 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted: |
Jun 20, 2017 - 5:27 PM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
|
TAP ROOTS starred Van Heflin, Susan Hayward, Boris Karloff, and Julie London. The film begins with the following spoken foreword: "This is the story of a Mississippi family, a family whose pioneer men and women had carved their broad plantations out of the wilderness itself. By 1860, their pleasant valley had become almost a state within a state, its people very willing to risk their lives on any chance, rather than to acknowledge the authority of any conscience but their own. These were the famous Dabneys of Levington."
TAP ROOTS was adapted from the 1942 novel of the same name by James Street. It is very loosely based on the true life story of Newton Knight, a farm owner who attempted to secede Jones County from Mississippi. Filming of TAP ROOTS took place from 3 June 1947 until mid-August of that year. Universal shot portions of the film in the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Mountains near Asheville, NC. As there were no real white oak trees near Ashville which met the film's requirements, the Universal special effects department in California constructed an artificial one, which was then shipped to the North Carolina location. Further, in order to match location shots with those made on the Universal back lot, twenty barrels of North Carolina red clay were shipped back to the studio in California.
Universal borrowed actress-singer Julie London from Sol Lesser's company and Van Heflin from M-G-M for the film. During the film's production, London eloped to Las Vegas with Jack Webb, later known as the star-producer of the radio and television series “Dragnet.” The two were married until 1954. London later appeared on the NBC television series “Emergency,” which Webb produced from 1972 to 1977. Frank Skinner scored the film.
TAP ROOTS has never been released on video in the U.S. There is a French Region 2 DVD floating around, but it is not known if it is authorized.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saw TAP ROOTS on Million Dollar Movie when I was a kid. Can't remember a thing about it except that Boris played an Indian. (A few years later, Lon Chaney, Jr. played one on the LAST OF THE MOHICANS TV series). It'd be interesting to know who arranged the pieces for band, and why. Skinner, of course, was famous as a dance band arranger before he graduated to film scores, (and an outfit in Texas has recorded a CD of those Skinner arrangements).
I do hope you'll make some preservation copies of your 78's. And I for one would love to hear them some day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One of favorite Skinner scores has always been CAPTAIN NEWMAN M.D. starring Gregory Peck and featuring an insane, sweaty Robert Duvall and the 2nd Darren from BEWITCHED. Always enjoyed the incidental scoring of the scene with Eddie Albert and Peck trying to talk him down from the tower. Great stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqM2mej4Ud4
I skimmed through the film last year and I remarked how more 1980's the score sounded not only in writing but in orchestration. I don't recall there being much score at all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks for posting it, Jim!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: |
Jun 21, 2017 - 4:18 PM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Jim Doherty
(Member)
|
Thanks for posting it, Jim!
I mean, really, what an incredible thing this is! At a time when virtually nobody was faithfully recording film music themes (except, in a way, Al Goodman), this thing happens! Like I said before, I don't know who was behind this project and arrangement, but, GOOD FOR THEM! What a great job! AND, thank GOD that this arranger had enough presence of mind to hear the worth in Skinner's music to prepare this wonderful suite.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"I mean, really, what an incredible thing this is! At a time when virtually nobody was faithfully recording film music themes (except, in a way, Al Goodman), this thing happens! Like I said before, I don't know who was behind this project and arrangement, but, GOOD FOR THEM! What a great job! AND, thank GOD that this arranger had enough presence of mind to hear the worth in Skinner's music to prepare this wonderful suite."
Jim, some time in the last 20 years, have you tried contacting anybody at the University music department?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: |
Jun 22, 2017 - 8:43 PM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Jim Doherty
(Member)
|
"I mean, really, what an incredible thing this is! At a time when virtually nobody was faithfully recording film music themes (except, in a way, Al Goodman), this thing happens! Like I said before, I don't know who was behind this project and arrangement, but, GOOD FOR THEM! What a great job! AND, thank GOD that this arranger had enough presence of mind to hear the worth in Skinner's music to prepare this wonderful suite."
Jim, some time in the last 20 years, have you tried contacting anybody at the University music department?
No, I never did, because I never realized that this recording was of Frank Skinner's music from the 1948 film. I thought it was just another one of those concert band piece that were so prevalent in the late 1940s through the late 1950s. The record label simply lists "Skinner" as the composer. It never dawned on me that it might be FRANK Skinner. As a matter of fact, I had totally forgotten that the composer was even listed as "Skinner." Not until a few days ago did I do a Google and YouTube search to try and find out more about the piece. That's when I stumbled upon the film on YouTube, and immediately recognized the melodies. I then rummaged around in my closet for the set of 78s so I could see who was listed as composer and realized what I had.
I will indeed contact the University of Illinois to see if any documentation exists on this recording. Thanks for the suggestion.
My best to you,
Jim
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
