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Apropos this topic, back in 1992 a friend of mine, who was trying to get a film music "fanzine" off the ground, submitted
questions to Dana Kaproff in order to publish
an interview. Here is the question and answer -
MM - "THE BIG RED 1" must have been an exciting
prospect. Did Sam Fuller involve himself in the
scoring process?"
DK - "An example of business and art is the story behind THE BIG RED 1. I was brought onto
the project by David Picker, then head of Lorimar. They had taken the film away from Fuller because he had delivered an overlength
version, which they deemed noncommercial. I
unfortunately had little to do with Mr Fuller,
much to my chagrin."
Personally, I did like Kaproff's main title
for this picture very much and am kind of sad that his film music career failed to flourish
- JMM.
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I realize that I'm going to be slightly off topic, but I swear I clicked on with the intention of singing the praises of THE BIG RED 1 score - only I've just realized that I wasn't thinking about that at all, but rather an excellent Dana Kaproff score for another war thingy, this time for TV, ONCE AN EAGLE. Great dramatic opening, with some Goldsmithianly reverbed percussion effects.
Another good Kaproff, again with heavy Goldsmith influence, is WHEN A STRANGER calls. I still remember Charles Durning puffing heavily through the streets after the killer, backed by Kaproff's solid score, sort of like the "inside the piano" bits of CHINATOWN.
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I, too, was always somewhat disappointed that Kaproff didn't make a bigger dent with film producers after THE BIG RED ONE. He sure was a talented individual as evidenced by the scores mentioned above. No doubt he would have been ultimately sidelined by the same syndrome that keeps such golden talents as Bruce Broughton, David Shire, and Joel McNeely so relatively unemployed. (What am I saying???--he WAS sidelined, only about a decade earlier!)
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Ive just seen the Big Red One - reconstruction, approx 192 mins but with adverts, recorded from Tcm a few weeks ago.
I had previously seen a extended version of this a few years ago and it ran better than the the original cut, but this one had scenes id not seen before - thought it was great. Made a lot more sense and the segments seemed better linked.
It has always been a terrific score. Main title reminds me a little of Rosenmanns Hell is for Heroes. - the Kaproff theme is quite minimal - a lot of drawn-out notes with heavy wild bunch-style drumming.
Was there ever a CD of this? Presuming no?
Anyway if you see it on Tcm - check it out.
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Nope there wasn't. I think I have Dana's tapes to it in the garage here. But given we still haven't sold out of his great genre score, When a Stranger Calls, well, no one in their right mind would bother with The Big Red One - too bad - wonderful score, wonderful composer, and a wonderful guy.
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Not even a chance for a two fer with another non- kaproff war film score?
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Not even a chance for a two fer with another non- kaproff war film score?
Well, aside from the fact that no one but ten people would care, then you'd have to deal with Warner Bros.
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Thanks for the info anyway, haineshisway. Sad though it is.
Sometimes you wish a few more multi- millionaires were soundtrack collectors!
If i was one thats the sort of project id be proud to rescue forever.
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Dp
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I'd also be onboard for such a release. Both the film and score are equally haunting.
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It's too bad there wouldn't be enough demand for this title to justify a CD release. It's a really good score for a really good film.
When a Stranger Calls is a great score. I love finally having it.
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