The night before, CLASH OF THE TITANS was screened. In a display case in the the theater's forecourt was an advance one-sheet poster from the film, which differed from the regular posters issued at the time of CLASH's relase in one significant detail:

It read "Music by John Barry."

Now, as we all know, Laurence Rosenthal actually wrote the music for the film -- a score that compares favorably with, say, Franz Waxman's wonderful PRINCE VALIANT score. What I'd like to know is whether anyone out there has any details of how Barry's announced involvement gave way to Rosenthal's.

As a fellow collector of one-sheets, sometimes an advance poster can have a different title as in REVENGE OF THE JEDI, which was pulled when Lucas heeded complaints from fans and renamed the film RETURN OF THE JEDI.

Hearing John Barry's name to that film is strange. In a way, it would have been a stretch for him, considering that this would have been his first fantasy film, but I have no further info to add.

The other composers to contribute to the films of Ray Harryhausen include Roy Budd for SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER and Laurence Rosenthal scored CLASH OF THE TITANS. A score was originally composed by John Barry and Rosenthal's score replaced the Barry score.

And this from a "Film Score Daily" column over on the FSM website from about a year ago:

Hearing John Barry's name to that film is strange. In a way, it would have been a stretch for him, considering that this would have been his first fantasy film, but I have no further info to add.

[/B][/QUOTE]

This film wouldn't have been a 'stretch' for Barry at all, He was more than capable of writing a score for this type of film (check out King Kong, White Buffalo!), in fact Barry is probably closer to Herrmann than most film composers in style, massive french horns and stuff...he'd have hit this one running!

p.s. As far as I know, Barry wrote NO music for this film!

Many of my friends, who are stop-motion animators, also attended Ray's Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony and the film screenings at the American Cinematheque. It sounds like it was a wonderful ceremony.

As for John Barry's involvement in "Clash of the Titans," let me pull out my February 1999 issue of Cinefantastique, an issue entirely devoted to the art of stop-motion with an exceptional article on Harryhausen's career, which will answer your question.

"Early posters announced that John Barry was to the score the film (Clash). Enthused Charles Schneer, "He's hard at work and has been inspired by the picture as he's seen it. We hope to hear from him in about two months."

"(From Harryhausen) John Barry was going to do it, but that never matured. The advertising got out before the deal was consummated."

So Barry attended a screening and very much wanted to score it, but it just never reached fruition, for whatever reason. I do enjoy Rosenthal's score, but I would love to hear what John Barry would have done.

Best Regards,
Dylan

quote:

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Originally posted by Timmer:

Hearing John Barry's name to that film is strange. In a way, it would have been a stretch for him, considering that this would have been his first fantasy film, but I have no further info to add.

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This film wouldn't have been a 'stretch' for Barry at all, He was more than capable of writing a score for this type of film (check out King Kong, White Buffalo!), in fact Barry is probably closer to Herrmann than most film composers in style, massive french horns and stuff...he'd have hit this one running!

p.s. As far as I know, Barry wrote NO music for this film!

[/B][/QUOTE]

Timmer,

I admire John Barry's skills as the next person of my generation, but I did not care for his KING KONG, or the WHITE BUFFALO. I can criticize someone if, by the dramatic scope of the film, I feel that it doesn't move me in a certain way. That is my right, as it is yours.

When it comes to films of this ilk, I will still take Max Steiner, unless you think Barry's THE LEGEND OF THE LONE RANGER or DANCES WITH WOLVES is better than THE SEARCHERS.

Just for the record (as if anyone cares ), I prefer Barry's Kong over Steiner's and I think Dances With Wolves is a better score than The Searchers!

The print run this evening was astoundingly beautiful. Recently struck, it retained the original prints' Technicolor look and texture, but with a sharpness the earlier prints cannot match. It showed off the film's marvellous use of color and 2.35:1 widescreen to superb advantage, and I'm very glad to have had the opportunity to experience it.

(There was a theater in Abilene, TX that used to show great stuff like Touch of Evil, Ben-Hur, Spartacus, Singin' in the Rain, and always to a packed house -- so I use this place as reference.)

The Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences' Samuel Goldwyn Theatre

The Los Angeles County Museum's Leo S. Bing Theatre

UCLA's James Bridges Theatre

The American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre (with a second location soon to be added in Santa Monica)

The Nuart Theatre in West L.A.

Additionally, various film studios sometimes conduct for their employees "vault screenings" of their, and other studios', classic titles which, obviously isn't of much use to the public at large.