Well, it's definitely not one of my favorites. It's almost unbearable to me sometimes. Where does it rate for you?
Here is probably the best sampling of Maestro Goldsmith's DO NOT FOLD, SPINDLE, OR MUTILATE (1971) TV-Movie Score extracted from the film by youtube's always wonderful and amazing film music extractor extraordinaire FISH MAN!
Not for me zoob. Not while scores like S*P*Y*S and Criminal Law and Fierce Creatures exist. I actually think parts of DNFSOM are great. I love that early 70s Escape From The POTA sound/style. Dig it baby
I haven't seen that TV movie in decades, but I'd vote for S*P*Y*S as his worst. I enjoy listening to it on that Varese set, but in context it's pretty miserable. I've long meant to buy the UK DVD, which I believe has the original John Scott score.
And please note that Jerry Goldsmith is probably my favorite creator in any medium (though the incomparable genius of Stephen Sondheim gives him a run for his money).
As a die-hard Jerry fan who hasn't heard this, I was ready to be on the offense but...this is definitely unusual. Creative and fun for sure! But yeah I'm not sure how much I could tolerate this in a longer form.
Still, though, I'd listen to this over RUNAWAY any day
Well, I knew that this had a bad reputation, but I've just heard it and I thought it was absolutely great. I can hear some of the composer's most freeform experimental work in there, especially A STEP OUT OF LINE (one of his masterpieces). And the groovy bass line in some sequences...a bit of ESCAPE FROM THE POTA, as Kev mentioned. Some quasi-baroque SEBASTIAN, a touch of Burt Bacharach... The only thing that was a trifle annoying was the kind of goofy whooping effect in what I imagine to be the End Titles.
I can think of a few dozen (more famous) Goldsmith scores that aren't half as interesting as this.
Not for me zoob. Not while scores like S*P*Y*S and Criminal Law and Fierce Creatures exist. I actually think parts of DNFSOM are great. I love that early 70s Escape From The POTA sound/style. Dig it baby
What's wrong with his score for "Fierce Creatures"? That score is pure confection!
There is only one Jerry Goldsmith score I don't really like, where I can't really get it. I've listened to it exactly once in my life and that's it. So far, I cannot even muster the courage to give it at least a second chance. That score is ANGIE. Of all the Jerry Goldsmith scores I know, that is the one I really, really cringe about. Maybe it's good in the movie, maybe I'm even wrong about it and it's good on its own, but I disliked it so much that one time I heard it, I find it hard to get myself to listen to it again. All his other scores I enjoy greatly.
DNFSOM is the best score ever written for a group of dotty old ladies who create a fake dating profile and attract the attention of a serial killer. You wanted PATTON? :-)
PS. Angie is great - and one that Goldsmith poured his heart into.
What's wrong with his score for "Fierce Creatures"? That score is pure confection!
Yes, FIERCE CREATURES is wonderful.
Indeed. And I have a sneaking fondness for S*P*Y*S. Maybe, I need to hear the whole thing, but from this suite, it seems to be riffing in a void. Even S*P*Y*S had some thematic continuity.
Well, it's definitely not one of my favorites. It's almost unbearable to me sometimes. Where does it rate for you?
I'd say it's definitely in my Goldsmith Bottom 5. The Fishman suite you posted is actually the highlights of the score, such as they are. I found the rest of the score even less interesting, frankly. It's a curiosity, unique in sound (for the most part) among Goldsmith's output, but there just isn't any interesting thematic development to speak of, for me to latch on to. If your thing is more improvised-sounding nonmelodic unpleasant jazz, I guess this is right up your alley. Anyone who says this is better than S*P*Y*S, Angie, or even Runaway or Criminal Law...I dare you to watch the entire movie and tell me you still feel that way after hearing the full score. (You really like THIS better than Fierce Creatures, Kev? I'm shocked! I love Escape from the Planet of the Apes and Crosscurrent; I love Jerry's 70s "mod" sound in scores like Pursuit, Shamus, and The Last Run...but this I mostly find excruciating. BTW I also find A Step Out of Line to be pretty brilliant Graham, unlike this.)
I'd buy it if it were ever released on CD of course, but frankly it's one of my least-wanted unreleased Goldsmith scores. Crawlspace was another TV movie within a year of this one which received an absolutely inspired score.
Indeed. And I have a sneaking fondness for S*P*Y*S. Maybe, I need to hear the whole thing, but from this suite, it seems to be riffing in a void. Even S*P*Y*S had some thematic continuity.
"Riffing in a void" is a good description, and maybe even what Jerry was going for, in terms of representing the serial killer in this. I find S*P*Y*S an absolute delight to listen to. If this were released, I would buy it, listen to it once (while no doubt enjoying the liner notes more than my ears are enjoying the music), and then put it away never to be played again.
Not for me zoob. Not while scores like S*P*Y*S and Criminal Law and Fierce Creatures exist. I actually think parts of DNFSOM are great. I love that early 70s Escape From The POTA sound/style. Dig it baby
Fierce Creatures?! Are you out of your mind??
That's a wonderful, delightful score from Goldsmith.
For me, Goldsmith's S*P*Y*S commits the cardinal sin of a film score, in that it actually makes the movie worse (and it's a pretty terrible movie to begin with).
To all the FIERCE CREATURES fans out there...My Apologies. To me, it's just a collection of bland, muzak style cues that don't even feel like film score tracks to me. There's a lack of emotional and dramatic heft that just loses my interest every time. But it seems to have some Fierce Fans, so that's cool
(You really like THIS better than Fierce Creatures, Kev? I'm shocked! I love Escape from the Planet of the Apes and Crosscurrent; I love Jerry's 70s "mod" sound in scores like Pursuit, Shamus, and The Last Run...but this I mostly find excruciating. BTW I also find A Step Out of Line to be pretty brilliant Graham, unlike this.)
