Mount Rushmore - Movie Music

[MJ4H]

I think there are really two directions this could go: symphonic soundtracks and pop songs from movies. I think the first is a bit more substantial, but I know that a lot of you guys aren't into it like I am. Also, I think for this Rushmore, let's leave things like strict musicals out of this (save that for another MR).

My Movie Music Mount Rushmore, in no particular order:

Alexander Nevsky, Sergei Prokofiev
Absolutely stunning score, and completely able to stand on its own. One of the few scores from a composer that is more well-known for his work away from the screen.

Vertigo, Bernard Hermann
Have to include one from the film composer I consider to be the best of all time, Bernard Hermann. He is most known for his collaboration with Hitchcock, and this score is outstanding. Most would choose Psycho, but not I. This score is much more lush and has a similar "ground-breaking theme" -- the vertigo theme (opposing diminshed arpeggios symbolizing dizzying height).

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Ennio Morricone
Absolutely masterful orchestrating by another ground-breaking composer and master of his genre.

Star Wars (trilogy), John Williams
Mammoth work that established the importance of a huge symphonic score for a film of such grand scope. Changed the field of film-composing forever.

Honorable mentions, Jaws (Williams), Psycho (Hermann), Ben Hur (Rozsa), Close Encounter of the Third Kind (Williams), Patton (Goldsmith).

[flere-imsaho]

Chariots of Fire & Blade Runner, Vangelis.


OK, I'm an unabashed fanboi, but still....

[pooryorick]

I don't really have a Mount Rushmore ready, I just want to toss in the Aimee Mann music featured in Magnolia. Just brilliant stuff.

[BreizhManu]

Halloween (John Carpenter)

Psycho (Bernard Herrmann)

Once upon a time in the west (Ennio Morricone)

Jaws (John Williams)

[Peregrine]

Rushmore Movie Soundtrack:

1. Hardest Geometry Problem in the World - Mark Mothersbaugh
2. Making Time - Creation
3. Concrete & Clay - Unit 4 + 2
4. Nothing In This World Can Stop Me Worrin' Bout That Girl - The Kinks
5. Sharp Little Guy - Mark Mothersbaugh
6. The Lad With the Silver Button - Mark Mothersbaugh
7. A Summer Song - Chad & Jeremy
8. Edward Appleby (In Memoriam) - Mark Mothersbaugh
9. Here Comes My Baby - Cat Stevens
10. A Quick One While He's Away - The Who
11. 'Snowflake Music' From Bottlerocket - Mark Mothersbaugh
12. Piranhas are a Very Tricky Species - Mark Mothersbaugh
13. Blinuet - Zoot Sims
14. Friends Like You, Who Needs Friends - Mark Mothersbaugh
15. Rue St. Vincent - Yves Montand
16. Kite Flying Society - Mark Mothersbaugh
17. The Wind - Cat Stevens
18. Oh Yoko - John Lennon
19. Ooh La La - The Faces
20. Margaret Yang's Theme - Mark Mothersbaugh

[Chief Rum]

This is tough for me, because I can't say I am a big fan of all around movie symphonic soundtracks, and because when I really get into the music, it's usually just one score (but what a score). So I don't know if my choices merely reflect liking one song, or if an argument can be made for the body of work in a film I pick. Well, whatever...

Lord of the Rings (take your pick, I think the same busic music sets was used for all of them, although I would lean more toward the latter two with their fantastic battle scores)
Glory (this is probably a one song thing, I can still recite every note of that beautiful Harlem boys choir on the last march in my head)
Shawshenk Redemption (my favorite alltime movie, so I am biased, but I think the score is perfect for the film)
Star Wars (I have to give it up for Star Wars, fantastic music)

P.S. I also applaud the choice above of Once Upon A Time In The West. That's also a terrific score. And the Godfather theme was similarly perfect for those films. Mount Rushmore is getting crowded.

CR

[heybrad]

Anything by Danny Elfman.

[MJ4H]

Danny Elfmann is terrific. I considered putting something like Batman or Edward Scissorhands as an honorable mention. When I thought about it, though, I remembered that Batman is almost a total homage to Bernard Hermann's Journey to the Center of the Earth. When Elfmann himself pays tribute to the master in such a grand fashion, I think putting Hermann over Elfmann is the right move (for me).

Glory is a good pick. Very emotional score by James Horner, and probably his best work (in my mind).

Some of the more memorable scores have been orchestra pieces composed not for the movies, but used in them anyway. I'm referring to the entire 2001: A Space Odyssey (the score for this was actually supposed to be an original score, composed by Alex North, but Kubrick ditched it), and some scenes from movies like Apocalypse Now (Ride of the Valkyries), and Platoon (Adagio for Strings).

I agree about Vangelis having an important place in film music history as well (esp. re: Chariots of Fire).

[scooper]

Gettysburg

[ntndeacon]

Wow, a lot of good music has already been mentioned. However here is my Mount Rushmore.

The Mission (Ennio Morricone)
Psycho (Bernard Herrmann)
Jaws (John Williams)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (Malcolm Arnold)

Honorable Mentions go to The good the Bad and the Ugly, Patton, The Godfather.

[Franklinnoble]

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story - The main theme hase been used in like every movie trailer since.
Backdraft - It's the theme music for Iron Chef. That's gotta count for something.
Rocky IV - The "training montage" makes me want to shoot steroids and run on an inclined treadmill.
Batman - The Danny Elfman score for this was epic, at the time.

[Tigercat]

My list would def. be a mostly personal preference thing:

Amistad - john williams - i love this score, especially the featured tracks with the african chorus groups. powerful stuff
Dances with Wolves - you can really feel this move in the music, berry's very best IMO.
2001 - the importance of the score in this classic is obvious
About a Boy - Badly Drawn Boy - I am not a big badly drawn boy fan, but some of my favorite songs were written for this movie.

[Dawgfan1980]

Last of the Mohicans
Robin Hood: Prince of Theives
The Big Chill
American Graffitti

What can I say? I'm odd.

[Pyser]

good will hunting
jurassic park
the graduate
8 mile

[Suicane75]

Magnolia
Sleepers
2001
Shallow Hal

[Maple Leafs]

"As time goes by" from Casablanca
The theme from The Natural
The theme from Hoosiers
The song that plays during the closing scene of Henry V

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

The song that plays during the closing scene of Henry V

Totally underrated movie... one of my all-time favorites.

I think you're referring to "Nom nobis, Domine" but I could be wrong.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

I think you're referring to "Nom nobis, Domine" but I could be wrong.

That's the one.

[Noop]

Matrix 1, Matrix 2 and Matrix 3

[Leonidas]

2001: A Space Odyssey
Pulp Fiction
Apocolypse, Now!
Excalibur

[Blackadar]

Hmmm...

Star Wars
LOTR
Magnolia

and...

a curveball, because it's not a movie. But the background music to Planescape:Torment.

[Breeze]

Originally Posted by heybrad

Anything by Danny Elfman.

I second this opinion.

[Ben E Lou]

The Hunt For Red October
Rattle and Hum
Krush Groove
The Big Chill


HONORABLE MENTION: CB4 (You haven't lived until you've heard Chris Rock do "Straight Outta Locash" and "Sweat From My Balls." )

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Breeze

I second this opinion.

I agree that Danny Elfman kicks ass, but I am a long suffering Oingo Boingo fan who went to their Halloween shows religiously when they were together. So I am A) biased and B) bitter.

CR

[sachmo71]

Gllllllllllllory!

[heybrad]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

I agree that Danny Elfman kicks ass, but I am a long suffering Oingo Boingo fan who went to their Halloween shows religiously when they were together. So I am A) biased and B) bitter.

CR

Maybe we bumped shoulders. I attended every Halloween concert I possibly could. 2005 will mark 10 years since the final concert. There are whisperings of a one time, 10 year reunion show.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by heybrad

Maybe we bumped shoulders. I attended every Halloween concert I possibly could. 2005 will mark 10 years since the final concert. There are whisperings of a one time, 10 year reunion show.

Don't tease me, you bastard.

And maybe we did. Trying to remember which of the last ones I went to (I think they had three that year, 1-2 at Irvine and a last one either at the Forum or up at the UA). Probably Irvine--I always seemed to see them there.

CR

[heybrad]

Yea, the last show was at UA. I was bitter because I couldnt go, but my wife, who knew very little of Boingo got to attend. I went to Irvine Meadows for most of my concerts, but saw them various times at UA and the Greek Theater. Some of the band members used to do in store appearances at the Tower Records on Beach Blvd. Those were fun as hell.

Ahh... the memories.

[Sun Tzu]

Hey Brad.