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Now that Varese has re-issued the old LP on CD, does this mean we'll never get an expanded release which would include the fantastic underscore Mr Williams wrote (about 15-20 mins)
for this film.
After FSM's Mr Chips, I would love this one to get similar treatment (okay, not 3 CD's but it deserves expansion IMO).
Anyone?
I hope SCROOGE is near. I'd rather see that get the treatment it deserves now.
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I hope SCROOGE is near. I'd rather see that get the treatment it deserves now.
That's one of my favorite musicals of it's era and one I'd buy in a minute!
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That's one of my favorite musicals of it's era and one I'd buy in a minute!
Definitely.
While we are on the subject I think Thomas and the King could use a face lift by Mr. Williams. I happen to really like that number called POWER. There are some decent songs in it.
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I hope SCROOGE is near. I'd rather see that get the treatment it deserves now.
I don't know about Scrooge coming, but I can hear Marley's Ghost's chains rattling...
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The sound quality on that entire CD left much to be desired...especially by Varese standards.
To be fair, VARESE had only had the original 2 tk 15ips album masters which never sounded that good to start with.
Sometimes CD's can be very unforgiving when the source doesn't sound that good to start with.
Ford A. Thaxton
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Posted: |
Oct 5, 2009 - 3:45 PM
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By: |
Thor
(Member)
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I finally got around to seeing this film.
I haven't read the Mark Twain book, so I'm not sure how close it stuck to that, but it worked pretty well as a Disney-type kiddie film with song setpieces and simple storylines. And how about that gorgeously cute Jodie Foster, eh (age 10), playing Tom's "love interest"?
As far as the music is concerned, I must admit that I was a little harsh on the score earlier in the thread. It's not that bad. Yes, a couple of the Sherman songs are a little grating in their over-orchestrated rambunctiosness ("Free bootin'" and the holiday song come to mind), but for the most part they are memorable melodies. "River Song" is haunting and the vocal arrangement of "Tom Sawyer!" is impressive.
Williams' score, however, was the main draw here. As far as the song arrangements go, he often has a tendency to "over-orchestrate" a bit in his work with musicals, and that happened here too. But the bridges between the songs are very effective. Of particular notice here is the opening, where Tom runs towards the river. Williams gives a kind-of overture of some of the themes, a rollicking ride before the "River Song" erupts as he reaches the river shore. It's really just Tom running and the music carrying that scene, almost a less spectacular cousin of "Ecstasy of Gold". 
I was, however, struck by how much UNDERSCORE there actually is here. You've got a couple of long suspense setpieces (when Tom and Huck hide in the house and when Tom and Becky rummage through the cave) that sound like suspense leftovers from THE TOWERING INFERNO or something. Also a couple of nice little details like the piratey, "Hoist the colours"-type music as Tom and Huck set sail on their raft.
Now that I've heard it (in context) and how well some of it would have stood up, I'm surprised none of this Williams score was included on the Varese CD, but I guess there's a reason. A little score suite wouldn't have hurt.
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I finally got around to seeing this film.
I haven't read the Mark Twain book, so I'm not sure how close it stuck to that, but it worked pretty well as a Disney-type kiddie film with song setpieces and simple storylines. And how about that gorgeously cute Jodie Foster, eh (age 10), playing Tom's "love interest"?
As far as the music is concerned, I must admit that I was a little harsh on the score earlier in the thread. It's not that bad. Yes, a couple of the Sherman songs are a little grating in their over-orchestrated rambunctiosness ("Free bootin'" and the holiday song come to mind), but for the most part they are memorable melodies. "River Song" is haunting and the vocal arrangement of "Tom Sawyer!" is impressive.
Williams' score, however, was the main draw here. As far as the song arrangements go, he often has a tendency to "over-orchestrate" a bit in his work with musicals, and that happened here too. But the bridges between the songs are very effective. Of particular notice here is the opening, where Tom runs towards the river. Williams gives a kind-of overture of some of the themes, a rollicking ride before the "River Song" erupts as he reaches the river shore. It's really just Tom running and the music carrying that scene, almost a less spectacular cousin of "Ecstasy of Gold".
I was, however, struck by how much UNDERSCORE there actually is here. You've got a couple of long suspense setpieces (when Tom and Huck hides in the house and when Tom and Becky rummage through the cave) that sound like suspense leftovers from THE TOWERING INFERNO or something. Also a couple of nice little details like the piratey, "Hoist the colours"-type music as Tom and Huck set sail on their raft.
Now that I've heard it (in context) and how well some of it would have stood up, I'm surprised none of this Williams score was included on the Varese CD, but I guess there's a reason. A little score suite wouldn't have hurt.
You heard it here first, folks! Thor wants an expanded release in order to get a score suite (just kidding...).
I'm of the belief that Warren Oates should have been nominated for a supporting actor Oscar for his performance as Muff Potter (and I love his song in the film).
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