Canadian Film Digest (May 1973)

The Canadian Film Divest POTTERTON PRODUCTIONS Proudly Announces the Completion of the Following Films TUK) TUK” (Full length feature, animated, live action) (Full length feature, live action; Starring Donald Pleasance) “THE RAINBOW BOYS” (Half hour animated; based on a story by Oscar Wilde) “THE SELFISH GIANT” Now in Production (Half hour animated; based on a é yy THE LITTLE MERMAID story by Hans Christien Anderson) (Half hour animated; based on a ‘ ” ‘THE HAPPY PRINCE stony, by Oscar Wilde) (Full length feature, live action; Starring Dyan Cannon) “CHILD UNDER A LEAF” DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS AVAILABLE Contact: Marvin Kane Potterton Productions Inc. P.O. Box 948 Place Bonaventure Montreal, Canada 514-875-6470 May 1973 Page 23 Soundtracks The Sea Hawk The Classic Film Scores of Erich Wolfgang Korngold RCA Victory — LSC 3330 When he received one of his Academy Awards, Film Composer Max’ Steiner said as his acceptance speech: “I would like to thank Tschaikowsky, Mozart and all the others who made this possible.” He wasn’t joking entirely. As twentieth century concert music became more abstract, the Romantic movement, instead of dying ‘out, carried right on — into films. Those lush backgrounds you remember building up to a climax as they kissed (a crescendo was the only climax allowed on screen in those days; maybe that’s why film music is so incidental these days) were the product of conscious serious thought by serious composers. One of them was Korngold. His work was performed by the major orchestras and conductors of the early part of the century, among them Richard Strauss. His first work was performed by the Vienna Opera when he was only thirteen. Max Reinhardt wanted him in Hollywood for the score for Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, and, restricted by the Nazis, Korngold accepted in 1934. He was fascinated by the possibility of film music, not as an incidental background, but as a dramatic element. Many other composers, among them Aaron Copeland, felt the same way. Korngold worked continuously until 1947 at Warner Brothers. He composed original music for 17 films and won two academy awards. Warners was the school of lush. A full symphony orchestra was used — Korngold conducted his own scores — and every effort was made for technical achievement, as sound was very much in the experimental stages. Korngold found this atmosphere fully to his liking. So now we have his major scores re-recorded by the National’ Philharmonic Orchestra of London. The sound qualities are very good, and the arranger and conductor seem to have caught the feeling of the original impression, perhaps too well. I found myself thinking of the scenes in the movies, and remarking how well the music conjures up the memories. It was therefore very influential in the original film. But if you have not seen the film, would the music be as Summer Excitement from NATIONAL GENERAL PICTURES (CANADA) LTD. His Love. The author of “Andromeda Strain” nd Terminal Man” now blows your erotic mind with “America’s first great voyeur movie” — PENTHOUSE MAGAZINE. pret . ple fowe 10% ie Cople love to be MICHAEL CRICHTON'S “EXTREME CLOSE-UP” on JIM McMULLAN KATE WOODVILLE-JAMES A WATSON, JR. BARA BYRNES Proteced by PALL % LAZARUS ILL + Avocsate Producer MICHAEL I RACHMIL Werstien by MICHAEL CRICHTON » Duzecied by JEANNOT SZWARC FR] kestaseriy SE] A NATIONAL GENERAL PICT. RES Reizae Q} eee eee] _ Her December. AWGN nm December Co-slamnng *STHER ANDERSON. YVETTE CURTIS » JOHNNY SEKKA GEORGE BAKER KARATE! KUNG-FU! good, or just another late Romantic overflowing of cliches? I don’t know, because the music fits the films so well that I can’t divorce it. And that’s as it should be. Included are themes and movements from The Sea Hawk, Robin Hood, Juarez, Kings Row, The Constant Nymph, Captain Blood, Anthony Adverse, Between Two Worlds, Deception, Devotion, and Escape Me Never. Godspell Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Bell Records, 1118 When I saw the stage play of Godspell, I was one of the few who did not come away humming. It really made little impression, beyond a gimmick that didn’t sustain an evening. When I saw the film, I hummed for days. It was so well adapted that the music was enhanced immeasurably, whether by the use of close-up and setting or by a better cast and good director. Composer Stephen Schwartz worked very closely with director David Greene, and even composed a new song, Beautiful City, for the film. He also acted as producer for the soundtrack, and he has done very well indeed. With recording engineer Elliot Scheiner and musical Supervisor Stephen Reinhardt, he has fashioned a sound that manages to overcome the main shortcoming of the score, that of a sense of repetition. It is a trap that too many rock-type scores fall into. The same composers who can create an album of many kinds of songs in one style, too often create soundtracks of many songs that all sound the same. But for the most part Godspell avoids this fault, and most of the tunes stand up very well on their own. Day by Day was a hit record itself, but songs like Turn Back, O Man are just as distinctive. The most amazing thing about Schwartz’ writing is his ability to create a memorable song with almost no lyrics, and even though they are derivative, they never sound like inferior copies. Day by Day, with its gospel, hand-clapping feeling, never makes you want to go back to the original roots. Each song exists on its own. It’s an enjoyable album, and I think it would be good even if you haven’t seen the film, or even if you disagreed with the technique of the production team. It makes you feel good. The new screen excitement that gives you the biggest kick of your life! ; Bruce Lee every limb of his body is a lethal weapon in National General Pictures presents Bruce Lee in “FISTS OF FURY* EARLCAMERON » Directed by SIDNEY POITIER Produced by MELVILLE TUCKER Whitten by LAWRENCE ROMAN Musicby COLERIDGE-TAYLOR PERKINSON Technicolor A VERDON PRODUCTIONS LTD-FIRST ARTISTS FILM ANATIONALGENERAL PICTURES RELEASE Q | Produced by Raymond Chow * Screenplay and Direction by Lo Wei (Ri HISTHICHIO eto B=] Colors *A Notional General Pictures Release Q} THEATRE ie orn CN