33 replies to this topic

[Qui-Don-Jinn]

Greetings all,

So, aside from those in AFI's Top 25 list (already discussed to high degree in other threads), what scores do you think are more memorable or more recognizable? I'm doing a study on what scores the average film-going person recognizes and so far, they're not doing too well in recognizing the AFI scores.

AFI 25
# STAR WARS (1977), John Williams
# GONE WITH THE WIND (1939), Max Steiner
# LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962), Maurice Jarre
# PSYCHO (1960), Bernard Herrmann
# THE GODFATHER (1972), Nino Rota
# JAWS (1975), John Williams
# LAURA (1944), David Raksin
# THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1960), Elmer Bernstein
# CHINATOWN (1974), Jerry Goldsmith
# HIGH NOON (1952), Dimitri Tiomkin
# THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938), Erich Wolfgang Korngold
# VERTIGO (1958), Bernard Herrmann
# KING KONG (1933), Max Steiner
# E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982), John Williams
# OUT OF AFRICA (1985), John Barry
# SUNSET BLVD. (1950), Franz Waxman
# TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962), Elmer Bernstein
# PLANET OF THE APES (1968), Jerry Goldsmith
# A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951), Alex North
# THE PINK PANTHER (1964), Henry Mancini
# BEN-HUR (1959), Miklos Rozsa
# ON THE WATERFRONT (1954), Leonard Bernstein
# THE MISSION (1986), Ennio Morricone
# ON GOLDEN POND (1981), Dave Grusin
# HOW THE WEST WAS WON (1962), Alfred Newman

Thanks!

[futuremartymcfly]

well i'll be listing scores that are more recognizable to most people

, Indiana Jones, Good Bad and Ugly, 2001: Space Oddyssey, all come to mind rather quickly. I'm sure alot of people will also readily recognize disney soundtracks, but not scores.

[Romão]

Doctor Zhivago, Titanic, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Bverly Hills Cop (it's true)...

[orrakul]

For non score fans: Rocky....?

[nightscape94]

I wonder why AFI didn't do a top 100 as they did with every other category. Why give scores the shaft like that? Where's the love?!

Tim

[futuremartymcfly]

I wonder how many Williams scores would have made that list, at least Schindler's List and Raider's of the Lost ark would have. I'm sure thats were most of the popular scores are though, like in the 25-50 range.

[ashinyobject]

I wonder why AFI didn't do a top 100 as they did with every other category.  Why give scores the shaft like that?  Where's the love?!

Tim

Exactly.

[Mark Olivarez]

North By Northwest, CE3K, Raiders, Patton, Star Trek TMP, 7th Voyage Of Sinbad, Goldfinger.

[KingPin]

Raiders of the Lost Ark definitely should've made the cut. Also noteworthy in my opinion are The Wizard of Oz, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Clash of the Titans, The Ten Commandments, Citizen Kane.

[codanai]

Korngold's The Sea Hawk and Aaron Copland's The Red Pony. IMO

[Qui-Don-Jinn]

Alright, here are 25 other scores that seem to be more memorable or more recognizable than AFI's top 25 (in random order).

1. The Lord of the Rings/The Fellowship of the Ring (2001, Howard Shore)
2. Gladiator (2000, Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard)
3. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979, Jerry Goldsmith)
4. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, Michael Kamen)
5. Titanic (1997, James Horner)
6. The Omen (1976, Jerry Goldsmith)
7. The Great Escape (1964, Elmer Bernstein)
8. The Ten Commandments (1955, Elmer Bernstein)
9. Rudy (1993, Jerry Goldsmith)
10. Halloween (1978, John Carpenter)
11. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977, John Williams)
12. James Bond/Dr. No (1962, John Barry)
13. Back to the Future (1985, Alan Silvestri)
14. Dances with Wolves (1991, John Barry)
15. Raiders of the Lost Ark/Indiana Jones (1981, John Williams)
16. Ghostbusters (1984, Elmer Bernstein)
17. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2000, John Williams)
18. Schindler’s List (1993, John Williams)
19. Superman: The Movie (1978, John Williams)
20. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1967, Ennio Morricone)
21. Jurassic Park (1993, John Williams)
22. Braveheart (1995, James Horner)
23. Chariots of Fire (1981, Vangelis)
24. Patton (1973, Jerry Goldsmith)
25. The Terminator (1985, Brad Fiedel)

What do you think?

[artyjeffrey]

I can't believe Superman isn't up there.

[Sandor]

The fact that Star Wars isn't there or Ennio Morricone's The Mission makes it pretty invalid for me. Nice list Qui Don, but I if I had to choose between your list and AFI's list, I'd go with AFI.

[futuremartymcfly]

I think he's making a list of scores not on the current AFI list.

[Hitch]

Alright, here are 25 other scores that seem to be more memorable or more recognizable than AFI's top 25 (in random order).

1. The Lord of the Rings/The Fellowship of the Ring (2001, Howard Shore)  
2. Gladiator (2000, Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard)  
3. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979, Jerry Goldsmith)  
4. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, Michael Kamen)  
5. Titanic (1997, James Horner)  
6. The Omen (1976, Jerry Goldsmith)  
7. The Great Escape (1964, Elmer Bernstein)  
8. The Ten Commandments (1955, Elmer Bernstein)  
9. Rudy (1993, Jerry Goldsmith)  
10. Halloween (1978, John Carpenter)  
11. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977, John Williams)  
12. James Bond/Dr. No (1962, John Barry)  
13. Back to the Future (1985, Alan Silvestri)  
14. Dances with Wolves (1991, John Barry)  
15. Raiders of the Lost Ark/Indiana Jones (1981, John Williams)  
16. Ghostbusters (1984, Elmer Bernstein)  
17. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2000, John Williams)  
18. Schindler’s List (1993, John Williams)  
19. Superman: The Movie (1978, John Williams)  
20. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1967, Ennio Morricone)  
21. Jurassic Park (1993, John Williams)  
22. Braveheart (1995, James Horner)  
23. Chariots of Fire (1981, Vangelis)  
24. Patton (1973, Jerry Goldsmith)  
25. The Terminator (1985, Brad Fiedel)  

What do you think?

Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, The Terminator, Halloween, Chariots of Fire....are you taking the piss??? John Williams not even in the Top 10. No "E.T." in sight. No Bernard Herrmann or indeed a Hugo Friedhoffer score represented...a very serious omission on your part. Where is Brad Fiedel these days? Probably polishing his synths. According to Qui-Don Corleone above, out of 25 scores, John Williams has 6, Jerry Goldsmith has 4, James Horner has 2, Elmer Bernstein has 3, John Barry has 2 and the rest including Brad Fiedel have one apiece. Dreadful...considering the abundance of brilliant scores out there.

[futuremartymcfly]

I'm pretty sure he means scores that the common person would recognize. Most of those up there are all scores that everyone, not just film score enthusiasts, know.

[Qui-Don-Jinn]

As it states in the initial post, this is a list of scores that are not on AFI's list (hence the omission of Star Wars, etc.) that may be more recognizable or more memorable than those on AFI's list. This is not to say that those scores on the AFI list are not good or great scores or that those on the "alternate" list are better scores; my "hypothesis" is that the general movie-going public would recognize more of the scores on the second "alternate" list than those on the AFI list. I've been giving an audio test to as many people as are interested with approximately 30-second cues from the AFI scores; the average score so far is 7 out of 25. When I have the alternate cue test completed, I'll give that to the same people (hopefully) and compare their scores.

And these scores are in a randomly-chosen order (drew them out of a hat), so no hierarchy is implied.

[futuremartymcfly]

I'm wondering, are the seven recognized Jaws, Star Wars, ET, Psycho, The Godfather, Gone With the Wind, and either Ben Hur or The Maginificent Seven?

[Qui-Don-Jinn]

So far, the only two scores that every single person has recognized are Star Wars and The Pink Panther. Those you listed are among the most recognized, although the responses are all over the place.

I'll post the results when I've received all the responses it looks as if I'll get.

[futuremartymcfly]

You mean there are people in this world who haven't heard the Jaws Theme?

[Qui-Don-Jinn]

I believe there has only been one person who didn't get Jaws, so it's not as bad as it sounds.[/i]

[deimos]

I believe there has only been one person who didn't get Jaws, so it's not as bad as it sounds.[/i]

You should ask him if he's deaf. inthat case it shouldn't count.

[pi]

Bond....James Bond...hellO?

[Genius_Gone_Insane]

Bond....James Bond...hellO?

+1

[Qui-Don-Jinn]

Greetings all,

I've finished my tests on AFI scores and alternate scores that may be more memorable. Check out my report at www.geocities.com/tanorfalk/AFIscores.html

Thanks for all the help in suggesting alternate scores!

[JWfangirl1992]

I would definitely have to add schindler's list, Superman, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and Lord of the Rings.

[BurgaFlippinMan]

Alright, here are 25 other scores that seem to be more memorable or more recognizable than AFI's top 25 (in random order).

1. The Lord of the Rings/The Fellowship of the Ring (2001, Howard Shore)  
2. Gladiator (2000, Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard)  
3. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979, Jerry Goldsmith)  
4. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, Michael Kamen)  
5. Titanic (1997, James Horner)  
6. The Omen (1976, Jerry Goldsmith)  
7. The Great Escape (1964, Elmer Bernstein)  
8. The Ten Commandments (1955, Elmer Bernstein)  
9. Rudy (1993, Jerry Goldsmith)  
10. Halloween (1978, John Carpenter)  
11. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977, John Williams)  
12. James Bond/Dr. No (1962, John Barry)  
13. Back to the Future (1985, Alan Silvestri)  
14. Dances with Wolves (1991, John Barry)  
15. Raiders of the Lost Ark/Indiana Jones (1981, John Williams)  
16. Ghostbusters (1984, Elmer Bernstein)  
17. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2000, John Williams)  
18. Schindler’s List (1993, John Williams)  
19. Superman: The Movie (1978, John Williams)  
20. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1967, Ennio Morricone)  
21. Jurassic Park (1993, John Williams)  
22. Braveheart (1995, James Horner)  
23. Chariots of Fire (1981, Vangelis)  
24. Patton (1973, Jerry Goldsmith)  
25. The Terminator (1985, Brad Fiedel)  

What do you think?

Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, The Terminator, Halloween, Chariots of Fire....are you taking the piss??? John Williams not even in the Top 10. No "E.T." in sight. No Bernard Herrmann or indeed a Hugo Friedhoffer score represented...a very serious omission on your part. Where is Brad Fiedel these days? Probably polishing his synths. According to Qui-Don Corleone above, out of 25 scores, John Williams has 6, Jerry Goldsmith has 4, James Horner has 2, Elmer Bernstein has 3, John Barry has 2 and the rest including Brad Fiedel have one apiece. Dreadful...considering the abundance of brilliant scores out there.

I believe he mentioned it was in 'random order'?

[Joey]

well i'll be listing scores that are more recognizable to most people

, Indiana Jones, Good Bad and Ugly, 2001: Space Oddyssey, all come to mind rather quickly.  I'm sure alot of people will also readily recognize disney soundtracks, but not scores.

none of those are more recognizable than Star Wars, Superman or Jaws.

[Richard Penna]

My new friends here at uni asked me yesterday what kind of music I was into, and I did my usual careful attempt to explain what film scores are.

When one guy asked me what sort of scores I liked, the first one he suggested was Gladiator. Says something about 'joe public' these days.

[Drax]

My new friends here at uni asked me yesterday what kind of music I was into, and I did my usual careful attempt to explain what film scores are.

When one guy asked me what sort of scores I liked, the first one he suggested was Gladiator. Says something about 'joe public' these days.

Nice. This is how a similar situation happened to me at Uni the other day.

Mate: So who's your favourite musician?
Me: Jerry Goldsmith.
Mate: Go on.
Me: Bernard Herrmann.
Mate: Hmm-hmm, go on.
Me: John Williams.
Mate: Uh, yeah, go on.
Me: James Horner, Danny Elfman, Miklos Rosza...
Mate: Hey, wait! These aren't bands! These are all composers!
Me: Exactly.
Mate: Ah, dude. You're different, but I like different.

Not as hard as you think.

[Vaderbait1]

What, now composers aren't musicians?

[Joey]

My new friends here at uni asked me yesterday what kind of music I was into, and I did my usual careful attempt to explain what film scores are.

When one guy asked me what sort of scores I liked, the first one he suggested was Gladiator. Says something about 'joe public' these days.

Nice. This is how a similar situation happened to me at Uni the other day.

Mate: So who's your favourite musician?
Me: Jerry Goldsmith.
Mate: Go on.
Me: Bernard Herrmann.
Mate: Hmm-hmm, go on.
Me: John Williams.
Mate: Uh, yeah, go on.
Me: James Horner, Danny Elfman, Miklos Rosza...
Mate: Hey, wait! These aren't bands! These are all composers!
Me: Exactly.
Mate: Ah, dude. You're different, but I like different.

Not as hard as you think.

shouldn't you have said JW first.

[Mark Olivarez]

Indeed.