Film Music Review
The Sammy awards
Links
 
 

 

 
   

 

 

 

 

Publisher and Editor:

Roger Hall


Contributing Writers:

Steven A. Kennedy

Steve Vertlieb

 


Now in its 10th year online, FILM MUSIC REVIEW [FMR]
is listed in the Top 10 of Google Search
among millions of possible sites.

 

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 many people who don't understand
the value of music in a film.

Sometimes music can be a major factor in the success of a film.

Just think of Max Steiner's monumental score in 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,
or the thrilling music of John Williams in the STAR WARS series. All of these scores contributed greatly to the success of those films. Many others can be listed.

For a music survey from the 1930s to 1990s, see

100 Essential Film Scores

Excluding the silent era when little original soundtrack music was recorded,
the music in sound films can be divided
into four representative
eras during the 20th century:

The Hollywood Studio System:
1929 (BROADWAY MELODY) to 1959 (BEN-HUR)

Theme Songs:
1952 (HIGH NOON) to 1976 (THE OMEN)

Rise of Blockbuster Film Scores:
1977 (STAR WARS) to 1987 (THE LAST EMPEROR)


Disney Musicals and Mass Marketing:
1989 (THE LITTLE MERMAID) to 1999 (TOY STORY 2)


FILM MUSIC REVIEW is an online e-zine designed to focus on the preservation of older film scores from those three periods, as well as reviews of new soundtracks.

FMR has reviews and essays written by our three writers:
Roger Hall, Steven A. Kennedy, and Steve Vertlieb.

FMR is now devoted almost exclusively to older soundtrack reisuues,
re-recordings or other preservation efforts.

Also featured at FMR are The Sammy Awards, announced each year for best film soundtracks and songs. These awards are also called the "Sammys" (named after the late great movie lyricist Sammy Cahn). They are the longest-running awards
chosen each year exclusively for film scores and songs.
 

 

Now Available!

The newly updated 3rd edition of A Guide to Film Music - Songs and Scores.

To read more about this useful reference guide
which includes lists of Academy Awards for music and the Sammy Awards,
click on this link:

Film Composers and Soundtracks

 

Your comments are welcome.

Send them to:

Film Music Review


 

Feature Presentations

 

Film Music Review Issues

Film Focus

The Best Film Music of the Year

The Sammy Awards

100 Essential Film Scores

Film Composer Tributes

Film Composers Celebrated

Centennial Tributes

Book and DVD Reviews

Links

 

 

 


2008 FMR Issues

Volume 10/ Number 1 (Winter)

Volume 10/ Number 2 (Spring)

 

 

2007 FMR Issues

Index to All Reviews (January - December)

Volume 9/ Number 1 (January - February)

Volume 9/ Number 2 (March - April)

Volume 9/ Number 3 (May - June)

Volume 9/Number 4 (July - August)

Volume 9/ Number 5 (September - October)

Volume 9/Number 6 (November - December)

 

 

2006 FMR Issues

Index to All Reviews (January - December)

Volume 8/ Number 1 (January - February)

Volume 8/ Number 2 (March - April)

Volume 8/ Number 3 (May - June)

Volume 8/ Number 4 (July - August)

Volume 8/ Number 5 (September - October)

Volume 8/ Number 6 (November - December)

 

1999-2005 FMR Issues

Index to All Reviews (Volume 1 - Volume 7)

 

Read the lists of essential and favorite film scores at these links:

Film Music Review - 9th Anniversary

Film Music Review - 8th Anniversary

 

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Film Focus


 

One of the classic films from the 1940s...

 

 

No. 1: Hugo Friedhofer and THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES

 

 

 

A great historical score from the 1950s...

 

No. 2: Miklos Rozsa and PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE

 

 

The first major film score of the 1930s...

 

 

NEW!

No. 3: Max Steiner and 75th anniversary of KING KONG

 

 

 

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The Best Film Music of the Year


 

 

Best Film Music Releases of 2007

 

Best Film Music Releases of 2006

 

Best Film Music Releases of 2005

 

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The Sammy Awards


The Sammy Awards (or Sammys) are named after the late movie lyricist, Sammy Cahn

The 20th Annual Sammy Awards for 2007
have been announced here

Click on these links for the

19th Annual Sammy Awards 2006

18th Annual Sammy Awards 2005

The Sammy Awards List

 

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100 Film Scores


100 Essential Film Scores of the 20th Century

 

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Film Composer Tributes


 

Aaron Copland on Film Music

"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 the distinguished composer Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
at this excellent site:

Runmovies/ Soundtrack

 

 

Something Wild

Read the review of Copland's last film score from 1961

SOMETHING WILD

 

Also available is "A Conversation with Aaron Copland" at

American Music Recordings Collection

 

 


 

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 about Bernard Herrmann
and his early film scores,
with a new addendum of CDs
at this excellent site:

Runmovies/ Soundtrack

 

See also these CD reviews of Herrmann scores:

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951)

ON DANGEROUS GROUND (1951)

THE SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO and FIVE FINGERS(1952)

BENEATH THE 12-MILE REEF (1953)

THE EGYPTIAN (1954 - with Alfred Newman)

BERNARD HERRMANN AT FOX, Vol. 2:
 GARDEN OF EVIL (1954)
PRINCE OF PLAYERS (1955)
KING OF THE KHYBER RIFLES (1953)

CITIZEN KANE:
The Essential Bernard Herrmann Film Music Collection (2 CDs
)

 

Hear excerpts of Herrmann's film music available with this reference book:

A Guide to Film Music - Songs and Scores

 


 

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

 

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Film Composer Tributes


 

Film Composers Celebrated

 

 


100th Birthday Tribute to Miklos Rozsa and Web Poll

 

John Williams -- 75th birthday and Listener's Poll

 

 

Ennio Morricone -- Honorary Oscar

 

 

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Centennial 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

 

 

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Book and DVD Reviews


Book Reviews

 

 

 

 

 

New

The Soundtracks of Woody Allen:
A Complete Guide to the Songs and Music in Every Film, 1969-2005
by Adam Harvey

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Composer's Notes:
Remembering Mikos Rozsa
A Personal Recollection by Jeffrey Dane

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

Reel Music: Exploring 100 Years of Film Music

 

 

 

 

Reel Music: Exploring 100 Years of Film Music Paperback) -- by Roger Hickman

Comments: A comprehensive study with some analysis and an excellent survey overall.

 

 

 


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)

 

 

 

 

 

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Links


 

For additional resources, see

Film Music Links

 

Ten past film composers have been named to

The Tunemaker Hall of Fame

 

Five Recommended CDs and DVDs

Click on this link for

Five Famous Films from 1956

 

There have been many film scores and songs chosen for this annual event:

National Carry A Tune Week (2007)

National Carry A Tune Week (2006)

National Carry A Tune Week (2005)

 


Please help the preservation efforts of

Film Music Review

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