I think I took them as 2 separate entities. I also saw the film before I read the book. And I was maybe 15, which is a better age to enjoy this film than perhaps someone more mature.
(I will also brag for 2 seconds and mention that I got to look at the score for the film, back when I was a college boy.)
Ooops. I forgot to say that I think the score is crazy-wonderful. So many different sounds, so interesting. I think I'll go listen to it when I get home tonight, to commemorate JG's recent birthday!
Whaaaa? One of *the* most famous film composers of all time, WA. In fact he's probably tied with Maurice Jarre as the most famous French film composer ever. You're going to be getting reactions like you did when you said, "Help me get into James Horner"...
Here's the sublime theme Quincy helped himself to for Color Purple:
Obviously he worked in France a great deal and had many famous director relationships, including Francois Truffaut (I think I read he and Herrmann were Truffaut's favorite composer collaborators, though there were many other talented ones.) The French Revolution might be his magnum opus.
Some of his more famous American scores are Platoon, The Day of the Dolphin, A Little Romance (lovely score but undeservedly won the Oscar that year, beating Star Trek: The Motion Picture!), Julia, Agnes of God, Anne of the Thousand Days, A Man for All Seasons, True Confessions, An Almost Perfect Affair, A Summer Story, Black Robe, Joe vs. the Volcano, and The Black Stallion Returns.
Listen to the sound clips. It is seriously a must.
He also wrong an infamous score to Something Wicked This Way Comes which ended up being rejected even though some creative forces behind the film wanted to keep it. It is brilliant, one of his absolute best. James Horner wrote a very good replacement score. If you're curious to compare them Intrada released both scores, though they are both now sadly out of print and probably pricey (though I haven't checked). However, Intrada did leave up sound clips for you to sample them if you're curious: http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.9969/.f http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.6145/.f
Yavar
Yavar, thank-you so much!! Since the day 'Color Purple' premiered I've been irritated by the blaring similarity between Jones's' 'theme' and Delerue's 'Our Mother's House'. I've never heard anyone else notice it or say it. I also have a half dozen scores by Jones I admire - he's a fine atmospherist but I'd never call him a great melodist...and the most striking melody he did 'create' comes from Delete for that matter!!
Yavar, thank-you so much!! Since the day 'Color Purple' premiered I've been irritated by the blaring similarity between Jones's' 'theme' and Delerue's 'Our Mother's House'. I've never heard anyone else notice it or say it. I also have a half dozen scores by Jones I admire - he's a fine atmospherist but I'd never call him a great melodist...and the most striking melody he did 'create' comes from Delete for that matter!!