Bill Wrobel's DVD - Film Score Rundowns

For those who may be completely unaware of this (Lost in Unawareness), the un-aired
first pilot of the 1965 series Lost In Space titled "No Place To Hide" is a treat for
Herrmann fans. You can enjoy the music for this silly, episodic pilot in Disc 8 of the Lost
in Space Season one dvd box set (link below).
This pilot was directed by Irwin Allen. It is far more a "Space Robinson Family"
theme with no "Oh, the pain!" Dr. Zachary Smith, and no "Danger, Will Robinson!"
robot. It is set in the "future" (October 16, 1997 in fact!). A meteor shower whacks the
spaceship off course to a remote desert locale (Mojave Desert!). There are a few giant
one-eyed Bigfoot critters roaming on the planet. Unfortunately, Ray Harryhausen was not
available to do a stop-motion version of this Cyclops!
Anyway, back to the music: There is a ton of Herrmann tracked music in this pilot
largely culled from the 20th Century Fox archives (some of that music was newly rerecorded
and orchestrated differently). Herrmann's name is actually credited at the end of
the show, conducted by Lionel Newman. The opening credits of the pilot utilizes the Day
the Earth Stood Still opening title. At about 9 minutes into the pilot you hear a clip from
Beneath the 12 Mile Reef. At 11 or 12 minutes into the show, you then hear Journey to
the Center of the Earth. Then you hear an electronic version of a 12 Mile Reef cue as
John and Don climb a mountain (for exercise, I guess!).. So here is an instance of Lionel
changing the Herrmann music to make it more futuristic (after all, it IS 1997!). When
Mrs. Robinson washes the family clothes back at the ship, the Herrmann music chosen
was "The Flirtation" cue from 12 Mile Reef. There is a lot of JTTCOTE music again with
the Cyclops scenes. And at about 19 and a half minutes into the show, the Main Title of
JTTCOTE was used as Will Robinson dangerously maneuvers around a bend on the
mountain ledge! Then he kills the Cyclops with a laser gun that the men stupidly forgot to
take with them. At about 23 minutes into the show, as John flies around in his rocket
pack to look for Penny, we hear more vibrant Reef music by Herrmann. You'll recognize
it. In fact it is used again (same scene and music) in the "There Were Giants In The
Earth" episode of the series (episode # 4). At about 27 minutes and a half into it, the
"Sunrise" music from JTTCOTE was used. Then you hear a new orchestral (theremins?)
variation of a cue from Garden of Evil. Later when another one-eyed sasquatch is killed
we hear the Under world Ocean cue from JTTCOTE. Etc. Etc.
At any rate, you may want to purchase the set for this curiosity piece!
-Rocky (1976) *** [music ***]
http://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Sylvester-
Stallone/dp/B000059H99/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1293859420&sr=1-1
I like Stallone and I like this movie but “Best Picture”? It was a weak year for
weighty contenders!
-The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai (1984) ** 1/2
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