Movie/TV/Game Scores Through The Ages - Alan's Personal Favourites

That's a good idea, Erik. Tom's Best 100 Scores of All Time was an interesting read.

Oooh! A "Top 50 Herrmann scores" would make an interesting topic!

I might just think about that one, Tom.

How many scores did Herrmann end up doing.
Thomas

1952 - Ivanhoe - Miklos Rozsa

Themes, themes and more themes! Listening to this again I'm reminded of how many wonderful themes are contained in this excellent score. There's an element of bombast in the score but it's the more subdued scoring in the earlier part of the score that's what stands out.

For ages I was content with the Rhino Handmade original tracks release. But recently I've been listening to the Intrada re-recording and Rozsa's score just shines under the baton of Broughton.

1952 is a year full of worthy scores but it's Rozsa's character study (rather than out-and-out Hollywood "historical" epic-ness) that lingers in the memory.

Exactly! The latter part I can hardly get through (from "The Battlement" and onwards on the Broughton recording, which is the only one I own), but the first part is really wonderful. I had contemplated putting this on my upcoming sales list, but then I listened to it again and found out that I wanted to keep it just for that first part.

I'm not sure I would have picked that as the score of 1952, as I have insufficient knowledge of what other scores came out that year, but it's not a bad choice.

HIGH NOON may have been picked in terms of historical significance (being the first film in the West to truly profit of a main title song in a synergy effect), but then again, this is more about personal favourites, so anything goes.

Above and Beyond is also a staple for me in my collection but I don't think a lot of people have it.
Thomas

Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture
WINNER
Lili: Bronislau Kaper
NOMINEES
Above and Beyond: Hugo Friedhofer
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From Here to Eternity: Morris Stoloff, George Duning
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Julius Caesar: Miklós Rózsa
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This Is Cinerama: Louis Forbes

actually above and beyond is in this year

It is a bit confusing I agree

BTW, sorry about the delay on the next year's selection: the number of titles I need to check on is steadily growing and there's an increasing number of good scores per year. Which can make final selection (if there's a few titles close to one another) difficult.

1953 - The Robe - Alfred Newman

Over the years there's been many a film set during biblical times, and I suppose that the composer most associated with this type of film is Miklos Rozsa - who's likely to feature again later in this list at least once with films scores from this genre.

I really enjoy this effort from Alfred Newman both for it's "biblical epic style" (e.g., the "Prelude", which includes the required choir and lush strings) and the variety within the score that singles it out from the aforementioned biblical epic sound. There's the required brass fanfares dotted throughout the score - I especially like the toe-tapping "Caligula's Arrival" - as well. There's the required pain and struggle in cues such as "The Carriage of The Cross" (with what sounds like some sort of electronic drone). And the piano ostinato heard in "The Chase" is a very bold step when heard in amongst the rest of the score.

But the aspect of this score that raises it above the rest this year is the beautiful theme that's first heard in "The Slave Market" and is heard again throughout the score (as heard in "Capri" with those lush strings, it frequently brings tears to my eyes.)

A great score that benefits from the 2-CD representation on the Varese Deluxe Edition.

Oh, and Beneath The 12-Mile Reef is good, too.

I would say that there are definite similarities of The Robe with the titles you mention - when the religious sound is heard. And, personally, I think that the 1953 score is just as good as The Greatest Story Ever Told.

But, as I mention, The Robe isn't just about the religious sound. There's a lot of other styles mixed into the score that in a way just accentuates the religious aspect of the score. From what I remember of the movie, it's not really about what happens to Jesus. That's more of a backdrop to the main story.

The clips to this 1 disc re-recording(?) does give a sense of The Robe.

I do love Above and Beyond and I admit to being partial to Friedhofer.
Thomas

I can't argue with his choice nor can anyone argue with mine.
Thomas