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PLANET OF THE APES (TV series)
Original Music composed and conducted by Lalo Schifrin and Earle Hagen
Intrada Special Collection – Limited to 3000 worldwide

As if in response to my last couple of columns (though I doubt it, but it’s a nice idea), Intrada have released for the first time the original music from the short-lived TV spin-off to the successful APES movies. This release features the opening and closing titles plus suites from the pilot episode ‘Escape from Tomorrow’, and two other episodes by Schifrin (music that was later tracked into other episodes), and a suite from the episode ‘The Legacy’ scored by Hagen (well known to TV fans for his exotic and internationally flavoured scores for TV’s I SPY, which are incidentally available from Film Score Monthly). Both composers incorporate the legacy of strident militaristic fanfares and discords, tribal percussion and tonal landscapes left them by movie composers Goldsmith and Rosenman, yet of course inject there own personalities, especially Schifrin who utilises many action motifs that echo his DIRTY HARRY, ENTER THE DRAGON and MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE scores. A definite one-to-buy for APES completists and Schifrin aficionados.

HAPPY ENDINGS
Music from the film – Various artists
Commotion Records

A mixed bag of songs and instrumental tracks from Don Roos’ quirky movie of intertwining characters and relationships, with the eclectic mix of sounds reflecting the differing characters of those involved. The album features three tracks by Tucson based band Calexico (whose name alone sums up their musical influences), a lively burst from world electronica master Greyboy, and a lively opening track from the Black Heart Procession. It also features three tracks from one of the film’s stars, Maggie Gyllenhall (who plays a karaoke singer), who makes her CD recording debut here. I personally found her singing voice a little weak and bland and the entire concoction, for me, doesn’t really gel, but serves its purpose as a memento of the movie for those who enjoyed it – though I have to say the Black Heart Procession track, Tropics of Love, has stuck in my head, darn it.

GODZILLA – 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack composed by Akira Ifukube
La-La Land Records

Available for the first time, this is the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to the classic 1954 film, featuring the complete score by composer Akira Ifukube. Produced in association with Toho Studios, this commemorative 50th Anniversary Edition Soundtrack is digitally remastered from the best available mono sources from the Toho music vaults and makes a handsome companion to the recently released and restored original film.
Godzilla, or more correctly Gojira; arguably the most famous movie monster of all, and certainly the most prolific as far as movies are concerned, and the instigator of a whole genre of such films. It always amuses me when I consider the western arrogance of the name change. It’s an assumption born of stereotyping that dictates that Japanese people can’t pronounce the letters ‘L’ or ‘Z’, so when they say ‘Gojira’, they’re obviously actually trying to say ‘Godzilla’, bless their little cotton socks, so it’s only right that we in the west show them how it’s meant to be spelt…
Anyhow, the original movie showed our vaguely prehistoric friend at his meanest, most destructive and best, trying to destroy everything and everyone in his path, as opposed to the heroic, and sadly comic, character he later became, and you can’t trample on Tokyo without the necessary music and sound effects.
The bonus tracks feature film versions of some of the main program tracks with the sound effects added and plenty of Godzilla roars and foot stomping (a sound effect copied by Spielberg of course in JURASSIC PARK). Add a terrific collectors’ booklet featuring exclusive artwork and in-depth liner notes and you’ve got a great package for Godzilla fans like Glen Andreiev.

DREAMER
Score composed and conducted by John Debney
Sony Classical

DREAMER is John Gatins’ family movie about a trainer (Kurt Russell) and his little daughter (Dakota Fanning) who attempt to nurse an injured horse back to health, with the idea of entering her for a prestigious race. Given the subject matter you know just what kind of music it’s going to be – bittersweet cues for the injured horse and the worried little girl; wide-open-space Americana when daddy tells her everything will be all right; playful interludes for the training sequences; dramatic tension for the race sequences leading up to the triumphant finale and hugs all round (cue Kleenex). And that’s the kind of score it is, but, even given those restricting parameters, Debney still manages to pull a few unexpected symphonic tricks (and the violin solos by acclaimed violinist Joshua Bell don’t hurt). My sample/promo copy was actually of very poor quality (hope they’re reading this), but even through the espresso machine I could hear the quality of this score. I may even convince my short arms to delve into my very deep pockets and actually buy this one.
The main theme is wistful, catchy and instantly memorable and recurs throughout, and unifies, a wholesome score that gels together very well into a satisfying, emotionally charged and uplifting listening experience. Maybe Mr. Debney’s been taking lessons in scoring this kind of movie from the master…

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