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Your Favorites Under Bernstein's Baton?

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Author	Topic: Your Favorites Under Bernstein's Baton?

joan hue Standard Userer	I feel sorry for anyone who has not heard Elmer Bernstein's music. He was a magnificent composer. Perhaps by sharing some of our favorite Bernstein compositions, we can lead others to his music. I was surprised when looking at IMDB how many of his scores I haven't heard nor have I seen their respective movies. Maybe someday. (I.E. The Miracle and Cannon for Cordorba.) He was the essence of versatility. Need an epic? Got it. Need westerns? Yep, he was a master of westerns. Need war, science fiction, comedy, romance, drama? He could do them ALL. Great themes, rousing action and rhythms, marrow melting emotions. He could not be pigen-holed because he could score any type of movie. Such talent is almost becoming a lost art. Westerns? I went to The Magnificent Seven with my brother, and 15 minutes into the movie, we knew we had to have that album. It was a redefining western with its Americana sounds and pulsing rhythms. Anyone ever counted all of the great themes in Hallelujah Trail? At least 5 great themes. Also loved Sons of Katie Elder, Big Jake, True Grit, The Scalphunters, Commancheros, G Troop theme in Rough Riders and many more. Comedy? Great comedic music in Hallelujah Trail, Stripes (infectious theme) Animal House, and others. Romance? Oh please let's do get Love With a Proper Stranger. Would love Captain and the Kings. From The Terrace, By Love Possessed and Far From Heaven were most melodic. Need war? He did many, and my favorites were Bridge at Remagen and The Great Escape. McQueen, a motorcylce and Elmer's music.. perfection. Jazz? Man with a Golden Arm, Walk on The Wild Side, The Carpetbaggers all the way to Keeping The Faith. Best scored scene? To Kill a Mockingbird when Scout sees Boo. Wow, those swelling strings closed the throat. Still does. I loved his epics like The Ten Commandments and Hawaii. I enjoyed Baby The Rain Must Fall and Amazing Grace and Chuck. I hope to soon hear King of the Sun, and perhaps some of his unreleased scores will find their way to CD's. Many composers have brought me hours of listening joy. Elmer brought me days, months and years of joy. Your favorites?
posted 08-18-2004 08:22 PM PT (US)

Hector J. Guzman Standard Userer	I hate to confess, I do not own any soundtrack by Bernstein, but I do have some of his music, and of course I am very aware of his status being a lifelong film music fan. The music of National Geographic, I think, is a landmark. He recorded an album which includes the Rozsa's Spellbound concerto, fantastic piece. I wish he had been conducting more.
posted 08-18-2004 08:27 PM PT (US)

justin boggan Standard Userer	Don't forget the comedic/serious score for Ghostbusters. And the funky stuff that didn't make the movie. I will forever remember 2004 as the worse year of my life, thus far.
posted 08-18-2004 09:22 PM PT (US)

JJH Standard Userer	Probably The Ten Commandments is my very favorite Bernstein, followed by Hawaii, To Kill a Mockingbird, the Magnificent Seven, and a (seemingly) little known score for a movie called "Frankie Starlight," which is in the To Kill a Mockingbird mold.
posted 08-18-2004 09:29 PM PT (US)

nightwing Standard Userer	Absolutely, The Magnificent Seven is my favorite of his, and the only one I own, I am sad to say. What a sad year for film score lovers.
posted 08-18-2004 09:37 PM PT (US)

BMikeJ Standard Userer	His River Crossing cue from Zulu Dawn remains one of my favorite pieces of music from him. Such energy and enthusiasm...
posted 08-19-2004 12:11 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Standard Userer	I have far too little, only The Magnificent Seven, The Hallelujah Trail, Heavy Metal, Oscar and the Guitar Concerto. Mag7 is great of course, but I'm also very fond of Trail.
posted 08-19-2004 03:51 AM PT (US)

SBD Standard Userer	I have so many favorites: The Rainmaker Animal House Ghostbusters Wild Wild West Airplane! Genocide (a beautiful documentary score) I don't have these scores, but I, more or less, discovered them on the compilation "Elmer Bernstein by Elmer Bernstein": Walk on the Wild Side Heavy Metal The Great Escape (actually, I knew about this earlier, thanks to "The Simpsons") The Magnificent Seven The Man With the Golden Arm The Grifters
posted 08-19-2004 06:28 AM PT (US)

moviescore Standard Userer	IMO Bernstein's true masterpiece is TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. It's poetry. mikael
posted 08-19-2004 09:01 AM PT (US)

John C Winfrey Standard Userer	I answered most of this up on other post, but wanted to add that his great score for Heavy Metal is also one of my favs. Some great cues in there. Also like Cast a Giant Shadow a lot. J.
posted 08-19-2004 04:19 PM PT (US)

Luscious Lazlo Standard Userer	Memo to Joan and All Mankind: Download the trailer for Far from Heaven to hear an achingly beautiful piece that sounds a helluva lot like John Barry. It's in Barry's slow hypno mode. http://www.apple.com/trailers/focus_features/far_from_heaven/apple_small.html
posted 08-27-2004 07:32 PM PT (US)

Gae Standard Userer	I only have the following of Bernstein's:- The Ten Commandments Cast a Giant Shadow The Man with the Golden Arm The Great Escape The Magnificent Seven/Return of the Seven Walk on the Wild Side Themes from The Scalphunters/Hallelujah Trail Slipstream bootleg I really must get more... Gae
posted 08-29-2004 03:20 AM PT (US)

CAT Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by nightwing: Absolutely, The Magnificent Seven is my favorite of his, and the only one I own, I am sad to say. What a sad year for film score lovers. Ditto, here, nightwing. Sadly, Mag 7 is the only one I own too, and I love it to death! I must make an attempt to get some more of the ones I've heard and enjoyed.
posted 08-29-2004 09:38 AM PT (US)

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