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LOG IN Forgot Login? Register General Discussion • Trading Post • Non-Film Score Discussion  Profile • Preferences • Community Rules • Help/Contact • Search Board Search Terms:  Search Within:  topics posts since 2019 2018 posts 2017 posts 2016 posts 2015 posts 2014 posts 2013 posts 2012 posts 2011 posts 2010 posts 2009 posts 2008 posts 2007 posts 2006 posts 2005 posts 2004 posts 2003 posts 2002 posts 2001 posts 2000 posts users  search tips  You must log in or register to post.   Go to page:  1      General Discussion: "A Certain Smile": La-La Land - Redux   Last Post   Posted:   Sep 29, 2014 - 10:24 AM     By:   Ron Pulliam   (Member) Back in 1958, 20th Century-Fox cast French actress Christine Carère and Rossano Brazzi in a Françoise Sagan story called "A Certain Smile." As it had been doing for some time, Fox packed its CinemaScope cameras and went on location to combine its storytelling with glorious cinematography to show off CinemaScope. In "A Woman's World", we got the beauty of mid-1950s New York City; in "Three Coins in the Fountain", we were treated to the timeless charms of Rome and the Italian countryside; and in "Boy on a Dolphin", the glory of Athens and the Aegean were brought into our theaters. For "A Certain Smile", Paris, the Riviera, and other French locales are shown to glorious advantage in this romantic sudser. This soufflè was enhanced by one of the most splendid scores of the 1950s with one its most enchanting title themes sung by Johnny Mathis (it was not sung over the title, but the song's name is the title of the film). Newman worked magic with the theme, just as he did with "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing" brilliantly interpolating it with his original music in various cues. The Newman sound is front and center and the recording is a revelation. Newman displays more scoring skill and inventiveness in the main title alone than exists in most complete scores being "written" today. It is with joy that I can relay to you that this score, once only available on a long out-of-print Columbia LP, has been released on a 2-CD issue with "film order" stereo tracks (from 35mm elements) on disc 1, including Mathis' wonderful "film version" vocal of the song, and with the remastered Columbia LP on disc 2, with Mathis' "pop" version of the song. This is a wonderful release. You can hear samples at La-LaLandRecords.com and, if you like what you hear, you can order from them. They are reliable and reasonable. I am a HUGE fan of CinemaScope films and the scores written for them, and I didn't want this opportunity to get away from anyone else who has a love for the music from films.    Posted:   Sep 29, 2014 - 1:46 PM     By:   Dana Wilcox   (Member) Nicely said (as we would expect from you, Ron)! I hope your posting will stimulate a renewed interest in this superb romantic score, from the pen of a shining light of the CinemaScope era.    Posted:   Sep 29, 2014 - 2:42 PM     By:   Yavar Moradi   (Member) You forgot to mention the (current) price! These two discs of lovely music can be had for only $9.98! (!!!!) http://lalalandrecords.com/Site/ACertainSmile.html Not sure this needed a brand new thread rather than being added to (and bumping) the previous one which had countless other glowing comments on the score, but I still applaud you for bringing it up again! For those who are curious to see everyone else's positive comments about LLL's great album, the original thread is here: http://filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?forumID=1&pageID=1&threadID=81678&archive=0 Mr. Pulliam's previous call-out to people when the price was first reduced to $9.98 (some interesting comments in this thread, including from MV/LLL): http://filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?threadID=101559&forumID=1&archive=0 Yavar    Posted:   Sep 29, 2014 - 2:58 PM     By:   Ron Pulliam   (Member) I didn't remember starting that other thread when the price was reduced, nor did I realize it was still marked down. For $9.98, this is one of the MOST SIGNIFICANT film music bargains I've ever encounterd.    Posted:   Sep 29, 2014 - 3:14 PM     By:   Ron Pulliam   (Member) IIRC, a recent thread asked what film themes written for a different film reappeared in others. For the record, the cue "The Party" is based on the "Desiree" waltz from "Desiree". Here it is reorchestrated for piano and few other instruments...and is quite beautiful.    Posted:   Sep 29, 2014 - 3:26 PM     By:   crogrr   (Member) I so applaud LLL for doing this. I know it was expensive and did not sell as anticipated. It is glorious! Buy it!    Posted:   Sep 29, 2014 - 8:37 PM     By:   PFK   (Member) Just a beautiful score by one of Hollywood's greatest composers. The 1950s had a lot of scores at this high caliber. Thanks LLL for putting this out.    Posted:   Sep 29, 2014 - 9:08 PM     By:   davel   (Member) I concur with the thoughts posted here - A Certain Smile is a wonderful score. For a limited release of 2,500 I'm astounded that it isn't long gone.    Posted:   Sep 29, 2014 - 10:53 PM     By:   Sirusjr   (Member) It is a fantastic release and sounds amazing given its age. I am still surprised every time I listen to it at how fantastic it sounds.    Posted:   Sep 30, 2014 - 5:23 AM     By:   Joe Caps   (Member) Whats really missing here is a blu ray dvd!!! certain Smile was occasionaaly shown on Fox Movie channel - always pan scan and with weak color. We need a wide screen, color restored dvd of this film - all beautifully shot on location, all over Europe.    Posted:   Sep 30, 2014 - 9:22 AM     By:   GoblinScore   (Member) This is a good one, nice companion to Friedhofer's BOY ON A DOLPHIN, in my opinion.     General Discussion: "A Certain Smile": La-La Land - Redux    < 1  >   Go to page:  1   First Post    General Discussion • Trading Post • Non-Film Score Discussion  Profile • Preferences • Community Rules • Help/Contact • Search Board You must log in or register to post.   Go to page:  1

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