Links and other resources for the 7 – make that 9 – films in the Great Films, Great Scores series I’m showing at DEAR on alternate Tuesdays, starting on January 18, 2022.
King Kong (1933)
- Where is the Music Coming From? – Nice blog entry on Max Steiner’s score for Kong and it’s significance as the first “modern” score.
The Sea Hawk (1940)
- The False Myths and True Genius of Erich Wolfgang Korngold – Lengthy and absorbing blog entry by Michael Haas, the author of Forbidden Music (2013).
The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
- David Raksin: Fathers of Film Music, Part 10 – Nice narrative of Raksin’s career, complete with candid quotes from Raksin.
Forbidden Planet (1956)
- 3-minute excerpt on Louis and Bebe Barron’s score taken from the 27-minute documentary: Amazing! Exploring the far reaches of Forbidden Planet.
Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
- Elmer Bernstein Website – His official website with lots of cool stuff. It’s actually maintained and current.
- Chico Hamilton/Fred Katz interviews – Three nice NPR interviews on Hamilton and Katz from All Things Considered.
- Roger Ebert review – Perceptive as always, from 1997 in his Great Movies series.
Vertigo (1958)
- 2012 BFI List – Greatest movies of all time with Vertigo at the top!
- Dolly Zoom technique – Everything you ever wanted to know about the “Vertigo” effect, including a video with dolly-zoom shots from lots of movies.
- Bernard Herrmann Society – His official website, which seems to be up-to-date.
- Replica necklace – Yes, you can own Carlotta’s necklace. Maybe for next Halloween…
Chinatown (1974)
- Jerry Goldsmith Online – Official website with an authoritative biography and a comprehensive list of all his scores, along with lots of other great stuff.
- Uan Rasey Interview – The trumpet player on the soundtrack interviewed by movie critic Leonard Maltin.
- The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood – Superb book on the making of Chinatown by Sam Wasson.
French Connection (1971)
- The Look and the Score – 7+ minute interview with William Friedkin includes discussion of Don Ellis’s score.
- Anatomy of a Chase – 2006 Director’s Guild of America article gives Friedkin’s inside story on creating the greatest chase scene ever.
Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
- Brief video reenacting Miles Davis recording the soundtrack.
Al Biles 