father’s spirit appeared. Very impressive piercing eyes and
“most foul” story imparted to Hamlet in that blue-dark snowy forest! Shortly afterward
Hamlet states on the path there a most famous line: “There are more things in heaven and
earth, Horotio, then are dreamt of in our philosophy” (dvd 00:39:32).
This is not classic Shakespeare in motion picture format but I pretty much
enjoyed it. Listen to the dvd commentary if you can spare another four hours on the
movie!
-The Lost World (1960) ** [music **]
http://www.amazon.com/Lost-World-Special-1960versions/dp/B000SAGGL4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1293602302&sr=1-1
I was just ten years old when I eagerly went to the theater to see this movie in
July, 1960. I knew nothing about Irwin Allen. I probably watched a coming attraction of
the movie on television and wanted to see it! I enjoyed the movie back then I guess but
now five decades later these eyes and ears have a different assessment of the movie. Even
back then I knew a real lizard dressed up as a huge dinosaur when I saw one! I realized
that a year earlier when Journey to the Center of the Earth was released, but I liked the
way they did it in that movie. Years later, after several exposures to Ray Harryhausen
dynamation stop-motion effects of dinosaurs, I pretty much pooh-poohed Lost World!
Nevertheless, the movie still has a fun factor or refreshing quality about it, colorful sets
and atmosphere despite the dinosaurs being lamely presented! For a kid the movie started
off way too slowly. It took over 30 minutes before the real action and interesting locales
began (arrival on top of that dinosaur plateau). That left barely an hour for the rest of the
movie! [As I am writing this on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 9:49 pm, TCM is showing
again The Lion & the Horse, fabulous music by Max Steiner! This is one of my favorite,
wholesome western movies, and one of Max’s best scores.]
Casting Jill St. John with her red boots and pink slacks was a gem of a decision! I
remembered David Hedison from The Fly a few years back (an ugly, lousy movie in my
opinion). Back then I was not aware of Claude Rains I’m sure, but I enjoyed his colorful
character. I think I remembered Michael Rennie earlier on television when they showed
The Day the Earth Stood Still (not sure about the year it premiered on tv). Now: Irwin
Allen is normally associated with “disaster” films. While this movie is not disasterthemed
per se, the film itself is nearly a disaster! Most people who were initially attracted
to its hype and glitter rarely ever desire to return to it—perhaps only revisiting select
scenes (usually skipping the very slow first half hour!).
The music by Paul Sawtell & Bert Shefter is okay but I’ve heard better scores
from them. Their distinctive signature “sound” is definitely there, nevertheless. I have to
try to figure it out—harmonically, orchestral textures, etc.
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