mid-'50s (& pre-Oscar Award) Malcolm A.'s British scores I find quite interesting, like the Asian-flavored diaster movie score The Night My Number Came Up.
Folks who complain that Arnold too-frequently recycled motifs from his stock box of tricks should observe (& absorb) his sassy music for Joseph Losey's The Sleeping Tiger.
Arnold also scored an early Hammer film called Four-Sided Triangle as well as the 1st cinematic version of Orwell's 1984.
Yep, I love those St Trinian's scores (that piano sound is great, it's like they found that piano in an old pub). His music for war films is great, but he did use the same themes for all his war films (& got away with it). I really should try out his symphonies & suites. For UK fans, there's a program on Radio 3 this evening 6.45-7.30. "Malcolm Arnold, The Tortured Composer" (Simon Heffer journeys through the symphonic landscape of Malcolm Arnold & unearths a troubles world).
This is Arnold's fantastic title music from the 1956 version of 1984
For some reason when I saw "Malcolm Arnold", I read "William Alwyn" whose only score I recall much of is Master of Ballantrae. As far as the real Malcolm Arnold, I'm only acquainted with Roots of Heaven, but I do like his concert works.
And there's "Africa - Texas Style!" which features a disguised version of Max Steiner's opening motif from "King Kong" which segues into a quasi jazz rendition of "Deep In The Heart of Texas" over the opening credits.
