This week on Film Score Friday, we listen to the score from The Shadow. Jerry Goldsmith wrote the score for this 1994 film. Comic book movies are not a new thing. Good comic book movies are and alas this film was not meant to break the streak of poor quality in the 90s. Despite the mess on screen, this is a tremendous score. The score is unmistakably Goldsmith and that makes it a treat. Enjoy!
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This week on Film Score Friday we listen to the score from Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Jerry Goldsmith wrote the score for this 1979 movie debut for the franchise. Goldsmith has the difficult task of being the first to ask: What does a Star Trek movie score sound like? We now has expectations after so many films, but this was a non-trivial task for Goldsmith especially given the timing so soon after Star Wars. Goldsmith rises to the occasion by creating themes that have been kept in the franchise for decades now. The highlight for us is the theme Goldsmith created for when we see the Enterprise for the first time. It's a big moment accompanied by equally big music. Enjoy!
This week on Film Score Friday, we listen to the score from The Great Train Robbery. Jerry Goldsmith wrote the score for this 1979 caper film. There was a period of years in the 1970s when despair was a consistent theme in movies. The music often matched this theme. In a sea of gloom, this film and its music was a welcome return to fun and whimsy. Goldsmith wrote a fun score here. It's not remembered as well as many of his other works, but it's worth of your time. Enjoy!
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The Great Train Robbery on Amazon
The Great Train Robbery on iTunes
This week on Film Score Friday, we listen to the score from Chinatown. Jerry Goldsmith wrote the score for this 1974 detective film. This falls into the bad film, great score category. The story goes that the original composer was fired at the last minute and Goldsmith had 10 days to put this score together. What he put together is a score emblematic of the film noir vibe the film takes. The highlight is the solo Trumpet that is front and center for so much of the score. Uan Rasey, the prolific studio musician, played these amazing solos on the original recording. When you listen to this score, it's easy to hear the level of influence this had on scores ever since.
This week on Film Score Friday, we listen to the score from Patton. Jerry Goldsmith wrote the score for this 1970 film. This is some of Goldsmith's best work from this era. The score goes from the eeriness of waiting for a battle to the triumphant march into battle with ease. The film centers upon the bombastic General George Patton and the score appropriately matches his legendary bluster. It's a great film made better with great music.
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This week on Film Score Friday, we listen to the score from 1999's The Mummy. Jerry Goldsmith wrote the score for this adventure film. If you're familiar with Goldsmith's work, this score will be very familiar. We think that's a good thing. Goldsmith goes to his usual arsenal of soaring Horn interspersed with driving Low Brass. This works well with the film and helps amp up the action feeling.
Is The Mummy on your list of great Jerry Goldsmith scores? Let us know in the comments.
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This week on Film Score Friday we take a listen to the 1996's Star Trek: First Contact.
Star Trek movies had a stigma for many years of only being good if it was even numbered in terms of release order. Even some of the odd numbered lower quality films have had great scores. Star Trek: First Contact has the good fortune of being even-numbered as well as having a great score.
Jerry Goldsmith wrote the score with assistance from his son Joel. Goldsmith brought back and expanded his signature theme from the original Star Trek film. He goes beyond that though and created some great new material for this score that blends with the movie extremely well. Our favorite part is the sweeping lyrical theme that gives the horns a chance to shine.
Tell us in the comments which parts you think came Jerry or Joel.
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Star Trek: First Contact on Amazon
Star Trek: First Contact on iTunes
