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This is a comments thread about FSM CD: The Prodigal
 
 Posted:   Nov 18, 2010 - 1:25 PM   
 By:   Sir David of Garland   (Member)

The most valuable part of this disc, to me, is the non-spectacle music, written for the scenes not asking for the whole orchestra and chorus.

Kaper could write beautiful intimate music and there is plenty of it here.

 
 Posted:   Oct 28, 2011 - 7:18 PM   
 By:   Grecchus   (Member)

Thankyou Dave. I've been doing a little bit of hopping around lately, only to find you've been one step ahead. Not fair wink

This one's coming directly from the UK, so should not have long to wait.

 
 Posted:   Oct 29, 2011 - 12:54 PM   
 By:   Scott H.   (Member)

What a lovely cover too!

1400 x 1400 version:

http://www.albumartexchange.com/covers.php?id=205031&q=the+prodigal

all sizes:

http://www.albumartexchange.com/covers.php?sort=4&q=the+prodigal+kaper&fltr=1&bgc=&page=

 
 
 Posted:   Oct 29, 2011 - 7:47 PM   
 By:   dan the man   (Member)

A lovely score.

 
 Posted:   May 2, 2012 - 5:50 PM   
 By:   Sir David of Garland   (Member)

The most valuable part of this disc, to me, is the non-spectacle music, written for the scenes not asking for the whole orchestra and chorus.

Kaper could write beautiful intimate music and there is plenty of it here.


I'm revising my opinion! After hearing this cd again, the spectacle music really has its own style, different from the historical/biblical sounds I'm used to, and is unique for it.

 
 
 Posted:   May 2, 2012 - 6:27 PM   
 By:   filmo   (Member)

it has a wonderful piece with cello for the main theme, plus terrific dance sequences. a great score all around.

 
 
 Posted:   May 2, 2012 - 8:32 PM   
 By:   Robert0320   (Member)

For a non-Rozsa biblical type epic, not too shabby. Kaper could do nearly everything.

 
 Posted:   May 4, 2012 - 1:50 PM   
 By:   Grecchus   (Member)

Having just seen the film for the first time from a TCM video recording in 4:3, I think I can safely say the music is the best thing about it. Once upon a time that aspect would have been strictly incidental (seen and not heard roll eyes ). I thought the way the statue toppled at the end was very well done (a bit like a rocket launching, but completely in reverse - if you've seen the film you'll know what I mean.) The liner notes are very informative, even going so far as to give acting plaudits on behalf of Purdom's fake beard!

My absolute favourite tracks are the last two - the celebration followed by end credits. I've become very fond of that delightfully playful tune Kaper wrote, however, the segue to the vocalists at the end is a breathtaking affair.

 
 Posted:   Dec 19, 2019 - 7:17 PM   
 By:   Sir David of Garland   (Member)

Finally, I will watch this film, on dvd, over Christmas.

I'm looking forward to the music, and wondering if I'll be able to get through watching LT "do her stuff" for what will probably be a long running time.

 
 
 Posted:   Dec 19, 2019 - 7:40 PM   
 By:   .   (Member)

Such an unfortunate name for a star of epic movies, "Edmund Purdom".
Imagine if he'd had a heroic name like "Butch Cutlass" or "Cliff Boulder" or some such.
But his name even looked puny in the cast of The Student Prince when "Mario Lanza" was the real singer and Edmund just mimed. I mean, someone with a star-like name "Mario Lanza" replaced by someone called... "Edmund Purdom"? A bit like comparing a name like "Ben-Hur" with "Bill Hoggins".
I quite liked Edmund Purdom, particularly in The Egyptian, (and I was a regular watcher of his TV series "The Sword of Freedom") but that name must have been a curse.
"Kirk Douglas".
"Charlton Heston"
"Victor Mature"
"Tyrone Power"
and.. "Edmund Purdom"???? Something doesn't sound right.
A bit like expecting a name like Gertie Crump to compete on equal terms with names like Marilyn Monroe or Bette Davis or Brigitte Bardot.

 
 
 Posted:   Dec 19, 2019 - 9:31 PM   
 By:   ZardozSpeaks   (Member)


A bit like expecting a name like Gertie Crump to compete on equal terms with names like Marilyn Monroe or Bette Davis or Brigitte Bardot.


I expect a name such as 'Chastity Puritan' better reflects the #MeToo movement than 'Lana Turner'.

 
 
 Posted:   Dec 19, 2019 - 9:45 PM   
 By:   .   (Member)

Incredible! Having joked about how he'd have been better off with a name I totally made up like "Butch Cutlass"... I googled his name and it actually is... Edmund Cutlar Purdom. Had no idea. He really could have called himself Butch Cutlass, or at least Butch Cutlar.

 
 Posted:   Dec 19, 2019 - 10:15 PM   
 By:   Zoragoth   (Member)


I quite liked Edmund Purdom, particularly in The Egyptian, (and I was a regular watcher of his TV series "The Sword of Freedom") but that name must have been a curse.


I liked Purdom in THE EGYPTIAN too. By contrast, THE PRODIGAL's embarrassing script did him no favors. My favorite Purdom performance is as THE KING'S THIEF, where he cuts quite a dashing figure.

 
 
 Posted:   Dec 19, 2019 - 10:27 PM   
 By:   .   (Member)

My favorite Purdom performance is as THE KING'S THIEF, where he cuts quite a dashing figure.


Yes, he was much more of a Stewart Granger kind of unbelievable hero rather than a natural swashbuckler like Errol Flynn. But I must admit I enjoyed the work of all three of them.
I can imagine Purdom playing almost any of Granger's roles, including Scaramouche, though I can't imagine him capable of playing any of Errol Flynn's.
Thinking about it, it's almost as if Stewart Granger and Edmund Purdom had the same drama teacher. Both seem to me entirely interchangeable, role-wise. Granger would have been just as good in The Egyptian and Purdom would have been a fine substitute in almost any role of Granger's I can think of.

I saw The King's Thief but I need to see it again to recall the qualities of his performance. I love the score.

 
 
 Posted:   Dec 20, 2019 - 7:21 PM   
 By:   Vulcanian   (Member)

Such an unfortunate name for a star of epic movies, "Edmund Purdom".
Imagine if he'd had a heroic name like "Butch Cutlass" or "Cliff Boulder" or some such.
But his name even looked puny in the cast of The Student Prince when "Mario Lanza" was the real singer and Edmund just mimed. I mean, someone with a star-like name "Mario Lanza" replaced by someone called... "Edmund Purdom"? A bit like comparing a name like "Ben-Hur" with "Bill Hoggins".
I quite liked Edmund Purdom, particularly in The Egyptian, (and I was a regular watcher of his TV series "The Sword of Freedom") but that name must have been a curse.
"Kirk Douglas".
"Charlton Heston"
"Victor Mature"
"Tyrone Power"
and.. "Edmund Purdom"???? Something doesn't sound right.
A bit like expecting a name like Gertie Crump to compete on equal terms with names like Marilyn Monroe or Bette Davis or Brigitte Bardot.


Purdom was one of a number of British actors, such as Leo Genn, Kenneth More and Michael Rennie, who specialized in playing calm, rational men. Indeed, being actors of notably limited range (something that's fine for character actors, which is what most of them were), that's all they really could play. While there are always parts for that kind of actor, there was little or no fire in their personalities or performances, and little in them to really excite audiences.

Remember that the original casting for "The Egyptian's Sinuhe was the notably fiery Marlon Brando, who walked off the film after a few table-readings of the script. When those things happen, a studio usually went back to the list of actors it originally compiled before the formal casting process began. It's difficult to understand, then, how they ended up with Purdom, who must've been far from the top of that list, unless many of Hollywood's most sought-after leading men were put off by Brando's rejection of the part and script.

American studios imported a lot of British talent, then often was at a loss as to what to do with them. Actors like Kieron Moore and David Farrar, leading men in the British film industry, were often cast as villains.

There were a few British actors who did did excite American moviegoers -- the aforementioned Granger, Richard Burton and James Mason -- specifically because they could straddle the hero-villain line and bring a tinge of heroism to villainy, or a touch of the sinister to heroism. They became big stars on this side of the Atlantic, and we remember them well and fondly because of it.

 
 Posted:   Dec 21, 2019 - 4:53 AM   
 By:   Jim Phelps   (Member)

Vulcanian...Avie?

 
 
 Posted:   Dec 21, 2019 - 5:31 AM   
 By:   .   (Member)

When those things happen, a studio usually went back to the list of actors it originally compiled before the formal casting process began. It's difficult to understand, then, how they ended up with Purdom, who must've been far from the top of that list, unless many of Hollywood's most sought-after leading men were put off by Brando's rejection of the part and script.




According to Wikipedia, Purdom was chosen over John Derek, John Cassavetes and Cameron Mitchell to replace Brando.

 
 
 Posted:   Dec 22, 2019 - 2:47 AM   
 By:   pp312   (Member)

According to Wikipedia, Purdom was chosen over John Derek, John Cassavetes and Cameron Mitchell to replace Brando.

John Derek? You've got to be kidding!

Cameron Mitchell? You've got to be kidding!

John Cassavetes? Yes, you definitely are kidding!

 
 Posted:   Dec 26, 2019 - 7:16 PM   
 By:   Sir David of Garland   (Member)

20 minutes in. Turner already making me snooze.

 
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