MovieMusic.com Message Boards: So whats CLEOPATRA really like?

Message Boards

Movie Soundtracks

So whats CLEOPATRA really like?

Archive of old forum. No more postings.

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

Author	Topic: So whats CLEOPATRA really like?

TimT Oscar® Winner	Now I haven't heard Cleoptra nor even seen the movie. But for a person like me, who loves scores such as Merlin, On the Beach, Instinct, Anthony & Cleopatra, and Far from Home. And a person who generally does not fall for overly-hyped or highly anticipated scores just by word of mouth, such as Star Wars or Total Recall, usually buying the smaller and obscure releases instead. Would this type of person like something like Cleoptra?
posted 03-20-2001 11:42 AM PT (US)

jonathan_little Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by TimT: Now I haven't heard Cleoptra nor even seen the movie. But for a person like me, who loves scores such as Merlin, On the Beach, Instinct, Anthony & Cleopatra, and Far from Home. And a person who generally does not fall for overly-hyped or highly anticipated scores just by word of mouth, such as Star Wars or Total Recall, usually buying the smaller and obscure releases instead. Would this type of person like something like Cleoptra? ... I'm waiting for sound clips ...
posted 03-20-2001 11:54 AM PT (US)

TimT Oscar® Winner	Me too.
posted 03-20-2001 12:14 PM PT (US)

Jeron Oscar® Winner	I haven't heard the score either, guys... but come on, it's Alex North. It's gotta be good. Besides, if Peter Kelly, Stephen Lister, Shaun Rutherford, H Rocco, etc. hype it up, it's just about a sure thing. Of course, I guess it helps if you like the same things those guys like. [Message edited by Jeron on 03-20-2001]
posted 03-20-2001 12:35 PM PT (US)

TimT Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally Posted by Jeron Its Alex North..thats all you need to know! Well I have to know a little more than that, since the man's name hasn't done a thing for me. [Message edited by TimT on 03-20-2001]
posted 03-20-2001 12:40 PM PT (US)

Jeron Oscar® Winner	LOL, good point Tim. Check out Spartacus and the rerecorded (rejected) score for Kubrick's 2001 on Varese. I'm sure others will have suggestions as well. Didn't North also do "Viva Zapata!" and "A Streetcar Named Desire" ? "Streetcar" is great... and I've heard "Zapata" is good, too... Good luck! Hope you find something you like. [Message edited by Jeron on 03-20-2001]
posted 03-20-2001 01:38 PM PT (US)

John C Winfrey Oscar® Winner	Well, let me see: there are two love themes, marches, battle music, and many variations off the love themes and my favorite cue is "Grant me an honorable death" and with all the new cues on the 2CD set this will be really good.\ The "grant me" cue is spectacular. There are lots of soft cues low in sound based on the two love themes. But if you like North you will like the 2CD set. Best, John.
posted 03-20-2001 02:21 PM PT (US)

wistiti Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by TimT: But for a person like me, who loves scores such as Merlin, On the Beach, Instinct, Anthony & Cleopatra, and Far from Home. You might like it. However, since you mention Antony and Cleopatra, I will assume it is the John Scott version. To compare it to Cleopatra I would have to say that Scott's music is much more melodical, and easily accessible than North's Cleopatra. Orchestrally, it seems to me, Cleopatra is bigger, and louder. (At least in the movie.) Cleopatra is as far away from John Scott, Michael J. Lewis and Lee Holdridge as you can get. There are a few themes, but I don't find any of them very appealing. Too stereotypical. And not... "pastoral" enough. Nothing to do with The Egyptian, Ben Hur or The Greatest Story Ever Told (just to remain in the same romans-and-egyptians arena). I really suggests listening to it before buying it.
posted 03-20-2001 02:36 PM PT (US)

John C Winfrey Oscar® Winner	Some of the themes are pretty good but in the North style, similar in fashion to many of his '50s themes in the personal type of pictures that he liked so much, not as much in the epic vein as the post above says so well. John.
posted 03-20-2001 04:09 PM PT (US)

Wedge Oscar® Winner	Hell, there's just something about such a fabled, lovingly-restored epic deluxe-edition deal that makes me wanna rush out and buy it. Same deal with Rhino's upcoming "4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse" release. Call it a fetish if you will. I own "Spartacus," "2001," "Streetcar" and an old LP of "Cleopatra." They don't get much playtime, but that's not a reflection on the quality of the work, just the fact that I'm rarely in the mood for Alex North's challenging brand of epic.
posted 03-20-2001 04:43 PM PT (US)

John C Winfrey Oscar® Winner	I own all those too, but the Spartacus I have has practically none of the best music. All the best cues aren't on that old LP/CD as you well know. Spartacus is one of my all-time favorite scores, but I don't listen to that old CD or LP much. If I had all the other music I would though. I really like lots of the Roman legion cues and the music near the end of the film, great stuff. Also, the battle pieces just after the march on the final battle scene, where the legions are manuvering in the final battle. Also, many other cues not on the LP/crummy CD. The overture, intermission piece and all the cues I mentioned above are all better than what is on the LP/CD. Best, John.
posted 03-20-2001 04:50 PM PT (US)

TimT Oscar® Winner	Ah'uh , and hows the sound quality of the Cleopatra score?
posted 03-20-2001 05:18 PM PT (US)

JJH Oscar® Winner	I would refer you to the Henry V thread and my exposition of certain attitudinal states of being regarding some scores. Cleopatra falls into this. If no other reason, than it's ALEX NORTH. North is more of an acquired taste than even Morricone, but if you stick with it you hear a musical genius at work! a man who knew how music worked. Incidentally, Mr Winfrey, my favorite of the Spartacus score is the theme that plays just at the beginng of the film, after the overture and main titles, as the narrator speaks. good stuff! getting Cleopatra tomorrow! can't wait for internet! My hunger for this music knows no satiety! BTW -- Jeron left ME of all people out his list of North admirers. A score of his that DESPERATELY needs re-mastering is The Shoes of the Fisherman, part of which is derived from his 2001 score. And if you want ethnic North music, grab the LP to A Dream of Kings. Heavy on the Greek music. NP -- Gormenghast, RR Bennett.
posted 03-20-2001 08:51 PM PT (US)

Jeron Oscar® Winner	Oh, and I forgot Tim! JJ is a big North admirer as well!
posted 03-20-2001 09:48 PM PT (US)

TimT Oscar® Winner	Non Biased opinions only please! Look here http://www.moviemusic.com/mb/Forum2/HTML/000224.html [Message edited by TimT on 03-20-2001]
posted 03-20-2001 10:30 PM PT (US)

JJH Oscar® Winner	how is it biased to state that North was a musical bad-ass?
posted 03-20-2001 11:07 PM PT (US)

Lou Goldberg Oscar® Winner	Depending on what track you play, Cleo can be more eerie and modern than Spartacus. But it still goes for an overblown epic sound, especially in cues like Cleo's Entry into Rome. [Cleo's original appearance in ancient Rome probably invented paparazzi and makes the Jennifer Lopez dress or Madonna in undies at Cannes look like mice in comparison. But then, one of the Roman historians complained about Cleo's tastelessness and how her parties kept him up at night.] I don't play it as often as Spartacus though.
posted 03-21-2001 12:11 AM PT (US)

John C Winfrey Oscar® Winner	Yes, JJH, that cue at the beginning of Spartacus is very good also. I remember that one too. Its similiar to some of the music in parts of Agony and Ecstacy, another great score. Call me John.
posted 03-21-2001 05:27 AM PT (US)

Mark Olivarez Oscar® Winner	Indeed Alex North is an acquired taste but Cleopatra is great!!!!! I got my copy yesterday and haven't quit listening to it.
posted 03-21-2001 09:43 AM PT (US)

John Maher Oscar® Winner	I like a lot of North music. My favorite score, however, is "Rich Man Poor Man".
posted 03-21-2001 03:55 PM PT (US)

Old Infopop Software by UBB