I remember seeing Modesty Blaise strips in the AGENT X-9 comic book series I read infrequently as a kid, but I tended to skip her stories and go straight to the male ones, as I didn't really connect with female comic book heroes at the time.
John Dankworth's theme to the movie--instrumentally--is one of the catchiest tunes of the 60s. And that's saying something.
I'm not so taken - my film review from 20 Sep: ... And John Dankworth's music score - loved by many - is so irritating and monotonous that you cringe each time the silly little tune re-appears (frequently!) ...
Barry? Undeniably. Does no one hear a little Herrmann undercurrent in the last half at least? And there's something about the string (harp?) seconds at the end that remind me of something. YES! Shore's LotR... either the elves stuff or maybe the ring.. Rivendell I think.
This guy knows what he's doing.
Just tried the Dankworth theme in various versions on YT. Never heard anything I really like of his unfortunately. Have had the Fontana single of his The Avengers since I was about 6 years old (60 next March), and already got annoyed it wasn't the Laurie Johnson one we all know and love (I was given it at an age before I was old enough to watch the Honor Blackman series). Dankworth just doesn't have the melodic gift I like in so many other composers.
Yes, the music does sound lush, I have both BBC radio productions of Modesty Blaise recorded & on my iPod, I really must listen to them. As far as I can see, the John Dankworth score to the sixties film as never had a proper CD release. It was released on CD by Harkit Records, but wasn't that a dodgy outfit that released LP rips? It was originally released on 20th Century Fox Records, so UMG should own it now (unless the tapes are missing), it does sound bloody awful on youtube.
Dankworth recorded a nice version on his Movies 'n' Me album.
Also, so did the National Youth Jazz Orchestra on their Jazz In Film album, which also features music by Schifrin, Quincy Jones, Shire, J Williams, Bernstein, Mancini, and Silvestri. A very nice album.
