Classic Movie Themes: Assault on Precinct 13
Assault on Precinct 13 was John Carpenter's second feature film. The movies score was composed and recorded by Carpenter himself on a synthesizer over a period of three days. It features a minimalist style comprising of just four distinct music cues, which are used sparingly throughout the movie. The pulsating beats and elongated eerie notes combine with a mournful main melody. This lean, pared back approach suits the narrative perfectly and reflects the tonal trend of cinema at the time. There are hints of Morricone (who Carpenter later worked with on The Thing) and Lalo Schifrin in the soundtrack.
Classic Movie Themes: Theatre of Blood
Theatre of Blood is a rather unique horror movie about crazed egotistical thespian named Edward Lionheart. Played by the great Vincent Price, this Shakespeare-obsessed actor commits suicide rather publicly, after being allegedly "cheated" out of an award. However when a spate of murders targeting theatre critics occurs, with each victim dispatched in an homage to the Bard, Scotland Yard begins to suspect the actor may have faked his death. This hilariously baroque revenge picture directed by Douglas Hickox, benefits from a great cast of some of Britain's finest character actors. The film also serves as a wonderful window in to the mid-seventies Britain.
Classic Movie Themes: The Black Hole
The Black Hole was a major gamble for Disney back in 1979 as they tried to capitalise of the post Star Wars sci-fi boom. Although audiences are still split over the strange mix of anthropomorphic robots, armchair philosophising and the one of the most metaphysical endings ever filmed, John Barry's score is universally praised. It features all his hallmark musical signatures and greatly embellishes the on-screen action with its stately and portentous style. There is also a substantial amount of music, with over an hour of cues for the ninety eight minute running time. This was the second space themed score that Barry wrote that year, the first being Moonraker, the eleventh Bond film.
Classic Movie Themes: The 7th Voyage of Sinbad
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) directed by Nathan Juran, was the first of three Sinbad feature films produced by Columbia Pictures. The other two being The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1974) and Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977). All three Sinbad films were a showcase for Ray Harryhausen’s stop motion animation special effects works, which was marketed as “Dynamation”. The 7th Voyage of Sinbad was the first of Harryhausen’s work to be filmed in colour. The somewhat arbitrary story has Captain Sinbad (Kerwin Mathews) returning to the island of Colossa to find a way to release Princess Parisa (Kathryn Grant) from a magic spell that has caused her to shrink. As ever with such movies, there is much chewing of the scenery and overwrought dialogue. However, the two elements of the film that excel are the excellent monsters and a superb score composed by Bernard Herrmann.
Classic Movie Themes: Krull
After the success of his nautically themed score for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, composer James Horner was very much in demand. Columbia pictures subsequently hired him over the likes of John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith to compose the soundtrack for Krull (1983). The movie was to be the studios flagship fantasy title and their most expensive production to date, costing $50 million. Unfortunately, the curious mixture of science fiction and fantasy failed to find an audience and was a box office failure. The film most certainly does have flaws. The screenplay was constantly re-written and the lead actor, Ken Marshall is somewhat underwhelming. Yet the production and costume design are outstanding and the movie is beautifully shot.
Classic Movie Themes: Conan the Barbarian
A well written film soundtrack does more than simply embellish the on-screen imagery. It permeates the very fabric of the film and becomes character itself, adding emotional content and driving forward the narrative. However, there is a fine line between enhancing the pace and atmosphere of a film and simply "telegraphing" imminent events in a melodramatic fashion. The score for Conan The Barbarian by the late Basil Poledouris is a rare example of the former and in itself totally sublime. Using the traditional style of the "leitmotif", a ninety-piece orchestra and twenty four voice choir, Poledouris creates "a continuous musical drama" that has now entered the pantheon of classic modern film scores.
Classic Game Themes: Star Trek Online
MMORPG genre frequently benefits from a robust and charismatic score. It helps greatly in establishing specific races, classes and regions within the game, giving them a unique identity and characteristics. Music can be used to provide the player with audio cues about the environment and the quests they are undertaking. The use of a leitmotif can be invaluable in establishing a games tone as the story progresses. Therefore many games in this genre have sumptuous scores by established composers. As so many are set within a traditional fantasy setting, many soundtracks seem to follow a particular pattern. Star Trek Online however is one of a handful of science fiction based MMOs and as a result its soundtrack is subtly different.
Classic Game Themes: Hidden & Dangerous 2
Hidden & Dangerous 2 is one of the most enjoyable, yet frustrating games I have encountered. There are some moments of brilliance to be had whilst playing it but sadly bugs and some questionable AI always seems to trip the proceedings up. Released late 2003 when World War II games were still very much in vogue, this third person squad based shooter still has many outstanding features to this day. One of which is the terrific score by Michal Szlavik and Martin Benes, performed by the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra from the Czech Republic.
Classic Game Themes: Arcania - Gothic 4
Dynamedion are an award winning company and team of composers based in Germany. They specialize in soundtracks and game compositions, usually in the orchestral form. Over the years they have produced both musical scores and ambient sound designs for such titles as Ryse: Son of Rome, The Elder Scrolls Online and the Gothic series. Tilman Sillescu is both the co-founder of Dynamedion, as well as a prodigious composer in his own right. He previously taught at Mainz University. As Lead Composer and Creative Director at Dynamedion GbR, he has scored many exciting video game projects as well as writing and producing music for movie trailers, television and libraries.
Classic Game Themes: Pirates of the Flying Fortress
Over the past few years I have been regularly writing about Classic Movie Themes and posting specific music cues that I particularly enjoy. Often the term “classic” is not necessarily applicable and it may be more appropriate to simply label them personal favourites. However “classic” is a better fit for headlines and search engines, so I shall continue to use that title. I’ve subsequently decided to post music from the games soundtracks that I feel are of note. The gaming industry has a multitude of talented composers and musicians who enhance games and bring virtual worlds to life with their ambient music and scores.
Cult Movie Soundtracks
There is a common consensus that a cult movie doesn’t necessarily have to be a good one. Badly written scripts, low budgets and curious casting are just some of the things that can contribute to making a film a cult classic. Many movies of this idiom have showcased talent that subsequently went on to better things. Sometimes films that are hailed as complete turkeys or financial disasters upon release are retrospectively deemed of merit. Often it is films soundtrack that can be its one saving grace. Take for example Ennio Morricone’s prodigious body of work. He is considered by many to be one of the finest (if not the finest) film composer alive. Yet some of his best work has been for incredibly poor, flawed or indifferent films. Consider Hundra, Treasure of the Four Crowns or Orca for example.