I mean, I think Steiner was indisputably an excellent composer, and certainly a major contributor in elevating the artform greatly.
The above statement is accurate. Okay, so he wasn't the very first film composer for talkies. He certainly elevated film music to a fine art and composed some epic scores. Also, his music evolved over the decades. King Kong does not sound like A Summer Place. The theme from A Summer Place is still played on radio stations.
He certainly helped lay a foundation for future film scores.
Very good doc, highest rec for those of us pining for "the good old days " in lieu of the 'drums of doom' that saturate everything.
A bit disheartening to see Zimmer collect the Steiner award at the end...but led me to think....
What if Zimmer put his effing guitars and drums of doom away, and took a crack at a Steiner styled score?
Tommy Newman did and (IMO) it was successful! (THE GOOD GERMAN).
I would be first in line to see if HZ could pull it off. And I'm sure Steiner could have pulled off a Zimmer school piece if he was around long enough for this era....
In the doc, there are several scenes where Steiner is conducting in a large scoring stage with a distinctive patterned wall. I cannot quite identify it (probably because it's long gone). Does anyone know which stage that is?
In the doc, there are several scenes where Steiner is conducting in a large scoring stage with a distinctive patterned wall. I cannot quite identify it (probably because it's long gone). Does anyone know which stage that is?
I'm not a big personal fan of Steiner (I have a few of his scores, though), but as always interested in film music history and the position he holds in it (which is overrated, as Yavar points to, but it's still there). So I would definitely be interested in watching this at some point. Do not have access to TCM or HBO, but maybe it becomes available on other platforms down the line?
[Edit: I just now saw the link to the Canadian site linked above...will watch at a later date]
I'm not a big personal fan of Steiner (I have a few of his scores, though), but as always interested in film music history and the position he holds in it (which is overrated, as Yavar points to, but it's still there). So I would definitely be interested in watching this at some point. Do not have access to TCM or HBO, but maybe it becomes available on other platforms down the line?
[Edit: I just now saw the link to the Canadian site linked above...will watch at a later date]
I am not a big fan either but the documentary is very good. DVR-ing it now. Seeing Michael Feinstein at the piano playing GWTW themes, a CD of Steiner’s music on piano would sound wonderful. The “as God is my witness” is one of the most powerful fusions of film and music in cinema history.
I just finished watching this film. A fascinating account of the history of film music. Having read through this thread, and noting the comments that Steiner wasn't the first composer to write for films, etc., one salient point stood out. Steiner was largely responsible for establishing the "grammar" of film scoring. His contributions were as much technical as musical. For this he deserves special recognition.
I'm not a big personal fan of Steiner (I have a few of his scores, though), but as always interested in film music history and the position he holds in it (which is overrated, as Yavar points to, but it's still there). So I would definitely be interested in watching this at some point. Do not have access to TCM or HBO, but maybe it becomes available on other platforms down the line?
[Edit: I just now saw the link to the Canadian site linked above...will watch at a later date]
Good. But don't wait, see it now. RIGHT NOW. Take on all commentators starting with Steven C. Smith. Hell, take the board challenge and elaborate on the "overrated" position he holds in film music history both before and then immediately after seeing it. If you still feel he's overrated after all that why stop there--go for the non-gold, indulge yourself and put thy mouth where the money ain't--
