Bill Wrobel's DVD - Film Score Rundowns

effect of I believe the stopped horns. [end session Oscar day, Sunday, February 27, 2011
at 9:12 am]
-Fitzcarraldo (1982) ***
http://www.amazon.com/Fitzcarraldo-Klaus-
Kinski/dp/B00001ODHV/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1293771221&sr=1-1
Interesting and odd movie that I liked well enough (but not that well!).
-Legend (1986) ** [music (Goldsmith) *** �] [music (T.Dream) ** �]
http://www.amazon.com/Legend-Ultimate-Tom-
Cruise/dp/B000063UR2/ref=sr_1_3?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1293771312&sr=1-3
Why this movie was ever made I cannot figure out. It certainly is not a legendary
movie! Sure, Ridley Scott directed it; Goldsmith wrote the first (and European) score,
Cruise is the star—but it’s a ridiculous picture! There is a lot of A Midsummer Night’s
Dream sensibility or style here but without the mystique and quality and sheer magic as
in the 1935 movie. I will give a two-star ** Fair rating because of the production values,
otherwise it is simply an odd curiosity piece that is pretty to watch at various scenes. If
you are used to hearing only the Tangerine Dream score, then I recommend that you
purchase this two-disc dvd set because the Director’s Cut on Disc One has Goldsmith’s
music. I much prefer Jerry’s music over the laid over synth music by the Tangerine
Dream that doesn’t usually fit the movie. Jerry’s music is quite beautiful in sections, and
it’s written to fit the scenes. For instance, at dvd 00:06:55 when annoying Lili unfastens
the laundry line, Jerry’s synchronizes the music to fit that action. You participate more
actively with the movie. Tangerine Dream’s “music” here does nothing of the sort—just
laid over musical syrup. I also recommend that you insert Disc Two and watch the
unused Four Goblins long section (about 9 minutes) that also features Goldsmith’s music.
The Fairies Dance sequence is not very interesting, and it was wise to cut that out of the
movie. At around an hour and 14 minutes into the movie you have the very interesting
black witch dance sequence that I will call the Dance Grotesque. At any rate, the
Goldsmith music in this movie is better than the movie itself. It is not Goldsmith’s best
for this period but I like it enough to give it a very good (three-and-a-half star rating)
thumbs up. It’s probably of the same quality and inspiration given in Supergirl (although
I liked Supergirl more!) and King Solomon’s Mines (that I also liked better).
-A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935) *** � [music adaptation ****]
http://www.amazon.com/Midsummer-Nights-Dream-James-
Cagney/dp/B000QGE8JC/ref=sr_1_2?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1308079505&sr=1-2
What a delightful movie especially starting at around the 25-minute point with the
mystical forest extended scene! Korngold did an absolutely marvelous and magical job in
adapting Felix Mendelssohn’s music. You can call it “arranged” if you want but
Korngold adapted it to modern instruments. For instance, at dvd 00:37:56 (William
Powell appears) when the eight-note theme is played twice, the response note each time
is from the vibraphone—obviously an instrument not available in the mid-19 th century
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