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I love Under the Volcano, with its Day of the Dead main title, but I'm good with A Passage to India for two reasons:
1) a great score
2) Jarre's acceptance speech (in a year that Amadeus was sweeping the oscars, Jarre said something like "I'm glad Mozart wasn't eligible this year."
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As soon as I heard the blandness of Jarre's effort for "Passage to India," I knew it was going to win the Oscar, and I dreaded every second up until the moment it inevitably happened. It was not deserved, but its connection to David Lean's final film gave it the perceived gravitas that's like catnip to Academy voters. (For the record, his contribution to "Top Secret" that same year was superior.)
Under the Volcano? Nah. No way. North deserved Oscars, but not for that.
Temple of Doom was big and noisy in all the best ways. But despite boasting a scene with a literal beating heart, the score itself lacked heart. Still, a great listen if you want to get your pulse pounding. (Adding: His loss in 1981 to Vangelis was infuriating. Raiders was the indisputable best score in every way that year. The way Williams landed beats to match the action was insane...beyond genius level.)
I have a real soft spot for "The River," and I think it's one of Williams' most under-appreciated scores. It's full of heart. The "Ancestral Home" cut alone is classic lump-in-the-throat stuff, and the entire effort is classic Williams Americana. Someone has GOT to get this released on CD.
But Randy Newman ultimately gets my vote. The Natural (minus the cheesy synthesized version of the main theme---not used in the film---which inexplicably shared a Grammy with Williams' Olympic Theme that year) out-Americana'd Williams. It supported that lovely film beautifully and for my money is the most enjoyable of the nominees to listen to from start to finish. I consider it Newman's finest score. He nailed it.
Really robbed that year: Elmer Bernstein, whose classic "Ghostbusters" score should've been on the list in place of North's. That movie does not exist without Elmer's contribution.
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I have to agree with Bill. THE NATURAL is an all-time classic. TEMPLE OF DOOM also wonderful.
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"a passage to india" is a very overrated score; to me a score without soul or the the spirit of india.
i would have gone for "once upon a time in america" ;-)) or "indiana jones" !
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Temple of Doom was big and noisy in all the best ways. But despite boasting a scene with a literal beating heart, the score itself lacked heart. Still, a great listen if you want to get your pulse pounding. (Adding: His loss in 1981 to Vangelis was infuriating. Raiders was the indisputable best score in every way that year. The way Williams landed beats to match the action was insane...beyond genius level.)
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Agreed about Raiders--it's a masterpiece and I think the academy knew that so they nominated TOD to make up for it--very rare for sequel scores to win. TOD is top-drawer fun-mode Williams but it's by no means better than Raiders, which as stated, is technically amazing and a melodic tour-de-force in all the best ways.
As for the other choices, if I was alive back then, I would have:
1. hoped for TOD
2. Been happy with The Natural
3. Expected Passage to India
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