Classic FM: top 100 film scores

[Maurice]

Daily Telegraph: Lord of the Rings voted best soundtrack

The LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy has the best film music, according to a poll of British cinema-goers.

The score, composed by Howard Shore, topped a survey organised by Classic FM.

Hans Zimmer's Oscar-nominated GLADIATOR score was runner-up in the list.

The poll showed a surge of interest in the work of the composer, John Barry, who died earlier this year.

Barry had two entries in the top five: OUT OF AFRICA was at number three and DANCES WITH WOLVES at five.

John Williams had the most entries in the top 100 with 11 scores, including SCHINDLER'S LIST and STAR WARS.

[Maurice]

The complete list would be helpful - if it is available.

[m35541]

The Top 20, reflecting the prejudices of the listeners and heavily biased towards more recent films are:

1. Lord of the Rings (Shore)
2. Gladiator (Zimmer)
3. Out of Africa (Barry's first: the James Bond theme comes in about 50 but no other Bonds)
4. Schindler's List (Williams' first: Jaws come in about 71)
5. Dances With Wolves (Barry)
6. Pirates of the Caribbean (??!!!)
7. The Mission (Morricone's top - GB&U comes in late 20s and OUATITW ion late 30s)
8. Star Wars (Williams)
9. Ladies In Lavender (I've never heard of this film at all)
10. Dr Zhivago (Jarre)
11. 633 Squadron (Goodwin - an odd inclusion so far up)
12. Lawrence of Arabia (Jarre)
13. Chariots of Fire (Vangelis - Blade Runner is in the 30s or 40s)
14. Jurassic Park (Williams)
15. The Magnificent Seven (Bernstein - Great Escape is in the 30s I think)
16. Last of the Mohicans (Elfman/Jones)
17. Cinema Paradiso (Morricone)
18. The Piano (Nyman - I prefer The Cook the Thief & His Lover but that's not in there)
19. Dangerous Moonlight (never heard of this)
20. Saving Ryan's Privates (Williams)

[Steve Crook]

The Top 20, reflecting the prejudices of the listeners and heavily biased towards more recent films are: ...

That's normal for this sort of list. I see that Henry V makes an appearance further down the list (number 80) and it is the Walton score so it's the 1944 Olivier film they mean.

Steve

[m35541]

I've seen 2 of the Pirates of the Caribbean films but blowed if i could remember what the music sounded like at all - all of the other films on the top 20 that i've seen (18 in total including Pirates and counting say LOTR as one rather than three) I can at least recall the main themes.

[Maurice]

19. Dangerous Moonlight (never heard of this)

Thanks for the top 20, m35541.

BBC2 could have jogged your memory after you posted yesterday:
DANGEROUS MOONLIGHT (UK/US 1941) 11.40am - 1.15pm

Radio Times: This is the movie remembered for its Richard Addinsell score, which introduced to the world the massively popular Warsaw Concerto, as irredeemedly romantic pianist Anton Walbrook never stops playing it. TS

Sally Gray plays the journalist Walbrook marries who helps the musician-turned-pilot recover his memory after an encounter with a German bomber.

Actually, it's awfully dull and not particularly well directed, but it's such potent tosh, why quibble? TS

PS. I wonder if NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA (1971) is in the top 100.
A member has asked me if my avatar comes from a sci-fi film.

[Steve Crook]

The complete list would be helpful - if it is available.

The full list is on the Classic FM site

Steve

[Steve Crook]

That's normal for this sort of list. I see that Henry V makes an appearance further down the list (number 80) and it is the Walton score so it's the 1944 Olivier film they mean.

Steve

The Classic FM site gives the composer of Henry V as Patrick Doyle, but they have a photo of Sir Larry
Movie Music Chart | Classic FM - Patrick Doyle: Henry V

Steve

[Steve Crook]

I've seen 2 of the Pirates of the Caribbean films but blowed if i could remember what the music sounded like at all - all of the other films on the top 20 that i've seen (18 in total including Pirates and counting say LOTR as one rather than three) I can at least recall the main themes.

What about Ladies In Lavender? I don't remember the soundtrack being particularly memorable

Steve

[Mr Sloane]

No Kings Row !

[batman]

[Heinrich]

Thanks for the full list, Steve.
My favorite movie music did not make the top 100 and that got me thinking, maybe if our favorite did not make it, the members could tell us their own choice.
So, I include Victor Young's score for Shane.

[Rowdon]

I'd vote for this ... just off the top of my head.

[Harbottle]

Glad I didn't listen to Classic FM when that was on

Some Stanley Myers to counterbalance all that awful Danny Elfman pap



Plus some always welcome Ron Goodwin

[Steve Crook]

Need I say more?

Steve

[cassidy]

You have excellent taste. It's a beautiful score actually titled "The Call of the Faraway Hills". Along with "Bend of the River" one of my favourite Western themes. Another great theme (and opening sequence) has to be Elmer Bernstein's "Walk on the Wild Side". Is there a kind member out there who can show us that opening sequence ?. I'm afraid I'm not clever enough to do it.

Thanks for the full list, Steve.
My favorite movie music did not make the top 100 and that got me thinking, maybe if our favorite did not make it, the members could tell us their own choice.
So, I include Victor Young's score for Shane.

[Mr Sloane]

Erich Korngold's exquisite score to Kings Row.

[Heinrich]

You have excellent taste. It's a beautiful score actually titled "The Call of the Faraway Hills". Along with "Bend of the River" one of my favourite Western themes. Another great theme (and opening sequence) has to be Elmer Bernstein's "Walk on the Wild Side". Is there a kind member out there who can show us that opening sequence ?. I'm afraid I'm not clever enough to do it.

You don't have bad taste yourself, Cassidy.
The combination of Bernstein's music and that slinky cat designed by Saul Bass is quite something.

[cassidy]

Many thanks Heinrich, that was fabulous.

You don't have bad taste yourself, Cassidy.
The combination of Bernstein's music and that slinky cat designed by Saul Bass is quite something.