I was not acquainted with DUEL AT DIABLO before purchasing the FSM MGM TREASURY box. Now I am, and i am glad!
For a 1965 film, it is surprisingly modern. I wonder if either the producers or composer had screened A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, which had not yet been released in the US/UK. The level of violence and the more realistic - and cynical- portrait of the Old West suggest so.
Neal Hefti's score is excellent. It is filled with electric bass, electric guitar and a percussion and has a FISTFUL feel.
Whatever the influences, it is worth checking out! bruce
addendum: Scores from the MGM box that have serperate cd cases in my collection: DUEL AT DIABLO CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE THE FUGITIVE KIND BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN
It's funny this would pop up on the same page as the Tiomkin one about being identifiable. Whether he worked for Woody Herman, Count Basie on "Cute" or a whole Sinatra album Hefti had his own sound. So when he got into TV and film he absolutely stood out. His most famous piece BATMAN sounded nothing like Mancini or Rugolo or anything that came before. And his film work, whether it was THE ODD COUPLE, SYNANON, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, DUEL AT DIABLO, HOW TO MURDER YOUR WIFE or his last WON TON TON, were a category unto themselves. I still remember him singing "Fraulein D'kup" on his BOEING BOEING album. As a teenage boy I was delighted but today I'm not sure how it would be taken.
I really enjoy Hefti's theme for Duel at Diablo. It's "Sixtiesness" reminds me of Goldsmith's pop arrangement of Hour of the Gun. I'd like to make a compilation of 1960s western main titles with that aforementioned pop-style flavor.
I really enjoy Hefti's theme for Duel at Diablo. It's "Sixtiesness" reminds me of Goldsmith's pop arrangement of Hour of the Gun. I'd like to make a compilation of 1960s western main titles with that aforementioned pop-style flavor.
dont use any morricone in your compilation, jimbo - remember it doesnt count. its official.
