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Author	Topic: NIXON & CIVIL ACTION

lind Oscar® Nominee	Ķ saw the trailer for Nixon and A Civil Action the other day, and I noticed that both trailers are using the same background music. Can anyone tell me where the music/theme is from?
posted 05-25-2000 11:27 AM PT (US)

Rang Oscar® Winner	Some of the music in the trailer for A CIVIL ACTION and NIXON is from Williams' "The 1960's: The Turbulent Years," from NIXON. I think Williams wrote that piece specifically for the trailer to NIXON, though it doesn't make an appearance in the film (it's on the NIXON soundtrack, though).
posted 05-25-2000 03:39 PM PT (US)

H Rocco Oscar® Winner	Actually, it DOES appear in NIXON the film, during one of the picture's oddball montages. NIXON is a surprisingly bold and thrilling score, given the subject. A CIVIL ACTION's score is nearly the polar opposite, more of a spare, Thomas Newmanish type of thing, but compelling in its own way. I'm happy to have 'em both. (I know this was about the trailers, but these are two scores that don't get praised enough for my liking.)
posted 05-25-2000 03:53 PM PT (US)

Rang Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by H Rocco: Actually, it DOES appear in NIXON the film, during one of the picture's oddball montages. Are you talking about track 1 on the CD? If so, I'll conceed that, Mr. Rocco. The only time I remember it in the film (which, though I've tried, I simply can't stand - actually, I don't really remember caring for Williams' score in the film, but it makes an excellent impression on the album; go figure) is when Williams would incorporate the theme into his underscore, such as during the Miami convention sequence, and a few others. And I'll join you in your praise of both NIXON and Elfman's A CIVIL ACTION (which I don't currently own on CD, but it remains on my list; very nice in the film from what I remember). [This message has been edited by Rang (edited 25 May 2000).]
posted 05-25-2000 07:04 PM PT (US)

JJH Oscar® Winner	I bought Elfman's A Civil Action long before I had a chance to see the film. I really like the CD. It's just that when I finally saw the film, I could have sworn I heard way less score than was on the CD. I just didn't notice it in the film that much. NP -- Othello, Charlie Mole<-- Now THIS is an underrated score!
posted 05-25-2000 09:10 PM PT (US)

pietari Oscar® Winner	I think Williams used the “Turbulent Years“theme only a couple of times in the film, most notably in a scene dealing with Vietnam that included some shots out of a helicopter (quite vague, I know, but really haven“t bothered to watch the film in years) JJH, Othello is indeed a seriously underrated score, that melody in the burial scene is excellent! NP-Flatliners/Falling Down */*** (some bits of the first one sound quite similar to Edward Scissorhands!)
posted 05-26-2000 12:46 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	Anybody here managed to view the CD-ROM track on a Windows system? I said this several times before - I could read it on my Amiga, but it was too slow to play the videos. And I've never been able to even FIND that data track on any "PC". I really would like to see it.
posted 05-26-2000 03:26 PM PT (US)

H Rocco Oscar® Winner	I've thought, off and on, about trying to play the NIXON disc on the IMac. Ought to give it a try one of these days. NP: "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher," to be succeeded by "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" -- ANDY'S LEAVING TONIGHT! waaaahhh ... commonly I stay out later than this on a Friday night, but I HAD to see this.
posted 05-26-2000 09:23 PM PT (US)

JJH Oscar® Winner	Marian, I have run the ECD features before. There is a very interesting snippet with John Williams discussing the score. other sections are vaguely interesting. At least it's a lot better than the First Contact ECD.
posted 05-26-2000 10:37 PM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	I just had an idea: Why not try the Nixon disc in my DVD-ROM drive? And it works! I'll watch it right now! First Contact? Ha! Watched it once. Thinking about it, they had short quite interesting interviews with both Goldsmiths. Maybe not so bad after all. Unfortunately, my CD-ROM drive had problems with some of the videos. I'll try that on in the DVD drive, too. NP: Symphony #10 (Dmitri Shostakovich; Berliner Philharmoniker/Karajan) Well, not for long - have to see that Nixon stuff!
posted 05-27-2000 07:50 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	Really interesting. Williams raves about how fantastic those enhanced CDs are for composers because they allow the composer to talk about his music and give background information etc. Considering that this was before the birth of DVDs, I really wonder why there hasn't been a Williams isolated score and/or commentary track on DVD so far, except for 1941. He also talks briefly about re-sequencing some score for CD releases. I also watched the Goldsmith cues on the First Contact CD again. Not that bad after all. And what's interesting: Jerry clearly says that once the music is composed and in the film, it shouldn't be judged or rated anymore. So why does he still release those short albums?? If anybody is interested and has the required bandwith (or money and patience ), I could upload the 50 MB of Williams interview on my web page. Just tell me if you're interested.
posted 05-27-2000 08:35 AM PT (US)

Rang Oscar® Winner	Marian, I might... I'll get back to you later on it.
posted 05-27-2000 11:20 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	Okay, just e-mail me if you want it. NP: Boris Godunov (Mussorgsky) - Everybody, CHECK THIS OUT!
posted 05-27-2000 03:46 PM PT (US)

Scott Oscar® Winner	While I don't own Civil Action,(hasn't made it to the top of my list yet), I do have Nixon. I love this score. It is lyrical and atonal all at once. Defenetly a great, complicated score (iho). Scott Now if I could only find the time to watch the movie...
posted 05-28-2000 01:46 PM PT (US)

Thor Oscar® Winner	Well, my CD-ROM player STILL won't read the interactive material on that NIXON disc. I remember playing it perfectly a couple of years ago, but now it is as if it is only able to read the audio - it goes straight to the CD player. No trace of the ROM material in the explorer either. Damnit! Seeing as you succeeded, though, Marian, it is obviously MY computer there is something wrong with, and not the CD itself.
posted 06-06-2000 07:04 AM PT (US)

Scott Oscar® Winner	Thor, perhaps not. The same thing happened to me. Tonight I will try to play the ROM part again on my new computer. If it won't play then again, then I know it's the cd itself and not the Cd-ROM or the computer. I'll keep you posted. Scott NP: The Well-tempered Clavier Part II, Vol. 1 by Johann Sebastian Bach
posted 06-06-2000 07:15 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	It very probably IS a CD error. Being from 1995, I guess there wasn't yet a real standard for Enhanced CDs, or the producers didn't stay completely true to it. I've tried the CD on a number of CD-ROM drives and 3 different burners, and neither of them would play it. I'm still glad that my DVD-ROM drive CAN read it. And I hereby simply repeat my offer to put the files on my website, if anyone wants them and has no problem with downloading approximately 50 MB. NP: Looking for Richard (Shore)
posted 06-06-2000 08:11 AM PT (US)

JJH Oscar® Winner	if only I had a cable modem.... Marian, what's the CD info on that Looking for Richard CD? I tried to find it online and was snubbed. NP -- Take a Hard Ride
posted 06-06-2000 08:43 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	Err... I have to admit that I didn't quite get what exactly you want to know?
posted 06-06-2000 09:18 AM PT (US)

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