Author
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Topic: The French Connection
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logied
OscarŽ Winner
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I still haunt the e-bay vinyl section on a
regular basis and have noticed that french lps really hold there value well. Does anyone know why? French scores seem to do very well and are bought from both sides of the ocean. I would think that a place like e-bay has made available a market not there before to a very limited market to begin with. How about the quality of the lp?
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posted 07-09-2000 04:46 AM PT (US) ip
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Graham Watt
OscarŽ Winner
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logied, I clicked on here all ready to tell you how I agree with you about the great score Don Ellis did for The French Connection!But now all I can say is I like Michel Legrand?
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posted 07-09-2000 01:42 PM PT (US) ip
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Shaun Rutherford
OscarŽ Winner
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If you guys are into Don Ellis' score for The French Connection, go buy his newly reissued Electric Bath album, which features Michael Lang (sound familiar?) on keys and excellent use of the echoplex. Great stuff! And the trumpet! There are no words to describe Ellis' incredible trumpet skills. I'm not in the mood to make sense right now, but I just wanted to throw the Electric Bath plug out there.Shaun
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posted 07-09-2000 02:30 PM PT (US) ip
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gabby CHANEL
OscarŽ Nominee
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I have been voyeuring in on your discussions and have seen no other French
here.
So, I think it necessary before I begin to explain for you national
character of French people. Especially Parisiennes.
I know as a rule my countrymen are thought the world over to be Brusque.
Snobby.
Arrogant.
And, Stubbornly Believing We Know Better Than Anyone.
I freely admit, this reputation is no stereotype. It is Bullseye.
And, I am no exception to it.
On other hand, our virtues include honesty, confidence, courage and
liveliness charm.
Perhaps you will find I embody those traits as well.
Also, you may think French have strange habit of doing things <backwards>.
For example:
You English-languagers like to start off being so nice and polite to each
other. And then reluctantly falling into your squabbles like foolish, scared
children. Then going away disillusioned and Full of disappointment with each
other.
This makes no sense to French.
We prefer to waste no time picking our enjoyable fights. Then laughing,
making up and kissing only afterwards.
In other words, <Business Before Pleasure>.
(That should make it understandable even to pragmatic American minds, yes?)
Now that I have made myself clear. I will begin by saying how disgusted I am
with all of you provincial <Anglocentrics>. You blithely chatter on as
though French cinema music does not exist. I wait many weeks for someone to
post some additional talk even on this <French Connection> topic. Which is
not Even about French music. And what result? Nothing.
Perhaps you regard your Jerry Goldsmith and Jean Williams as the <Coca-Cola>
and <Disneyland> of cinema composition. And that you need partake of nothing
else?
Typical Bourgeois Imperialism.
I suppose only French film music you ever heard is Lai's <Un Homme et Une
Femme>? No! Much more to French music than this!
What of Delerue's end theme to Truffaut's <Last Metro>?
Or Vladimir Cosma's music for the Pagnol stories <My Father's Glory> and <My
Mother's Castle>?
What of Michel Legrand's in Agnes Varda's 1962 <Cleo From 5 to 7>?
What of great work by Antoine Duhamel in so many Godard films such as
<Pierrot le Fou>?
What of Dominique Dalcan score for <Ma Vie En Rose>?
What of Laurent Petitgand score for Wim Wenders documentary <Notebook On
Cities and Clothes>?
What of Michael Nyman music for <Monsieur Hire>?
And most offensively, what of newly-restored Luc Besson's <Big Blue>,
rereleased with original Eric Serra score instead of awful Bill Conti score
outrageously put in its place before? I have American <penpal> so I know
this film has been rereleased over there. So, No Excuses!
So now it is your turn, to respond to my accusations, using all the facts,
erudition and insouciance at your disposal. But I warn you: Do not try to
placate me prematurely! For if you do I will know you do not take me
seriously. And after such a grave insult I will never speak to you again.
Here is what I am NP: Depeche Mode, <Dressed In Black>
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posted 08-15-2000 04:10 AM PT (US) ip
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JJH
OscarŽ Winner
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is someone talking ?I can't hear through all that French arrogance clogging my ears.
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posted 08-15-2000 04:49 AM PT (US) ip
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Greg Bryant
OscarŽ Winner
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quote:
If you guys are into Don Ellis' score for The French Connection, go buy his newly reissued Electric Bath album, which features Michael Lang (sound familiar?) on keys and excellent use of the echoplex. Great stuff! And the trumpet! There are no words to describe Ellis' incredible trumpet skills. I'm not in the mood to make sense right now, but I just wanted to throw the Electric Bath plug out there.
I have been an off-again/on-again fan of Don Ellis for many years. I remember the story that the doctor told him to give up trumpet playing or he would have more heart attacks. Ellis obvioulsy never gave up the trumpet, passing away in the late 70's at an early age. His trumpet playing skills were remarkable. He had a trumpet designed and built that had a fourth valve, giving him the ability to create quarter-tones (I never knew until years later exactly what quarter-tones are). Also he rigged some sort of contraption to his mouthpiece to amplify it, allowing him to make all those wierd sounds with it. Wasn't as big a fan of the albums he did that on as his other. Just a little too wierd, and not quite jazz as I've come to prefer it. I've always enjoyed Ellis' first track off the Electric Bath album. Also there's a 10 minute piece on his Live at Montreaux that really cooks, too. If you find the LP Connection, it does have a piece of music that Ellis composed for The French Connection. I would really like to see an album of all the music Ellis composed for Connection, though I don't think he did an awful lot of music for that film. [This message has been edited by Greg Bryant (edited 15 August 2000).]
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posted 08-15-2000 07:53 AM PT (US) ip
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Shaun Rutherford
OscarŽ Winner
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Hey Greg!
Thanks for posting! I was bugging FSM to do a triple-bill CD of The French Connection scores, plus The Seven-Ups, as they're all Fox films and all scored by Don Ellis, but the scores would probably be deemed to "minimal" to warrant a CD release.Shaun
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posted 08-15-2000 02:29 PM PT (US) ip
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Widescreen
OscarŽ Winner
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Gabby,In reading this you may find I'm a typical bourgeois imperialist- which is far from the truth. I'm a humanist- and don't even think about condescending me or humanist values. We'll keep that for another thread and stay on topic. Suffice it to say that great music has always allowed it's way to every shore- that variety has been an integral part of American culture. There are discerning tastes you are dismissing that have even expressed their views- French music, according to you, is lost on American's when that couldn't be further from the truth. We don't think "La Vie En Rose" is the only music we've heard from your country- I'm a big fan of Eric Serra's work, especially the Fifth Element, and looking forward to La Femme Nikita. Charles Trenet is to French Music what Tony Bennett is to us. And if you have to ask who Tony Bennett is, then you're just as ignorant as you think we are. Have a look at the soundtrack for a flattering little american made movie about your countrymen called "French Kiss", which features the great Jean Reno. The soundtrack itself features a collage of international artists for a tapestry humor and charm. We could go on and on about your EuroPop scene, your classical composers, your movies from Trauffaut and Besson, and of course, many others- but perhaps you could take a moment to reflect your arrogant presumption. It's nice to see someone honest and uprfont about it though. I'm not such an Americentric person that I think your rude, but claiming right on acting rude is like saying it's okay to be a jerk and not think you won't get your comeuppance. Now that the statements are made, keep in mind- argue well, and not to your idiosyncratic routine. Otherwise, we might have to get mideval on you.
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posted 08-15-2000 02:36 PM PT (US) ip
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logied
OscarŽ Winner
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As interesting as I have found the replies
to this thread, not one addresses my original
question, why do French Lps hold their value
so well? Anyone?
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posted 08-17-2000 05:32 PM PT (US) ip
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gabby CHANEL
OscarŽ Nominee
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I Must Say I am disappointed. But not surprised.
Only <Widescreen> bothers to respond. And his response is semi-literate at
best!
And Still, I wait for <medieval comeuppance> of which he speaks. So far
there has been none!
Of course I know Tony Bennett! He was great favorite of my
great-grand-mother!
Only good thing about <French Kiss> is Reno, who makes even garbage like
<The Visitors> palatable. Also Newton Howard score, featuring Jean <Toots>
Theilemans harmonica skill!
You think <French Kiss> is flattering to French? On contrary, it is
Predictable! Even worse, Condescending! Movies like this Prove, Americans
are culturally intimidated by French and will kiss our derričres rather than
risk offending us! Which, as i said, is worst offense of all.
I am afraid I see too little hope for stimulating conversation here. I must
continue my search for sophisticated cinema music salon. Goodbye forever! I
reject you all!
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posted 08-31-2000 10:29 AM PT (US) ip
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Camillu
OscarŽ Winner
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quote:
Originally posted by Widescreen:
Gabby,
Otherwise, we might have to get mideval on you.
LOL. Not sure if you adapted this from the film or made it up yourself, but that line delivered by Ving Rhames (slightly altered) was one of the many dialogue highlights of Pulp Fiction. Now back to the French discussion. I have never visited France, and my only ill feelings for the French are due to the fact that they beat Italy in the final of Euro 2000. NP - Cliffhanger - Jones
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posted 08-31-2000 10:54 AM PT (US) ip
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PeterK
FishChip
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I never thought I'd see this kind of discussion when I started this place. Serves me right to think I'd never see something like this. I'd better just be prepared for everything.That said, wow Gabby. Trying clearing your mind of prejudices one day and see how the world looks then! I certainly don't think a person like Francois Truffaut held the same world view you do. If he did, I wouldn't have mentioned his name just now. Finally, I really don't like the "I don't find stimulating conversation here. I will look elsewhere!" excuse. It's up to YOU to contribute what you feel is stimulating conversation. If YOU didn't find any, it means YOU didn't contribute any. Which ultimately means YOU have no excuse for not liking the place! Voila! err.. Touché! PeterK
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posted 08-31-2000 10:54 AM PT (US) ip
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Camillu
OscarŽ Winner
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quote:
Originally posted by gabby CHANEL:
I am afraid I see too little hope for stimulating conversation here. I must
continue my search for sophisticated cinema music salon. Goodbye forever! I
reject you all!
I know we're supposed to get along and all that, and that the board depends on its members etc., but if you think that line is going to have any of us clutching at our hair in desperation, you're errrm, well, like, wrong. Not that you're reading this but anyway... NP - Forget Paris
(just kidding - does this have a score release?) [This message has been edited by Camillu (edited 31 August 2000).]
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posted 08-31-2000 03:08 PM PT (US) ip
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Lou Goldberg
OscarŽ Winner
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My guess is that Gabby Chanel was a second identity for someone who comes here often (Jean Williams my eye).But just in case she actually was a real French person---I have to say that French cinema and French film music are wonderful, second only to Hollywood and England. Film Composers: JAUBERT! Kosma, Auric, Van Parys, Honneger, Prodromides, Constantin, Fusco, DELERUE, SARDE, Lai, Legrand, DUHAMEL, Cosma, YARED, Berger, Misraki, Jensen, Petit, Senia, etc. Film Directors: GANCE! RENOIR! VIGO! CARNE! Feyder, COCTEAU! CLEMENT! Malreaux, PAGNOL! BRESSON! Gremillion, Christian-Jacques, Claude Autant-Lara, BECKER! CLOUZOT! MELVILLE! Kaplan, Varda, Demy, Rivette, Chabrol, Vadim, RESNAIS! GODARD!!! TRUFFAUT! EUSTACHE! DOILLON! Berri, Tavernier, Blier, Denis, Kurys, Carax, Techine, etc.
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posted 08-31-2000 09:17 PM PT (US) ip
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sean
OscarŽ Winner
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Gabby, you can't read Widescreen's reponse??? He put it very plainly and literatelly, one of the best I've seen on this board. Man O Man.NP: not a Gawd damn thang
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posted 09-01-2000 11:24 AM PT (US) ip
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Lou Goldberg
OscarŽ Winner
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To answer Logied, I think there was a time in the creation of LPs and LP reissues where both Japanese and French vinyl were produced with some quality. I remember comparing the French LP of Providence to the one made in the US and after 3 plays the US had already started to get surface noise and pops.NP: JAWS--original tracks (Jean Williams)
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posted 09-02-2000 01:12 AM PT (US) ip
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