King Solomon's Mines

Jerry Goldsmith

 
" Jerry doing Indy while not aping Johnny "

Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the expanded release

Often forgotten because of the success of Indiana Jones, King Solomon's Mines was not the best movie Jerry Goldsmith composed music for. But it created an opportunity to write some adventurous music if Indiana Jones wasn't written by John Williams. The movie itself stars wannabe "I'm also heroic when I have a whip in my hands" Richard Chamberlain as the hero and Sharon Stone as the love interest and beauty queen. Jerry Goldsmith, known for scoring the bad B-movie adaptation of the winning blockbuster made it his business to deliver something far more memorable.

Like the score for Supergirl (written the year before), King Solomon's Mines delivers you a striking main theme from the beginning. This heard for the first time after the Poltergeist opening in "Main Title / King Solomon's Mines". That incredibly catchy ditty gets a reprisal in the exciting "No Sale". Making it the first time I'll say that this is music you just don't hear anymore today.

In "Have a Cigar" the waltz of Straus is inserted, this to the amusement of many fans considering it states the character of Herbert Lom. Luckily besides villains, there's also room for romance. And it is amazing how such a soft sweet theme can work alongside such a bold main theme in "Good Morning".

The main theme returns in "Under the Train" and the exciting "Dancing Shots". Their build up in suspense is what Goldsmith could do like no other. However if one talks about the brilliance of Goldsmith in action mode, one must not look further than "Forced Flight". This is a brilliant example of 3 themes working all as one, layered around a building suspense formula. The drums pound, the brass states the Nazi motif, the main theme and the love theme all between one another. Ladies and Gentleman, this is what filmmusic is all about.

The spinning delight and the softness of "Pot Luck", the charm and sweetness of "Upside Down People", the violence and threat of "The Crocodiles" and the monstrous sound of the drowning suspense in "The Ritual: Low Bridge" amongst many things, Goldsmith keeps his music interesting and exciting as ever throughout the entire score. In "No Diamonds / End Title" the final statement of the love theme as the exiting main theme is heard.

Considering this is the Prometheus release we're talking about, it holds two new things. First of all a couple of bonus tracks (including the Wagner performance). Secondly the correct speed of the recording. This results that all the tracks last 10 seconds longer. But the listening experience is more or less the same as the Intrada release. So I don't know if you really must buy the Prometheus release, considering I don't hear the bloody difference. Yet I know without a doubt that you surely must buy A release of King Solomon's Mines. Because plain and simple, it is music you just don't hear anymore today. Did I say that already?

Tracklisting

1. Main Title / King Solomon's Mines (3.39) Excellent track
2. Welcoming Committee (0.53)
3. No Sale (3.38) Excellent track
4. The Mummy (1.15)
5. Have A Cigar (3.25)
6. Good Morning (2.32)
7. Under The Train (3.08)
8. Dancing Shots (3.38) Excellent track
9. Pain (3.07)
10. Forced Flight (5.24) Excellent track
11. The Chieftain (1.01)
12. Pot Luck (3.23)
13. Upside Down People (5.04)
14. The Crocodiles (3.08)
15. The Mines (1.25)
16. The Ritual: Low Bridge (9.34)
17. Falling Rocks (4.19)
18. No Diamonds / End Title (4.21) Excellent track

Bonus Tracks
19. Jerry's Ride (3.06)
20. Drims & Chants (0.40)
21. Pre-Ritual (0.12)
22. Theme from King Solomon's Mines (3.40)

Total Length: 71.33
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(total of 37 votes - average 4.47/5)

Released by

Prometheus PCD 161 (expanded release 2006)

Conducted by

Jerry Goldsmith

Orchestrations by

Arthur Morton

Performed by

The Hungarian State Opera Orchestra