Feature Presentations
12th Anniversary Special!
Main Titles
Film Music Review Issues
100 Essential Film Scores
Film Focus Series
Best Film Music CDs of the Year and Decade
The Sammy Movie Music Awards
Film Composer Tributes
Film Actor Music Tributes
Book and DVD Reviews
End Credits and Links
FILM MUSIC REVIEW
Managing Editor:
Roger Hall
Contributing Writers:
Steven A. Kennedy
Steve Vertlieb
Member
For more information about the International Film Music Critics Association, its members and the list of awards, please visit http://www.filmmusiccritics.org
Main Titles 
Film Music Review Contents
Film Music Century
The Role of the Reviewer
Anniversary Specials
Film Music Guide
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Film Music Review Contents
For over a decade, Film Music Review (FMR)
has provided reviews
of CDs, DVDs, and Books.
It is now one of the longest-running online magazines devoted exclusively to film music.
This online magaizne was founded by Roger Hall, a film historian, composer, writer, and member of the International Film Music Critics Association. He has been the FMR managing editor since the beginning. Others who have assisted as Contributing Writers are:
Steven A. Kennedy, and Steve Vertlieb. Occasional guest writers have also contributed reviews or articles.
FMR began in 1998 on AOL and lasted until 2005. Most of the reviews from those years have been archived and are now available as document files in the new eBook titled,
A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC - Songs and Scores (PineTree Press, 4th edition)
FMR has been online here since 2006 and all the reviews are still available
(see the FMR Issues links below).
Over the years, FMR has been a respected resource
for film music reviews
and other news.
The focus of FMR now is on the preservation
of film scores
from the past,
devoted mainly to older soundtrack reisuues,
re-recordings and other preservation efforts.
Some new film scores are also occasionally reviewed.
Each year, FMR Editor Roger Hall lists his annual Sammy Awards for best film soundtracks, songs and other categories.
These awards (also called the "Sammys")
are named after the late great movie lyricist Sammy Cahn.
The Sammys are now the longest-running awards chosen exclusively for film music recordings.
Film Music Century
Music for the cinema was one of the most significant achievements
in popular entertainment during the 20th century.
It remains important in the 21st century as well,
though many of the newer soundtracks lack the depth and quality
of the older film scores and songs.
There are still film fans and critics
who don't understand
the importance of music in a film. Music can be a major factor in the success of a film.
Just think of Max Steiner's monumental score for GONE WITH THE WIND,
Miklos Rozsa's haunting score in SPELLBOUND,
Dimitri Tiomkin's memorable song and score in HIGH NOON, Bernard Herrmann's frightening music in PSYCHO,
the John Barry music in the James Bond films, or the thrilling scores of John Williams for the STAR WARS series. All of these scores contributed greatly to the success of those films. Many more could be listed.
Excluding the silent era when little original soundtrack music was recorded,
the music in sound films
can be divided
roughly into the three eras
during the 20th century:
I. Golden Age (Hollywood Studio System)
1929 (BROADWAY MELODY)
to
1959 (BEN HUR)
II. Silver Age (Smaller and Independent Films)
1960 (THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN)
to
1979 (STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE)
III. Bronze Age (Big Blockbusters)
1980 (STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK)
to
1999 (TOY STORY 2)
And what about the first decade of the 21st century? I'm afraid that it might well be called the "Lead Age" -- too heavy with over-the-top productions and special effects, and not enough worthwhile stories. Will it improve? It doesn't appear likely anytime soon!
The Role of the Reviewer
Over the years, I've read many comments in various newsgroups and message boards about soundtracks and movie musicals -- some have been fair and reasonable assessments, others are just personal ranting and raving. On these message boards, reviewers and critics are often criticized and attacked for their opinions.
This has been a trend that bothers me as a film music critic, since we are sometimes dismissed as morons, especially if someone disagrees with us. The fact is that most reviewers offer their personal opinions of a CD soundtrack or compilation. You can agree or disagree with them, but it's not fair to dismiss them as no-nothings.
What then is the role of the film music critic? I'll give my opinion here...
As I see it, a reviewer writes a critical evaluation of a CD after carefully listening to it and relating it (if possible) to the film itself.
Oftentimes the CD soundtrack is released before the film itself opens in movie theaters. That makes assessment with how the music is used in a film very difficult.
Here are three questions I consider when reviewing a CD soundtrack or compilation:
(1) How does the music sound away from the film?
(2) What is the film composer's score intended to accomplish?
(3) Where are the strengths and weaknesses on the soundtrack CD album (the music, sound quality, notes, album design)?
It's not possible to consider each of these questions all the time. For example, years ago I reviewed Christopher Gordon's superb score without having seen the television film, ON THE BEACH. It was unavailable at that time. But I still evaluated the soundtrack based on what I heard and thought so highly of it that I named it "Best Overlooked Score" for the year 2000. I think it's okay to judge a score away from the film because often the soundtrack is meant to stand on its own anyway. That is why the track ordering is often different from the film, which drives some soundtrack collectors crazy. Who made the rule that soundtracks have to follow the same sequence as the film? Collectors seem to think they are the only ones who matter when they demand that every second of the music be made available and in the same order as in the film. That is nonsense! I believe that most soundtrtack or compilation albums are meant to be enjoyable listening experiences, not rote reproductions of the original film soundtrack.
Is it better to go along with the crowd or have your own opinion?
A good reviewer or critic MUST express his or her own opinion based on what they hear on the soundtrack, even if it offends the collectors or the film composer. It seems to be a general rule that if you praise a soundtrack you're great, if you don't like one that's very popular then you're an idiot. So praise is good, criticism is not?? I strongly disagree with that view.
If you just want to collect everything by such fan favorites as Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, Hans Zimmer or (name your composer) then reviews may be of little interest for you. Obsessive soundtrack collectors are often very close-minded to other viewpoints.
On the other hand, if you'd like to read different opinions of a soundtrack before you decide to buy it, then reviews can be very helpful. That's why Film Music Review has been online for 11 years now. The objective of all reviewers on FMR have been to be as fair as possible when reviewing a soundtrack. We don't praise something just because of the fame of the composer or the publicity hype for the film.
Hopefully, after reading this essay, you'll have a better appreciation of what a reviewer does and if you like what they do, why not send them a message and let them know?
I believe that most reviewers work long and hard without ever getting much credit.
Naturally film composers and CD producers deserve credit for their outstanding work, but so do reviewers.
So to all web site and print soundtrack reviewers, I salute you for your dedication to the film music cause!
And to all soundtrack collectors, I wish you continued happy listening!
Roger Hall, FMR Editor and IFMCA member
May 2010
The Music of America: John Williams
(including many of best known fil themes)
Anniversary Specials
50th Anniversity Tributes
Bernard Herrmann and PSYCHO
THE TWILIGHT ZONE Revisited
Bernard Herrmann's "Walking Distance"
KEN DARBY (1909 - 1992)
"RIVER OF NO RETURN"
A Centennial Tribute to Ken Darby
JOHNNY MERCER (1909-1976)
"Acent-tchu-ate The Positive"
Johnny Mercer in Hollywood
Film Music Review...
12th Anniversary Special
Read the picks from previous years at these links:
11th Anniversary Special
10th Anniversary Special
9th Anniversary Special
8th Anniversary Special
CD Review for
Hollywood's Greatest Hits (2 CDs)
Film Music eBook
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The revised and expanded 4th edition of
A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC
is available
as an eBook on DVD+R,
with the complete revised book,
audio clips including interviews and
music from vintage film scores and songs,
an extensive image gallery,
past reviews from Film Music Review (1998-2005),
and a cable television program with the author, Roger Hall.
Read about this useful reference guide at this link:
Film Composers and Soundtracks
Ratings for CDs and DVDs:
**** = Superlative (Highest Recommendation)
***1/2 = Very Good
*** = Good
**1/2 = Okay
** = Barely Passable
* = Poor
The Special Merit CDs are chosen for outstanding overall production of a soundtrack or compilation.
The Editor's Choice -- Best of the Month designation is for those CDs that are singled out for their excellence. They are chosen anytime within a given month and may not be chosen every month.
Film Music Review Issues
Volume 12, 2010
Number 1 (Winter)
Number 2 (Spring)
Number 3 (Summer)
Volume 11, 2009
Index to All Reviews (January - December)
Number 1 (Winter)
Number 2 (Spring)
Number 3 (Summer)
Number 4 (Fall)
Volume 10, 2008
Index to All Reviews (January - December)
Number 1 (Winter)
Number 2 (Spring)
Number 3 (Summer)
Number 4 (Fall)
Volume 9, 2007
Index to All Reviews (January - December)
Number 1 (January - February)
Number 2 (March - April)
Number 3 (May - June)
Number 4 (July - August)
Number 5 (September - October)
Number 6 (November - December)
Volume 8, 2006
Index to All Reviews (January - December)
Number 1 (January - February)
Number 2 (March - April
Number 3 (May - June)
Number 4 (July - August)
Number 5 (September - October)
Number 6 (November - December)
Index to CD, DVD and Book Reviews
(2006 - 2008)
Volumes 1 - 7 (1998-2005)
These reviews are no longer online.
For a complete list of soundtracks and compilations,
go to:
FMR Index
100 Essential Film Scores
For a survey from the 1930s to 1990s, see
100 Essential Film Scores of the 20th Century
Film Focus Series
A magnificent score from the greatest war film of the 1940s...
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No. 1: Hugo Friedhofer and THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES
by Steve Vertlieb and Roger Hall
A monumental historical score from the 1950s...
No. 2: Miklos Rozsa and PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE
by Roger Hall
The first major film score of the 1930s...
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No. 3: Max Steiner and 75th anniversary of KING KONG
by Steve Vertlieb and Roger Hall
One of the great religious epic scores of the 1950s...
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No. 4: Elmer Bernstein and THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
by Jeffrey Dane
One of the greatest thriller film scores from the 1950s...
No. 5: Bernard Herrmann and VERTIGO
by Roger Hall
An underrated score by the composer best known for his Western scores...
No. 6: Dimitri Tiomkin and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
by Roger Hall
One of the most moving film scores of the 1940s...
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No. 7: Alfred Newman and THE SONG OF BERNADETTE
by Roger Hall
NEW!
The best known score from a Hitchcock film...
No. 8: Bernard Herrmann and 50th anniversary of PSYCHO
by Roger Hall
The Best Film Music CDs
Best Film Music CDs of the Decade
(2000-2009)
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Best Film Music CDs of 2009
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Best Film Music CDs of 2008
Best Film Music CDs of 2007
Best Film Music CDs of 2006
Best Film Music CDs of 2005
The Sammy Awards
The Sammy Awards (or Sammys) are named after
the late movie lyricist, Sammy Cahn
The 22nd Annual Sammy Movie Music Awards
for 2009
have been announced
here
Click on these links for the
21st Annual Sammy Awards
20th Annual Sammy Awards
19th Annual Sammy Award
18th Annual Sammy Awards
The Sammy Awards (Complete List)
Film Composer Tributes
Elmer Bernstein
"It's a junk culture, and people buy junk...generally speaking, film has not advanced in terms of taste and intelligence, and that makes it tough for music."
-- Elmer Bernstein
Read the Lifetime Achievement Award for Elmer Bernstein at
The Sammy Awards - 2005
A special remembrance by FMR Editor Roger Hall at:
80th Birthday Tribute to Elmer Bernstein
Aaron Copland
"It’s quite expensive to add music to a film. It would be a shame if nobody paid attention to it (laughter). The producers would have thrown their money out the window." -- Aaron Copland
Read the interview by FMR Editor Roger Hall
with composer Aaron Copland (1900-1990) about his film music
at this site:
Soundtrack
Aaron Copland has been named for a Lifetime Achievement Award,
and in his memory, a special CD is available titled,
Aaron Copland On Film Music
Read the review of Copland's last film score from 1961
SOMETHING WILD
George Duning Centennial
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George Duning 100th Anniversary
Jerry Goldsmith
"Each assignment becomes an agonizing experience. Where shall I begin? What notes shall I play? What combinations of sounds will be at once melodic and original and attention-grabbing that the audience will be hooked?"
-- Jerry Goldsmith
Read the Lifetime Achievement Award for Jerry Goldsmith at
The Sammy Awards - 2008
Bernard Herrmann: The Early Years
"Film music must apply what an actor cannot say. The music must really convey what the word cannot do. If you're dealing with an emotional subject
this is the complete purpose of a film score."
-- Bernard Herrmann (1911-1975)
He is one of the most admired film composers from the past.
Read the article by Roger Hall
about Bernard Herrmann
and his early film scores,
with a new addendum of CDs
at this excellent site:
Runmovies/ Soundtrack
Hear excerpts of Herrmann's film music available on the CD
included with this reference book:
A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC: Songs and Scores
Ennio Morricone
Honorary Oscar For Ennio Morricone
Miklos Rozsa Centennial
100th Birthday Tribute to Miklos Rozsa and Web Poll
Dimitri Tiomkin's "Golden Decade"
"In Hollywood vernacular, I could write commercial."
-- Dimitri Tiomkin (1894-1979)
Read Roger Hall's tribute to Hollywood's highest paid film composer of the 1950s, reprinted with a new addendum of recordings at
Runmovies/ Soundtrack
See "Dimitri Tiomkin's HIGH NOON" at
Film Composers and Soundtracks
Also read the DVD review of Dimitri Tionkin's monumental score for
THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Franz Waxman
A Centennial Tribute To Franz Waxman
John Williams
John Williams
75th Birthday Tribute
and a Listener's Poll
Film Actor Music Tributes
""I have been uncompromising, peppery, intractable, monomaniacal, tactless, volatile, and oftentimes disagreeable...I suppose I'm larger than life." -- Bette Davis
She is one of the most admired Hollywood actresses from the past,
known for her distinctive acting, her demanding work ethic,
and those beautiful Bette Davis Eyes.
She was also fortunate to have some of the
best composers working in Hollywood for her films.
Read her biography and reviews of recommended soundtracks
from her classic films at
"They're Either Too Young or Too Old"
A Centennial Birthday Tribute to Bette Davis
“Well, I think one of the main things that you have to think about when acting in the movies is to try not to make the acting show.”
-- James Stewart
As with Bette Davis, James "Jimmy" Stewart was fortunate to have some of the best composers working in Hollywood for his films.
And like Ms. Davis, he also sang occasionally in his films.
Read all about it at this link:
"Easy to Love"
A Centennial Birthday Tribute to James Stewart
Book and DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
The Soundtracks of Woody Allen:
A Complete Guide to the Songs and Music in Every Film, 1969-2005
by Adam Harvey
Hitchcock's Music by Jack Sullivan
Recommended Film Music Books
Here are several recommended books on film music for teaching purposes
or reading enjoyment...
The Art of Film Music(Paperback)
by George Burt
Comments: A very good textbook for aspiring film composers yet also worthwhile reading for any film music lover. Special emphasis on four film composers: Friedhofer, North, Raksin, Rosenman.
Film Music: A Neglected Art -- A Critical Study of Music in Films (Paperback -- by Roy M. Prendergast
Comment: A more technical study but worth reading.
The Invisible Art of Film Music (Paperback)
by Laurence E. MacDonald
Comments: An excellent non-technical survey from the 1920s to 1990s. Many illustrations and easy to read format.
Knowing The Score: Film Composers Talk About the Art, Craft, Blood, Sweat, and Tears of Writing for Cinema (Paperback)
by David Morgan
Comment: Fascinating interviews with film composers who offer insights into film scoring and collaborating with film directors.
Recommended DVDs
with film composer interviews
THE JOHNNY CARSON SHOW (Guest: composer Dimitri Tiomkin)
THE PLOW THAT BROKE THE PLAINS & THE RIVER
-- music by Virgil Thomson
(includes an audio interview)
