MovieMusic.com Message Boards: Lalo Schifrin scores

Message Boards

Movie Soundtracks

Lalo Schifrin scores

Archive of old forum. No more postings.

Please visit our new forum, The MovieMusic Lobby, to post new topics.

Author	Topic: Lalo Schifrin scores

Chase&August unregistered	Sitting here listening to BULLITT (and having watched THE DEAD POOL last night on video), I've been wondering about Schifrin's scores. All the ones I've heard tend to sound like they were performed by a small jazz band rather than an orchestra: the bass quitars, the drums, the brass section. Has he ever composed a completely orchestral score? np BULLITT ("Shifting Gears") [This message has been edited by Chase&August (edited 17 May 2000).]
posted 05-17-2000 02:28 PM PT (US)

JJH Oscar® Winner	hmm, you might try some of his stuff on the Tango soundtrack CD. I need to give that one another listen though.
posted 05-17-2000 03:08 PM PT (US)

Jack Oscar® Winner	You might try his web site www.schifrin.com , for a listing of what he has done. His Rush Hour score is great. Always thought it was funny that his Mannix theme was in waltz time.
posted 05-17-2000 04:11 PM PT (US)

Boris Oscar® Winner	Schifrin composed a stunning orchestral score for "The Four Musketeers" back in 1974 (or thereabouts). Michel Legrand's music for "The Three Musketeers" was also wonderful. Schifrin's score for "THX-1138" was orchestral, and also excellent.
posted 05-17-2000 04:52 PM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	Orchestral? I thought it was synthesized. Well, I've only seen the movie once, quite a while ago. The score fitted very well, at least I can remember that. NP: Rambo - First Blood Part II
posted 05-17-2000 04:55 PM PT (US)

Luscious Lazlo Oscar® Winner	Schifrin wrote a meisterwerk called ROCK REQUIEM. But it hasn't been transferred to CD, which is a criminal injustice. The title is partially a misnomer. ROCK REQUIEM is not exclusively rock music. One of my favorite tracks is a bossa-nova tune. There is brilliantly modernistic choral writing on this record. I was lucky enough to hear it at a college record library.
posted 05-17-2000 06:00 PM PT (US)

JJH Oscar® Winner	I believe Alfred Schnittke's REQUIEM actually breaks into rock music for a while. Never heard te piece itself, but some people I know that had a tape were just flabbergasted by the drums. BTW -- If you ever get to see Mr Schifrin live in conert, I do suggest you go. It's thrilling! [This message has been edited by JJH (edited 17 May 2000).]
posted 05-17-2000 06:52 PM PT (US)

H Rocco Oscar® Winner	Schifrin composed Oscar-nominated orchestral scores to THE AMITYVILLE HORROR, THE FOX, and VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED. He also did a VERY impressive job with the first AMITYVILLE sequel -- he was unable to use his original material for copyright reasons (different production company here), but used the same orchestral/choral setup, so it sounded the same without BEING the same. Two other horror projects, THE EXORCIST (rejected) and THE MANITOU, were also symphonic in the sense that I think you might mean it. There is also his score for the TV miniseries A.D., which I think Prometheus issued on CD. (Hmm, AD on CD.) NP: various bits I downloaded from the DECONSTRUCTING GOLDSMITH site (my RealPlayer turned its back on me some weeks ago, and only just got around to reinstalling it -- I had to take all the existing RP files out of the machine before it would agree to update it, very strange.)
posted 05-17-2000 07:17 PM PT (US)

Boris Oscar® Winner	It's my experience, Mr. Rocco sir, that you have to be awfully mean to a RealPlayer before it will turn it's back on you. What did you do to the poor thing?
posted 05-17-2000 07:27 PM PT (US)

Chase&August unregistered	Thanks for all the info, guys. Wasn't there a story awhile back that a lot of people thought Schifrin was dead until he turned up and was doing the score for RUSH HOUR? I thought I read that somewhere. Anyway, thanks again!
posted 05-17-2000 07:44 PM PT (US)

Shaun Rutherford Oscar® Winner	I'm going to back JJ up somewhat on his Tango statement. Although the majority of Schifin's cues are tangos, there is one cue (which I just remembered was on there!) that features full symphony orchestra and chorus. It must be heard to be seen, or seen to be heard.....er.......heard to be fathomed. Anyway, it's brilliant! I bought the disc for the first cue (and its reprise), which is a keeper. Please, folks.....if you find this used, BUY IT. If not just for one of the best tango pieces in ages, but for one of the best orchestral/choral assaults in recent memory. I'm babbling, but hey----it's Schifrin. He's so good, I'm virtually speechless. Shaun NP----Gladiator (yes, Gladiator)
posted 05-17-2000 07:47 PM PT (US)

Marcelo Ferreyra Oscar® Winner	My prefered score by schifrin so far is "THE EAGLE HAS LANDED" A war movie about the Churchill assassination plot by Hitler. It's an orchestral score close to the Ron Goodwin writing, but with some bizzarre sounds added "A La Morricone" But I didn't hear Voyage of the dammed, and the critics says that is one of the best.
posted 05-17-2000 09:01 PM PT (US)

joan hue Oscar® Winner	I don't think it would be a surprise to anyone that one of my favorite scores by Lalo is Cool Hand Luke. Soft, twangy guitars most of the time, but in a few places, especially at the end, he uses more orchestra. I wouldn't call this a jazz score. Quite melodic in places and often melancholy. I like western themes. Anyone ever hear his score to The Master Gunfighter? Any good? I can't find this video. NP Galaxy Quest
posted 05-17-2000 09:26 PM PT (US)

H Rocco Oscar® Winner	Boris (welcome aboard, sir) -- the weirdest thing happened with the RealPlayer. The technology updated itself, and would no longer play my excerpts. And then when I attempted to update, it would go through the motions of doing so, but then wouldn't work, still. I finally decided that ditching all the original RP files might trick the program into thinking I'd never had one, and voila! it worked. Except with a couple of cues. I haven't figured it out completely yet. Oh, a harsh mistress is our RealPlayer 7. NP: zip. Time to sign off.
posted 05-17-2000 10:22 PM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by Boris: It's my experience, Mr. Rocco sir, that you have to be awfully mean to a RealPlayer before it will turn it's back on you. What did you do to the poor thing? It's my experience that RealPlayer is so awfully mean, it would be best to turn your back at it. Some time ago, my RP started to display a new icon, and pointing at it revealed that I'm now enabled to view the new "Bikini Photos" or something like that for free. Clicking at it further revealed that I can view them for free if I upgrade to RealPlayer Plus for don't-know-how-much money. Also, at least earlier versions transmitted user data to Real's server. When I set up my firewall, the first program that ran into it was RP. Welcome aboard! [This message has been edited by Marian Schedenig (edited 18 May 2000).]
posted 05-18-2000 11:51 AM PT (US)

S Smith unregistered	I spent big bucks (by CD standards) on a Japanese import of Schifrin's music for a flick called "Rollercoaster." Anybody ever see it. It's not a particularly long recording, nor is the music anything truly stellar. However, me and my brother used to watch that movie all the time when we first got cable, so it has more of a sentimental value for me. If you're not familiar with it, it's mostly a lot of carnival-type music, with a couple of "dramatic" cues thrown in. Nicely done, and a lot of fun.
posted 05-18-2000 11:31 PM PT (US)

Chase&August unregistered	I've heard the name before. Is that the one where George Segal is trying to stop some psychotic who's planted a bomb on a rollercoaster? Is the bomb supposed to detonate if the coaster stops, a la SPEED? Also features a very young Helen Hunt, right?
posted 05-19-2000 01:36 AM PT (US)

Lou Goldberg Oscar® Winner	There are a number of Schifrin scores that are purely orchestral but Boris is right to suggest The Four Musketeers--it's just a masterpiece. Aleph records is due out with a re-record of The Fox and if it comes close to the original it will be well worth getting as well. NP: King Kong (John Barry) Thanks EP!
posted 05-19-2000 02:28 AM PT (US)

S Smith unregistered	Um...yes on the George Segal trying to stop the rollercoaster bomber, and I think it was Helen Hunt that played his daughter. However the bombs were remotely detonated - not as high tech as the bombs in "Speed."
posted 05-19-2000 03:24 PM PT (US)

Norman McCay Oscar® Winner	This may seem somewhat off-topic, but why doesn't Schifrin compose for current Mission: Impossible film series? Given the fact that he composed the theme.... But I guess that would also mean that John Barry (and some say Monty Norman, but that's another controversy for another time) should have composed all of the James Bonds. I am just curious as to why composers like Schifrin and Barry (and numerous others, Williams, Elfman, etc.) don't compose for the movies they wrote the themes for anymore? [This message has been edited by Norman McCay (edited 22 May 2000).]
posted 05-22-2000 09:59 AM PT (US)

H Rocco Oscar® Winner	I don't know what it is about Schifrin, but until recently, he hasn't had a broad range of assignments. RUSH HOUR could have turned that around, if he really cared. I remember reading, a dozen years ago or more, that Schifrin was more interested in pursuing a conducting career. Even so, though, he was reduced to garbage like the SECOND, syndicated version of MISSION IMPOSSIBLE that ran for a little while. I think he only did RUSH HOUR and TANGO because he was asked to, and perhaps was flattered to be asked. In the past ten years, he's only done about a dozen pictures and TV projects, after all. As with Leonard Rosenman, for example, when you choose to work so seldom, people tend to forget you're around. As for Schifrin doing the IMPOSSIBLE movies, I'm sure they never considered him. The fact that Silvestri's score was thrown out of the first one already shows that they weren't sure what they wanted. (Frankly, they may not have even been sure Schifrin was still alive. Brutal, but possible.)
posted 05-22-2000 12:53 PM PT (US)

Stefan Oscar® Nominee	In my vinyl collection I found a Schifrin score called "NUNZIO" from 1978. It's a sensitive and dramatic orchestral score, with good ol' Mike Lang doing the piano solos. I bought it 10 years ago for 50 cents, but "discovered" it just recently. It has two ultracool disco versions of the themes. I love this score! NP: Dragnet (Ira Newborn)
posted 05-22-2000 02:14 PM PT (US)

S Smith unregistered	I ran across a used CD yesterday. The cover says "Lalo Schifrin presents his film score to: Something to Believe In." I don't know if it's some sort of composer promo or something, but it was only five bucks, so I picked it up. Very interesting. I've never even HEARD of the movie, but the score is quite good. The second track is a 40 minute long piano concerto composed by Schifrin. It seems like it was orginally composed independent of film, but used in the movie. The whole thing is excellent. Very symphonic; very orchestral. And they got Placido Domingo singing the theme song. NP: Dave Grusin: "The Goonies"
posted 05-30-2000 11:11 PM PT (US)

Swashbuckler Oscar® Winner	Schfrin's score for Caveman was also orchestral. Smith, that's a release on Schifrin's new Aleph label, from which an expanded Bullitt has been announced (yes!). I love what Schifrin's been putting out on Aleph, but I have to say that the art direction is awful on these albums.
posted 05-31-2000 01:07 PM PT (US)

JJH Oscar® Winner	Caveman? The movie you're referring to is the one with Ringo Starr? I LOVE that movie! Never noticed the score though. One of these days I'll have to se it again. Ahhh, fond memories: kaka doo-doo shi*t <-- my favorite smilie
posted 05-31-2000 02:39 PM PT (US)

Swashbuckler Oscar® Winner	Yes, Caveman starred Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach. The music is a hoot. [This message has been edited by Swashbuckler (edited 31 May 2000).]
posted 05-31-2000 07:25 PM PT (US)

S Smith unregistered	You're right Swashbuckler. The art on it is horrible. Thanks for the info about Schifrin's new label. I'll have to keep an eye out for more. It seems like the only place you can find any of is stuff is on $25 Japanese import. NP: Carter Burwell: "Conspiracy Theory"
posted 05-31-2000 11:36 PM PT (US)

dantoris Oscar® Winner	You wonder if Dennis Quaid looks back at that film and goes, "I can't believe I made that." And I wonder how Bill Pullman feels about Spaceballs. Not that it's a bad film, I'm just saying. Personally, I like 'em both, but you know how actors can be about their earlier films once they've become pretty well-established.
posted 05-31-2000 11:40 PM PT (US)

Hard Target Oscar® Winner	Lalo is one of finest composers around and deserves more work than he's getting. You guys should listen to his Jazz Meets the Symphony collection. It's wonderful. I remember Caveman, I love watching that movie while I was little, it's a hoot. Where's the score to this movie? I wonder how expanded is the upcoming Bullitt re-recording because the album is only 32 minutes and less than half ended up in the film. It's a terrific score and I'm looking forward to both The Fox and Bullitt. Does anyone have The Competition or The Exorcist rejected score. I'd love to have those.
posted 06-01-2000 08:58 PM PT (US)

Old Infopop Software by UBB