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Max Steiner's "Gone With The Wind"

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Author	Topic: Max Steiner's "Gone With The Wind"

EldarionSonOfElessar Standard Userer	I just saw GWTW for the first time last night (actually only the first half), and I was paying close attantion to the score by Max Steiner. Listening to the theme that plays over the opening credits, I swear I've heard that exact same piece before, though I'd never heard the soundtrack or seen the film before last night. Does anyone know where this theme may have recurred in another film? I'm 99.9% sure it's not my imagination.
posted 10-25-2006 12:09 PM PT (US)

Dinko Standard Userer	First thought that comes to mind is that Max Steiner's Gone With the Wind is so popular, that the theme must have appeared countless times taken out of context, either in parodies, radio or compilations. You may have never knowingly heard the soundtrack, but very few people in modern civilization have never heard Steiner's theme at some point or another. It's the quintessential epic, glorious love theme. Or Max Steiner could have pulled a Horner (as he has on other occasions) and simply recycled the material from another movie. Or you simply experienced a deja vu situation.
posted 10-25-2006 12:15 PM PT (US)

joan hue Standard Userer	I think Dinko's first assessment is correct. Steiner composed the great themes for GWTW, and the main theme, Tara's Theme, has been used often in various contexts and at the Oscars.
posted 10-25-2006 12:37 PM PT (US)

John C Winfrey Standard Userer	Well, since there are five thousand different recordings of this and its been played about one million times, it should sound familiar to you. LOL. Its one of the most played pieces of music ever written. Right up there with Star Wars and Jaws, J. J.
posted 10-26-2006 05:40 PM PT (US)

Ray Faiola Non-Standard Userer	Well, the RKO stations in New York and Los Angeles used to use "Tara" as the theme for their MILLION DOLLAR MOVIE program. Also, Steiner had Tara a bit on the brain in 1939 (and understandably so). If you listen to his scores to THEY MADE ME A CRIMINAL and FOUR WIVES you can hear variations on the theme.
posted 10-27-2006 07:04 AM PT (US)

Gae Standard Userer	Ironically, out of all those people who recognised or knew the theme, how many would know the name of the composer? Not many I'd wager. Gae
posted 10-27-2006 06:25 PM PT (US)

EldarionSonOfElessar Standard Userer	Thanks for all the replies!
posted 10-30-2006 02:23 PM PT (US)

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