Ollie 1,059 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Yes you knew it was coming...... 5 stars as far as I'm concerned. Yes there is a bit of micky mousing but this score is a non stop thrill ride as far as I'm concerned. A menacing theme for Kong that is woven throughout the score, great action music for Skull Island and every once and awhile the music slows down to give one a chance to catch his or her breath. Some consider this the granddaddy of all action scores. I wouldn't disagree with that statement.As far as recordings go, the Marco Polo - Naxos Stromberg / Morgan version is the way to go for the complete score.Very little survives of the original recordings (about 25 minutes) and they were presented on an album from Rhino that also features a condensed audio version of the film. Basically sound clips taken from the film and edited down to about 40 minutes. There's also a recording from the 70's by Fred Steiner that features about 48 minutes of score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I gave all three King Kongs a 4. I don't think this is a 5 star score. I do think its iconic, and has a place historically but I do think this one is not worthy of the 5(of all the early scores I reserve 5 for something like Bride of Frankenstein). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrygollay 0 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 5 stars score , I like the fred steiner re recording , as if it haven't the full score , very powerful !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter Boelen 740 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 3,5 stars from me. It doesn't really connect with me properly. The same goes for many of the earlier scores, unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Brigden 7 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 5, easily.Waiting for the KK vs Gojira poll... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taikomochi 1,136 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I give it a 3. For it's time, it's definitely a 5 star score, but I feel the score itself is pretty uninspired, and if something like it came out now, it would be shunned, discounting any praise it would get for resembling '30's scores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,059 Posted March 12, 2009 Author Share Posted March 12, 2009 If Kong is un-inspiring then I wish more modern scores would sound un-inspired.5, easily.Waiting for the KK vs Gojira poll...Yes..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,193 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 It's a good score, and I appreciate it's importance to the history of film music, but on its own, I've always found it overrated. I'm not the biggest Steiner fan, and while he has done some great stuff and Kong doesn't suffer from his famous over-use of commonly known themes, I still think it's only average and doesn't hold a candle to e.g. the Korngold scores that would appear only a few years later. 3.5 factoring in some of its historic importance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixie_twinkle 48 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 This score is more than iconic, it's the first time the orchestra was used as a character. Long before we see the mighty Kong emerge from the forest the orchestra rumbles tell us that his mighty footsteps are getting closer. An amazing score, an important score, and a highly enjoyable score. How many other films from around this time have almost 70 minutes of music score? Bride of Frankenstein perhaps, and Chaplin's beautiful City Lights, but Kong remains one of the first, if not THE first, truly great and indespensible film scores. Five stars! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filmmusic 1,828 Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 Is anyone here very familiar with the score? I've read in a book that Darth Vader's theme resembles a theme from this score for the chief of natives or something? "Bereits 1980 gestaltete er nach diesem Modell das „Darth Vader-Thema“ für The Empire Strikes Back von George Lucas. Musikalische Vorbilder hierzu lassen sich wiederum in Max Steiners Score zu King Kong finden, wo das Motiv in nahezu identischer Form auftaucht und dort dem Häuptling der Eingeborenen zugeordnet wird." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 "Iconic" is reserved for stuff everyone knows like Jaws and Psycho. No one knows the King Kong score. John Barry's is way better. 1977 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holko 9,526 Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 23 minutes ago, filmmusic said: Is anyone here very familiar with the score? I've read in a book that Darth Vader's theme resembles a theme from this score for the chief of natives or something? "Bereits 1980 gestaltete er nach diesem Modell das „Darth Vader-Thema“ für The Empire Strikes Back von George Lucas. Musikalische Vorbilder hierzu lassen sich wiederum in Max Steiners Score zu King Kong finden, wo das Motiv in nahezu identischer Form auftaucht und dort dem Häuptling der Eingeborenen zugeordnet wird." Meeting With the Black Men (punia! casco!) has an ostinato from 2:44 and a shape at 2:58, but those are a giant stretch and the only thing I could come up with to shoehorn into this. "nahezu identischer Form" my ass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Kockroach 2,344 Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 I prefer Mighty Joe Young. Much more likable humans in that one. 39 minutes ago, Horner's Dynamic Range said: "Iconic" is reserved for stuff everyone knows like Jaws and Psycho. No one knows the King Kong score. John Barry's is way better. Yes, that's why Silvestri quoted that score for Ready Player One. Because everyone remembers the music to 70's Kong. Get the flarp outta here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 Neither is really iconic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Kockroach 2,344 Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 Jesus Christ is iconic, but do any of us here care about him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 We know who Jesus is. I can't even remember much of the King Kong score and I listen to this stuff. It's not iconic outside of film nerds. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 I can hum the main descending melody of Steiner’s main title at the drop of a hat Kasey Kockroach 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 That's what I said. You're a nerd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 A nerd? Moi? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Loert 2,511 Posted October 13, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted October 13, 2018 If Steiner's score to King Kong doesn't deserve 5 stars then I don't know what does. Definitely a masterpiece of film scoring. Holko, Disco Stu, Chen G. and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 It's alright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romão 2,274 Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 The first three tracks are incredible (Main Title, A Boat in the Fog and The Island). A Boat in the Fog is particularly haunting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 The Stromberg recording is an essential release to have for anyone who considers themselves a fan of film music. Kasey Kockroach 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John 2,032 Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 It’s a fine score, but certainly not a must-have, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 These kids today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Kockroach 2,344 Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 I prefer John Scott's as far as album listening goes, but Steiner kicks everybody's ass otherwise. John Barry sucks, by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 Anyone else like William Ross' score for the Skull Island ride? http://momentumwrp.com/work-case-study/skull-island-reign-of-kong/ Kasey Kockroach 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Kockroach 2,344 Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 I wish that was the score Kong: Skull Island got! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,527 Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 4 hours ago, kaseykockroach said: John Barry sucks, by the way. Fuck you, asshole! Barry's KING KONG is beautiful. The score gets a 4, from me. The film? An unequivocal 5. Its a towering achievement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 King Kong Escapes is the only one that matters. Kasey Kockroach 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Kockroach 2,344 Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 Sorry, can't hear you over the sound of Tintin knocking my socks off. I'm annoyed none of you told me to listen to this one every time I've whined "Williams ain't no fun no more after Lost World!". Anyway, King Kong Lives is the most fun Kong listening for me. Everything a mighty ape score needs, in one splendid little 47-minute package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 2 minutes ago, kaseykockroach said: Sorry, can't hear you over the sound of Tinnitus knocking my inner ear out. Oh bugger off! Nick Parker and Kasey Kockroach 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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