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For me, High and Low - just brilliant, and my favorite Kurosawa film by far.
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Posted: |
Apr 12, 2010 - 1:24 AM
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By: |
Sarge
(Member)
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Random thoughts...
I'm quite fond of the little lullaby in IKIRU - especially the way it's used in the finale, which is just heartbreaking.
YOJIMBO and SANJURO are just a blast - so full of energy and invention. Not only did Leone borrow story elements from these films, you can tell Morricone was heavily influenced as well.
SEVEN SAMURAI is a masterpiece, and perhaps my favorite. Filled with great themes, especially the amusing mambo music for Mifune. The track called "Interlude" (in other words, the intermission music) is just gorgeous, and actually serves a greater function than just filling time - it foreshadows the tragedy of the second half of the film.
I also love that warm little theme for DODES'KADEN, which seems so contrary to the subject matter, yet fits perfectly.
And lest we forget HIDDEN FORTRESS, with that thundering main theme...
If pressed, I'd say SEVEN SAMURAI, but almost all of Kurosawa's films have memorable, effective scores. The Bolero in RASHOMON, RAN, THRONE OF BLOOD, RED BEARD, HIGH AND LOW... the list goes on.
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Posted: |
Apr 13, 2010 - 12:12 AM
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By: |
Josh
(Member)
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For me, High and Low - just brilliant, and my favorite Kurosawa film by far.
Hey, haineshisway, "High And Low" is my favorite Kurosawa film as well;
Nevertheless, I am impressed the most by Sato's score for "Throne Of Blood".
All others considered, that MGM LP of Sato's "Yojimbo" is quite a treasure, isn't it?
Coincidentally, I listened to Satoh's "Throne of Blood" on the way to work this morning. The sky was blanketed by dark clouds and it was lightly sprinkling, while a thick layer of mist hugged the mountains. It was an extraordinary commute.
Seeing "High and Low" for the first time was probably the most intense filmgoing experience I've ever had. It's an absolute masterpiece, with an unforgettable (as usual) performance by Toshiro Mifune. It's been awhile, so I'll give the score another listen tomorrow. I seem to recall there being some great jazz in there.
As for my favorite score from a Kurosawa film...I...haven't decided yet.
NP: The Hidden Fortress (1958) ~ Masaru Satoh
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If pressed, I'd have to say that The Seven Samurai and Rashomon were my favorites…
…but I am hard-pressed to think of a Kurosawa film that doesn't use music — and silence — beautifully.
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Just a thought, we should post where to find these albums today, if any of them can still be found.
It's hard for me to rate them because they all serve a purpose very well within the film but are very different listen on album, some of which aren't even available.
Fumio Hayasaka
DRUNKEN ANGEL - moody and noirish
RASHOMON - tense, mysterious and mystical
IKIRU - in the film the music is quite uplifting and surprisingly not very dated
SEVEN SAMURAI - thrilling action music, great dramatic main theme and nice comedic music
Masaru Sato
THRONE OF BLOOD - not necessarily great music on its own, but with the connection to the film it's very atmospheric and moody and always brings me back to the film's key moments
THE HIDDEN FORTRESS - action-packed goodness
YOJIMBO - great percussion, replete with the ever-trendy 1960s harpsichord (never been my favorite), and the closest we'll get to a Japanese composer scoring a western
SANJURO - way more wacky that Yojimbo and not as accessible
RED BEARD - very accessible score, probably one of the most Western for a Kurosawa film
Shin'ichiro Ikebe
KAGEMUSHA - not the most captivating music, but the opening and closing fanfares are great and the stuff for the dream sequence is really cool
Toru Takemitsu
RAN - haunting, heavy melodrama (a little too heavy for me to enjoy outside the film)
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Posted: |
Aug 10, 2021 - 7:32 AM
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By: |
Ostinato
(Member)
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High and Low is a favourite, so many interesting contrasts in that one.
Yeah, that's certainly another one I enjoy. The score is quite sparse though, even more so since five cues (M-3 Source-3, M-4 T-2, M-5 Source-1, M-7 T-4, and M-10 Source-5) were left unused. However, two of those cues (M-4 T-2 and M-7 T-4) were replaced with edits of cue M-2 Source-6.
"High and Low" was also the first score for a Kurosawa film that was recorded in stereo. Like with some of Toho's other scores from that time ("Mothra", "The Last War", "King Kong vs. Godzilla", "Gorath", "Red Beard", etc), Sato's score was simultaneously recorded in both mono and stereo. The mono recordings were recorded onto two sets of 6mm magnetic tape, while the stereo recordings were recorded onto Cinetape (magnetic film). "Red Beard" would be the next score for a Kurosawa film to be recorded in this manner.
All others considered, that MGM LP of Sato's "Yojimbo" is quite a treasure, isn't it?
Still waiting for that one, or is that under a golf course somewhere?
If the LP was produced using the original recordings, then the LP program can be easily replicated.
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